Patent ID: 8262734

Claim:
An implant for spacing vertebral members comprising: a first shim with a distal end and an opposing proximal end; a guide rod with an elongated shape with a distal end and an opposing proximal end, the distal end of the guide rod mounted at the distal end of the first shim, the guide rod having a greater length measured between the distal and proximal ends than the first shim with the proximal end of the guide rod proximally extending outward beyond the proximal end of the first shim; a second shim stacked on the first shim, the second shim having a longitudinal passage that is fully circumferentially enclosed by the second shim, wherein the second shim includes a second guide rod mounted at a distal end of the second shim, the second guide rod including a greater length measured between its distal and proximal ends than the second shim with the proximal end of the second guide rod proximally extending outward beyond a proximal end of the second shim; the guide rod disposed in the passage and extending entirely therethrough.