Patent ID: 7255698

Claim:
An apparatus for stabilizing vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space of a human spine having a longitudinal axis, said apparatus comprising: an interbody spinal fusion implant adapted to be surgically implanted at least in part within the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of the spine, said implant comprising upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein and a maximum height from said upper portion to said lower portion, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said implant having an insertion end for entry into the spine and a trailing end opposite said insertion end; and a spinal fixation device detachably coupled to said trailing end of said spinal implant and adapted to be attached to both of the adjacent vertebral bodies while coupled to said trailing end of said implant, said spinal fixation device having a length generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine when said spinal fixation device is engaged to the adjacent vertebral bodies, the length of said fixation device being greater than the maximum height of said implant.