Patent ID: 7708778

Claim:
An intervertebral implant for a human spine, comprising: a lower body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the inferior surface is configured to engage a first vertebra of the human spine, and wherein the superior surface comprises a recess and a projection that extends from a portion of the superior surface located within the recess; an upper body comprising a superior surface and an inferior surface, wherein the superior surface is configured to engage a second vertebra of the human spine; an insert disposed in the recess of the lower body between the lower body and the upper body, wherein the insert comprises a longitudinal axis that passes through at least a portion of the insert, wherein the insert comprises an opening substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the insert, and wherein the projection is disposed in the opening of the insert such that the insert is configured to rotate on the projection about the longitudinal axis, wherein the intervertebral implant is configured such that at least partial rotation of the insert about the longitudinal axis of the insert is configured to cause the insert to engage at least one of the lower body and the upper body to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.