Patent ID: 8303662

Claim:
A spinal implant, comprising: a first plate having at least one slot on an inner surface of the first plate and extending from an anterior side of the spinal implant to a posterior side of the spinal implant, wherein the slot is wider proximate the anterior side than the posterior side of the spinal implant; a second plate having at least one slot on an inner surface of the second plate and extending from the anterior side of the spinal implant to the posterior side of the spinal implant, wherein the slot is wider proximate the anterior side than the posterior side of the spinal implant; at least one connector of a single piece construction and having surfaces substantially corresponding to the slots on the inner surfaces of the first and second plates, wherein the at least one connector is slidably movable in the slots of the first and second plates from the anterior side to the posterior side of the spinal implant to connect the first and second plates in-situ in an intervertebral space, and wherein the single piece construction comprises a flexible member; and at least one limiter sized to couple to the at least one connector to limit compressive forces applied to the flexible member thereof.