Patent ID: 8323342

Claim:
An intervertebral implant for spacing an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra comprising: an upper mount including a plurality of plates arranged in an X-shape, each of said plates having an upper surface sized and shaped for engaging the upper vertebra and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surfaces of the plates facing in generally the same upward direction and each of said upper surfaces being positioned for directly engaging the upper vertebra; a lower mount including a plurality of plates arranged in an X-shape, each of said plates having a lower surface sized and shaped for engaging the lower vertebra and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, the lower surfaces of the plates facing in generally the same downward direction and each of said lower surfaces being positioned for directly engaging the lower vertebra; and an element positioned between the upper mount and the lower mount spacing the upper surface of the upper mount from the lower surface of the lower mount by a predetermined distance, said element being configured to permit the upper mount to pivot downward relative to the lower mount, thereby allowing the upper vertebra to pivot downward relative to the lower vertebra while maintaining spacing between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra.