Patent ID: 8328852

Claim:
A method of providing support between two adjacent vertebrae of a subject, said method comprising: providing a rod for affixing in the body of a first one of said vertebrae; drilling a bore in the pedicle of the second vertebra adjacent said first vertebra; inserting said rod through said bore and fixing it into the body of said first vertebra; providing a plurality of solid elements being of a generally elongated hollow shape and having initial dimensions such that they are capable of passing through said bore, each of said elements being adapted to deploy in said intervertebral region to form an element having (a) a different shape from that before being strung onto said rod, and (b) lateral dimensions substantially larger than that of said bore; and stringing said elements onto said rod and into the intervertebral region, such that said elements can deploy in said intervertebral region to form a stack of elements providing intervertebral support between said two adjacent vertebrae of the subject.