Patent ID: 8623091

Claim:
A distractible intervertebral implant configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space along an insertion direction, the intervertebral space defined between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body that is spaced from the first vertebral body along a vertical direction, the distractible intervertebral implant comprising: a first implant body that defines an outer surface configured to face the first vertebral body when the first implant body is disposed in the intervertebral space, and an opposed inner surface that defines an angled leading end; and a second implant body that defines an outer surface configured to face the second vertebral body when the second implant body is disposed in the intervertebral space, and an opposed inner surface that defines an angled leading end, wherein the inner surface of one of the first implant body and the second implant body defines a rail and the inner surface of the other of the first implant body and the second implant body defines a recess configured to receive the rail when either or both of the first and second implant bodies is translated relative to the other implant body along the insertion direction, and wherein the angled leading end of the first implant body is configured to cause the first vertebral body to move away from the second vertebral body along the vertical direction as the first implant body is inserted into the intervertebral space in the insertion direction and the angled leading end of the second implant body is configured to cause (i) the second implant body to move along the vertical direction as the second implant body is translated over the first implant body so as to further move the first vertebral body away from the second implant body along the vertical direction and (ii) the rail to be received by the recess such that the inner surfaces of the first and second implant bodies engage to provide stable mating between the first and second implant bodies.