Patent ID: 8882812

Claim:
A vertebral column construct for stabilizing a segment of a vertebral column, comprising: a first plate segment; a second plate segment connected to the first plate segment; a U-shaped spring connected between the first and second plate segments, wherein the U-shaped spring has a first end and a second end captured in a recess of the first plate segment and a curved portion extending between the first and second end, the curved portion being captured in a recess of the second plate segment so that the U-shaped spring determines a maximum spacing between the first and second plate segments; a cam mounted on the first plate segment to selectively rotate between: a locked position against a cam surface on the second plate segment to set a spacing between the first and second plate segments with a static load; and an unlocked position so that the U-shaped spring applies a dynamic compressive force; and a unitary plate for spanning the first and second plate segments to enhance stability of the column construct while permitting linear translation of the plate segments, wherein the unitary plate forms a male dovetail that couples to the plate segments in a female dovetail formed in the plate segments.