Patent ID: 7547325

Claim:
A space keeper for insertion between two vertebrae, the space keeper having a longitudinal axis and a variable axial length and comprising: a sleeve-like first member having a first peripheral wall; a second member having a second peripheral wall and guided in the sleeve-like first member, the second member being moveable relative to the sleeve-like first member in an axial direction for adjusting an overall length of the space keeper; a lever connecting the sleeve-like first member and the second member, the lever comprising a first center of motion that is connected to the sleeve-like first member and a second center of motion that is connected to the second member; wherein movement of the second center of motion while connected to the second member relative to the first center of motion while the first center of motion is connected to the sleeve-like first member moves the second member relative to the sleeve-like first member to adjust the overall length of the space keeper; and wherein the second member further comprises a catch section extending in the axial direction on the second peripheral wall, the catch section comprising a plurality of depressions arranged adjacent to one another in the axial direction and bounding one another, the depressions facing the sleeve-like first member, the sleeve-like first member further comprising a fixing part that cooperates with the catch portion for locking the sleeve-like first member and the second member at a desired axial length of the space keeper.