Lordotic spinal implant

A method for placing an implant into a disk space between opposing vertebrae having opposing end plates to be separated by a predetermined degree of lordosis, said method comprising:

• distracting said vertebrae for said end plates to be separated by said predetermined degree of lordosis;
• forming a tap thread pattern within said opposing vertebra with said tap thread pattern being a segment of a cone having a conical angle substantially equal to said predetermined degree of lordosis, said forming performed by advancing a tap into said disk space with said tap having:
• a shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
• a tapping head at a distal end of said shaft, said tapping head having a tapping thread surrounding said axis;
• said tapping thread includes a plurality of peaks and valleys defining a conical path around said axis with a leading end tap diameter adjacent said distal end and with a trailing end tap diameter spaced from said distal end, said trailing end tap diameter being greater than said leading end tap diameter;
• selecting a rigid implant having:
• a generally frusto-conical hollow body having a leading end and a trailing end with a leading end implant diameter at said leading end and a trailing end implant diameter at said trailing end, said trailing end implant diameter being greater than said leading end implant diameter;
• said frusto-conical body having a conical angle approximating said degree of lordosis;
• an implant thread patern surrounding said body and matching said tapping thread;
• threadedly inserting said implant into said disk space with said implant thread pattern received within said tap thread pattern by first inserting said implant leading end between said vertebrae and threadedly engaging said implant thread pattern with said tap thread pattern.