Patent ID: 7819922

Claim:
A spinal implant system, comprising: a vertebral prosthesis having a support and a prosthesis endplate, the vertebral prosthesis having a longitudinal axis configured to be aligned along the axis of a spine, wherein the support comprises a first portion slidably received in a second portion and wherein the height of the vertebral prosthesis is adjusted by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion, wherein the prosthesis endplate and the support are adapted to be at least one of threaded, snapped, or twist-locked onto one another; a locking ring adapted to secure the first portion relative to the second portion; an artificial spinal disc, comprising: a disc endplate; and a disc core coupled to the disc endplate; wherein the artificial spinal disc is coupled to the prosthesis endplate, the prosthesis endplate having a structure adapted to interlock with the artificial spinal disc, and further wherein the disc core is configured to allow the disc endplate to move relative to the prosthesis endplate whereby the artificial spinal disc acts as a joint to permit a range of motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the spine; and a pedicle screw retainer coupled to at least one of the prosthesis endplate and the support, the pedicle screw retainer comprising: a top; a bottom; a side wall defined between the top and the bottom; and at least one aperture defined in the side wall, the aperture having an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertebral prosthesis, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a pedicle screw extending through a pedicle located adjacent to the pedicle screw retainer.