Patent ID: 7744650

Claim:
A vertebral body replacement implant comprising: an upper and a lower support plate for positioning against end faces of vertebral bodies; two load-bearing elements, the mutual spacing of the two load-bearing elements being adjustable; an articulated connection between at least one of the two load-bearing elements and a corresponding one of the upper and lower support plates, the load-bearing element in a region of the articulated connection to the corresponding support plate having a bearing projection with a spherical lateral support surface, one of the corresponding support plate or a bearing part connected to the support plate resting with a contact surface, which is of a complimentary design to the spherical lateral support surface, against the spherical lateral support surface of the bearing projection over an angular range that extends in a peripheral direction at least over 180°, the corresponding support plate or the bearing part being mounted on the bearing projection pivotably about a pivotal axis extending parallel to the support plate; and a clamping device that clamps the bearing projection, on the one hand, and the corresponding support plate or the bearing part in a contact region of at least one of the spherical lateral support surface and the contact surface, on the other hand, towards one another, wherein: the support plate is of a U-shaped design having two substantially parallel limbs connected by a transverse web; the limbs are disposed on either side of the spherical bearing projection, the pivotal axis extends parallel to the transverse web; the clamping device in a clamping position clamps the two limbs towards one another at their free ends remote from the transverse web; and in the clamping position the bearing projection and the support plate or the bearing part are clamped non-pivotably relative to one another and in a release position are released so that they are freely pivotable relative to one another about the pivotal axis.