Patent ID: 8202321

Claim:
An implant for insertion between two axially separated vertebrae as replacement for a missing vertebra, the implant comprising: a tubular body having two axially separated and longitudinally outwardly directed ends juxtaposable with respective vertebrae, each of the ends being formed with a radially outwardly projecting annular rounded ridge and with a radially outwardly open groove axially inward of the respective ridge, the ridges each having a rotation-symmetrical and radially outwardly convex outer surface; a respective end plate extending axially outward from each of the ends and formed with a central hole that communicates with an interior of the body, a radially throughgoing slot extending to the central hole and thereby forming the ring into a pair of arms, and a radially inwardly open recess receiving the annular ridge of the respective end of the body and having an annular rotational-symmetrical and radially inwardly concave inner surface on which rides the outer surface of the ridge of the respective end with freedom for polyaxial swiveling of each end plate on the respective end; and respective screws in the plates each having a threaded shank threaded into one of the respective arms and a head bearing on the other of the respective arms for pulling the respective arms together and thereby tightening the respective end plate on the respective ridge.