Patent ID: 8512408

Claim:
A spinal implant comprising: a plurality of monolithically formed sections each having a distal end and a proximal end, each of the sections also having a superior side and an opposing inferior side, a first one of the sections including a receptacle bounded within an interior of the first section and having a fixed size and shape, the receptacle being open on the superior and inferior sides; a plurality of hinges that pivotally join together the sections in an end-to-end and articulating arrangement, each of the plurality of hinges connecting together two of the plurality of sections, the plurality of hinges being aligned along a plane; the receptacle being aligned transverse to and extending across the plane, the receptacle being open in both directions that face away from the plane, wherein a second one of the hinges that connects the first one of the sections and a third one of the sections extends across the receptacle, the first and second hinges being spaced apart within the receptacle.