Patent ID: 7329259

Claim:
An articulating spinal implant, comprising: a first elongate segment extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first segment comprising a first anchoring surface structure that facilitates anchoring of the first segment within a first vertebral body; a second elongate segment extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second segment being located proximal relative to the first segment, the second segment comprising a second anchoring surface structure that facilitates anchoring of the second segment within a second vertebral body, the second vertebral body being located proximal relative to the first vertebral body, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first anchoring surface structure and the second anchoring surface structure comprises an external thread; and a first articulating joint located between the first proximal end and the second distal end, the first joint having a first axial length that approximates the column height of a first intervertebral disc located between the first and second vertebral bodies, wherein the first segment has a length greater than the column height of the first intervertebral disc located between the first and second vertebral bodies and the second segment has a length greater than the column height of the first intervertebral disc located between the first and second vertebral bodies, the first segment and the second segment comprise a single integral, permanently attached body.