Patent ID: 8444697

Claim:
An expandable intervertebral spacer for stabilizing vertebral bodies comprising: a body having a leading end, a trailing end, a top wall, a bottom wall, and first and second side walls extending between said top wall and said bottom wall, wherein said bottom wall and said top wall generally define a hollow interior of the body and contain a plurality of openings, and said interior of the body includes a rail extending from said leading end to said trailing end, a moveable block, configured to provide support for said intervertebral spacer and dimensioned to slide within said generally hollow interior of the body, and having a leading end, a trailing end, a top surface, a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces, and including at least one threaded aperture and at least one channel, a screw dimensioned to be received within the threaded aperture of said moveable block and extending from the leading end to the trailing end of the body, such that rotation of the screw causes said moveable block to translate along the interior of the body from the trailing end of the body to the leading end of the body, wherein at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall of the body further includes a hinge such that at least a portion of at least one of said top wall and said bottom wall is capable of pivoting about said hinge, and wherein the height of said top wall and, or said bottom wall has a second height that is greater than the first height when said moveable block is positioned at said trailing end or said leading end of the implant, wherein said leading end and, or said trailing end transitions from an angular shape in its unexpanded state to a substantially rectangular shape in its partially expanded and, or expanded state, wherein said the expansion of said leading end and, or said trailing end provides for the dynamic stabilization of adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the intervertebral spacer in a partially expanded or expanded state provides structural support, adjustment and stabilization of intervertebral bodies that said top wall and said bottom wall contact, and a locking element for maintaining the moveable body in the expanded state.