Patent ID: 8308767

Claim:
A spinal implant assembly for engaging adjacent vertebrae with the spinal implant assembly comprising: a generally U-shaped body having a base portion with opposite ends, spaced side arm portions each having a distal, free end with the spaced side arm portions extending from the respective ends of the base portion; a distal opening at the distal free ends of the spaced side arm portions such that the generally U-shaped body is open at the distal ends; a stop portion of the base portion extending between the side arm portions; a pair of vertebral engaging arms configured and sized to be received between the side arm portions for extending through the distal opening; an arcuate seat of each of the vertebral engaging arms for engaging one of the adjacent vertebrae; and a pivot mechanism for pivotably connecting the vertebral engaging arms and the body portion, the vertebral engaging arms engaged with the stop portion in an operable configuration thereof with the arcuate seats facing in generally opposite directions away from each other, and the vertebral engaging arms pivoted away from the stop portion toward each other with the vertebral engaging arms extending through the distal opening adjacent each other in an inoperable configuration thereof.