Patent ID: 8491633

Claim:
An intervertebral spacer to be placed between two adjacent, upper and lower, cervical vertebrae, the spacer comprising: a spacer body having a spacer part, a top flange and a bottom flange each extending from a base of the spacer body in diverging directions such that the spacer part extends from the base to a first end surface of the spacer part in a first direction, the top flange extends from the base in a second direction different from the first direction, and the bottom flange extends from the base in a third direction different from the first and second directions; the spacer part having a superior face and an inferior face each extending from the base to the first end surface, the superior face and the inferior face being parallel to each other from the base to the first end surface; the top flange having an anterior face and a posterior face; the bottom flange having an anterior face and a posterior face; wherein the anterior face of the top flange intersects the superior face of the spacer part at an angle, and the anterior face of the bottom flange intersects the inferior face of the spacer part at an angle; wherein a portion of the first end surface of the spacer part is suitable for being inserted between a top end wall of a lamina of the lower cervical vertebra and a bottom end wall of a lamina of the upper cervical vertebra while the anterior faces of the top and bottom flanges come to bear against the posterior portions of the laminae of the upper and lower vertebra, respectively; and a retention means for retaining the spacer body in position comprising a strap having a first end and a second end and self-blocking fastener means enabling at least one of the ends of the strap to be secured to the spacer body, the strap having a length for tightening around the laminae of the upper and lower vertebrae.