Patent ID: 8216313

Claim:
An implant for changing an alignment between two vertebrae and maintaining an alignment position comprising: a first body having a first longitudinal axis, a first channel, a first connecting joint, a second connecting joint, and a first set of radial anchors; the first channel having a receiving recess; the first set of radial anchors radially extending generally perpendicularly from the first body; a second body having a second longitudinal axis, a positioning block, a first receiving joint, a second receiving joint, and a second set of radial anchors; the second set of radial anchors radially extending generally perpendicularly from the second body; the first body and the second body slidingly connected by the first connecting joint being located in the first receiving joint and the second connecting joint located in the second receiving joint; the first body and the second body connected to form an implant body; the positioning block located within the first channel; the positioning block having a locking recess; the locking recess containing a spring and a locking block; the spring biasing the locking block and the locking recess; the first set of radial anchors and the second set of radial anchors being generally parallel; the first set of radial anchors having a first set of corners and a second set of corners; the second set of radial anchors having a third set of corners and a fourth set of corners; and, wherein the first body and the second body, in the alignment position, are aligned such that the locking block is movable into the receiving recess by the spring in order to maintain the alignment position.