Patent ID: 7708776

Claim:
A method of fusing a first vertebral body to a second vertebral body, comprising: implanting a first member such that at least one first element extending from said first member is disposed within a first vertebral body; implanting a second member such that at least one second element extending from said second member is disposed within a second vertebral body; inserting at least one internal translating member such that said internal translating member is disposed between said first member and said second member, said internal translating member adapted to translate between said first and second members after implantation in a first surgery to preserve motion between said first and second vertebral bodies, wherein one of said second member and said internal translating member includes a post extending therefrom and the other of said second member and said internal translating member includes a recess configured to receive said post therein, said post having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of said recess to allow for translation of said internal translating member; and selectively immobilizing said first member relative to said second member in a second surgery to prevent translation of said internal translating member and thereby effecting fusion between said first and second vertebral bodies.