Patent ID: 8353963

Claim:
An expandable implant for insertion in a space between adjacent bony structures, comprising: a first threaded shaft and a second threaded shaft; a base plate coupled to the first threaded shaft and the second threaded shaft; and a first gear and a second gear operably coupled with said first threaded shaft and said second threaded shaft, respectively, and operably coupled with said base plate, said first gear and said second gear having respective interior surfaces including threads matably engaged with respective said first threaded shaft and said second threaded shaft, whereby rotation of said first gear and said second gear initiates displacement of said first threaded shaft and said second threaded shaft within said base plate, whereby said first threaded shaft and said second threaded shaft are extendable in a direction away from said base plate; wherein the first threaded shaft and the second threaded shaft are coupled to a top plate; wherein the first gear and the second gear are positioned with an axis parallel to the interior surface extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base plate and adjacent to one another; wherein the first gear and the second gear are operably coupled to one another whereby rotation of the first gear in a first direction initiates rotation of the second gear in the first direction.