Apparatus (100) for inserting an implant into an intervertebral cavity between adjacent vertebral bodies by adjust an initial height between inner surfaces (114,115) of respective first and second ramps (110,111) of an inserter； simultaneously sliding first and second ramps of the inserter, and the implant, proximally, toward distal ends of the first and second ramps, such that the vertebral contact surfaces (120,121) of the respective first and second ramps separate and distract the vertebral bodies and receive the implant into the intervertebral space with no compressive loading, while holding an initial angle between the ramps substantially constant； reversing the sliding of the first and second ramps to permit the vertebral bodies to compressively load the implant, again while holding the initial angle therebetween substantially constant； and withdrawing the distal ends of the first and second ramps from the intervertebral space.
