Patent ID: 8167950

Claim:
An intervertebral fixation device, the device comprising: a weight-bearing shell configured to fit into a disk space between plural vertebrae, the weight-bearing shell including a first and second sidewalls, a back wall and a front wall, a top surface and a bottom surface, the weight-bearing shell including a keyway opening that extends between and through the first and second sidewalls and plural openings that extend between and through the top surface and the bottom surface to form a plurality of chambers open to an exterior of the weight-bearing shell; a first plurality of anchors configured to penetrate and secure to a first vertebra, the first plurality of anchors rotatably coupled to the weight-bearing shell at a first axis of rotation that is proximate the top surface and that extends between the first and second sidewalls, the first plurality of anchors rotatably disposed in the chambers in a first orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell; a second plurality of anchors configured to penetrate and secure to a second vertebra, the second plurality of anchors rotatably coupled to the weight-bearing shell at a second axis of rotation that is proximate the bottom surface and that extends between the first and second sidewalls, the second plurality of anchors rotatably disposed in the chambers in a second orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell, the first orientation divergent from the second orientation; and a key configured to advance from the exterior of the weight-bearing shell through the keyway opening to rotate the first plurality of anchors in divergent directions from the second plurality of anchors to the exterior of the weight-bearing shell to secure to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, respectively, the key further configured to support the first plurality of anchors and the second plurality of anchors in divergent orientations in relation to the weight-bearing shell and secured to the first vertebra and the second vertebra.