Patent ID: 8216314

Claim:
A spinal implant assembly comprising housing means for containing a bearing member completely therein and seating within an intervertebral space; bearing means disposed within said housing for enabling disc like movement between vertebrae defining the intervertebral space; and distracting means disposed within said housing for distracting said housing means from a first condition in which said housing means is floatable into the intervertebral space to a second condition in which said housing means is distracted to fixedly engage the opposing vertebral surfaces defining the intervertebral space, said housing means including at least a first and second housing member for containing said bearing means therein and therebetween, at least one of said housing means including a ramping surface over which said bearing means seats and travels defining said distracting means whereby translating of said bearing means from a first position on said ramping surface to a second position on said ramping surface distracts said housing means from said first condition to said second condition without displacing said housing members relative to each other; wherein said bearing means includes a bearing head including a bearing surface thereon and a bottom portion seated against a ramping surface within an internal housing cavity; and wherein said bearing head includes connecting means for connecting said bearing head to said bottom portion.