Patent ID: 7887596

Claim:
A distractible intervertebral implant comprising: a first assembly constituted by a first prosthetic plate and a first spacer element having at least a portion of its outside surface that is cylindrical, said prosthetic plate being secured to the first spacer element; a second assembly constituted by a second prosthetic plate and by a hollow second spacer element having at least a portion of its inside surface that is cylindrical and an opening in a portion of its periphery, a first end of the second spacer element being secured to the second prosthetic plate, and the first spacer element being suitable for sliding in the second spacer element; and a fastener means comprising: a clamping collar surrounding a portion of outside surface of the second spacer element and penetrating into the second spacer element through the opening, the clamping collar pressing in part against the outside surface of the second spacer element and in part through the opening against the outside surface of the first spacer element; and a lock screw for tightening said clamping collar onto the second spacer element, wherein the first spacer element continues to be suitable for sliding in the second spacer element until an elastic deformation of the second spacer element caused by the tightening of the clamping collar onto the second spacer element clamps the two spacer elements together.