Patent ID: 8753399

Claim:
An intervertebral implant comprising: an upper plate having an outer surface and an inner surface; a lower plate having an outer surface and an inner surface; a first intermediate plate having a first surface opposing the inner surface of said upper plate and a second surface opposing the inner surface of said lower plate; a first flexible hinge formed integrally with said upper plate and said intermediate plate; and a second flexible hinge formed integrally with said intermediate plate and said lower plate, wherein the first flexible hinge traverses the second flexible hinge about a vertical axis of the implant; wherein the implant is monolithic; wherein the implant is not compressible along the vertical axis; wherein said implant further comprises first and second slots that extend between said upper plate and said intermediate plate on opposite sides of said first flexible hinge; and wherein said first flexible hinge has an opening extending between and in communication with said first slot and said second slot.