Intervertebral implant inserters and related methods

A surgical method, comprising:

• coupling an implant to an inserter, the inserter including an outer member and an inner member having an asymmetrical first jaw and a second jaw that extend distally from a distal-most end of the outer member, such that the inserter does not protrude or overhang the implant on at least a first side thereof;
• passing the implant into a disc space between two vertebrae such that the first side faces in a medial direction;
• and
• releasing the implant from the inserter,
• wherein neither the first jaw nor the second jaw cross a central longitudinal axis of the outer member, and
• wherein coupling the implant to the inserter includes passing a portion of the implant into an opening between the first jaw and the second jaw of the inserter and moving the first jaw and the second jaw towards one another to clamp the implant.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an outer member having a central longitudinal axis;
• and
• an inner member having a first jaw and a second jaw asymmetrical to the first jaw, the inner member being axially translatable within an inner passage of the outer member to move the jaws towards one another to a closed position, thereby grasping an implant,
• wherein neither the first jaw nor the second jaw cross the central longitudinal axis of the outer member,
• wherein a maximum distance between an outer edge of the first jaw and the central longitudinal axis of the outer member, measured along an axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, is less than a maximum distance between an outer edge of the second jaw and the central longitudinal axis of the outer member, measured along an axis perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, when the jaws are in the closed position.