Patent ID: 7297162

Claim:
An expandable intervertebral implant, comprising: a) a first securing piece and a second securing piece, the first securing piece forming a first end of the implant and the second securing piece forming a second end of the implant; b) a helical body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the helical body being rotatable relative to the second end of the helical body, the first end of the helical body being permanently affixed to the first securing piece and the second end of the helical body being permanently affixed to the second securing piece; and c) a locking arrangement extending through the helical body and operatively connecting the first and second securing pieces together, the locking arrangement being configured to selectively lock the second securing piece in a rotational orientation relative to the first securing piece; wherein the helical body is configured to radially expand from a non-expanded configuration to an expanded configuration by rotating the first securing piece relative to the second securing piece in a direction to unwind the helical body.