Patent ID: 8828084

Claim:
A system for securing a fusion cage with an anteriorly oriented surface between adjacent vertebrae comprising: in said anteriorly oriented surface, an opening and at least two slots in operative engagement with said opening and extending therefrom, each of said at least two slots having a terminal segment aligned to have at least a vertical vector component; and in a first of said at least two slots, a first retaining member having a first end slideably retained in said terminal segment and a second end fixedly secured only to a superior adjacent vertebra by a bone screw in a second of said at least two slots, a second retaining member independent from said first retaining member and having a first end slideably retained in said terminal segment and a second end fixedly secured only to an inferior adjacent vertebra by a bone screw whereby engagement of said first ends of said retaining members in said terminal segments distributes a selective portion of a load on one of said adjacent vertebrae directly to another of said adjacent vertebrae.