Patent ID: 8083799

Claim:
A spinal implant for stabilizing intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae and maintaining curvature of the spine comprising a cage with a hollow interior and having a first end and a second end, a first elongated side connecting said first end and said second end, a second elongated side connecting said first end and said second end, said second elongated side diametrically opposed to said first elongated side about said hollow interior, said first elongated side and said second elongated side spaced apart forming an opening communicating with said hollow interior, said opening having a top and bottom periphery defined by the edges of said first elongated side and said second elongated side, said periphery including a plurality of angled teeth, a first portion of said plurality of teeth angled toward said first end and a second portion of said plurality of teeth angled away from said first end, and a first recess formed between said first portion of said plurality of teeth angled toward said first end and said second portion of said plurality of teeth angled away from said first end, said first recess extending to a location on either said first or second elongated wall a predetermined distance from said periphery and a second recess formed between said first portion of said plurality of teeth angled toward said first end and said second portion of said plurality of teeth angled away from said first end, said second recess extending to a location on said side wall a predetermined distance from said periphery wherein the first recess is formed on either the first or second elongated side, and the second recess is located on said elongated side opposite said first recess, the first recess is formed on either the top or bottom periphery and the second recess is located on the periphery opposite the first recess, said first recess and said second recess having an edge each having a sloped surface at approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal centerline of said spinal implant.