Patent ID: 8668740

Claim:
An expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae, comprising: an inner member having a hollow interior portion and a threaded external portion and including a first end portion configured to engage a first vertebral body; an outer member having a hollow interior portion configured to coaxially receive the inner member therein and including a second end portion configured to engage a second vertebral body, wherein the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis; a gear member positioned coaxial to the inner member and outer member and axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member, wherein the gear member threadedly engages the threaded portion of the inner member, wherein the inner member comprises a longitudinal slot extending radially through a wall of the inner member and configured to engage at least one pin protruding radially inward from the outer member, wherein the outer member comprises a plurality of reliefs formed on the exterior of a distal end of the outer member and configured cooperatively fit with a portion of the gear member wherein the longitudinal slot is contained between the upper and lower ends of the inner member.