Patent ID: 8603141

Claim:
A spinal implant assembly for engaging adjacent vertebrae, the spinal implant assembly comprising: an elongate guide device having a shaft portion and a longitudinal axis along which the elongate guide device extends; a first hook portion having a first pair of hook arms, a first seat portion between the first pair of hook arms facing a first direction and configured for engaging a first vertebral surface, and an elongate slot opening; a second hook portion having a second pair of hook arms and a second seat portion between the second pair of hook arms for facing in a second direction away from the first seat portion generally opposite to the first direction in an implanted orientation of the first and second hook portions and configured for engaging a second vertebral surface; a slide connection between the elongate guide device and the second hook portion to allow the second hook portion to translate along the elongate guide device for distraction of the first and second vertebral surfaces; and a multi-axial pivot connection between the elongate guide device and the first hook portion to allow the first hook portion to pivot for securely engaging the first vertebral surface despite variations in the relative positions of the first and second vertebral surfaces engaged by the first and second hook portions, respectively, the multi-axial pivot connection including the elongate slot opening of the first hook portion configured to allow the first hook portion to be pivoted at least about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis to a compact, insertion orientation relative to the second hook portion with the shaft portion of the elongate guide device extending and shifting through the slot opening as the first hook portion is pivoted to the compact, insertion orientation.