Spinal Surgical Implant and Related Methods

Abstract

This invention relates generally to spine surgery and, in particular, to a surgical implant for separating adjacent spinal vertebrae.

1 . An implant for positioning within the intervertebral disc space between a pair of adjacent vertebral bodies, the implant having a longitudinal axis extending from a first end of said implant to a second end of said implant, the longitudinal axis lying in a first plane that separates an upper surface and lower surface of the implant and extends through the first end, second end, and opposing sidewalls of the implant, the longitudinal axis being orthogonal to a second plane that separates the first end and the second end and extends through the upper surface, lower surface, and opposing sidewalls of the implant, said implant comprising: a first element including the first end of the implant and a second element including the second end of the implant, the first element and second element movable relative to one another about the second plane such that at least one of said first element and said second element is moveable between an inline position that is aligned with the first plane and an offset position that is angularly offset from the first plane, the first element connected to the second element by at least one of a wire and a tether.