Patent ID: 8025665

Claim:
A device to space vertebral members comprising: a deploying device comprising: a first member including a first distal section with a nose and a distal opening and a proximal opening, the first member also including an elongated first shaft that extends outward from the first distal section; a second member with a second distal section with a first pair of arms that are spaced apart to receive the first distal section and being on opposing sides of the first distal section, the second distal section including a second opening that aligns with the proximal opening, the second member also including an elongated second shaft that extends outward from the second distal section; a third member with a third distal section with a second pair of arms that are spaced apart to receive the second distal section with the second pair of arms being on opposing sides of the second distal section, the third distal section including a third opening, the third member also including an elongated third shaft that extends outward from the third distal section; a first plate positioned on an upper side of the deploying device; a second plate positioned on a lower side of the deploying device; first, second, and third jointed linkages each comprising a pair of links and each having a first end attached to the first plate, a second end attached to the second plate, and an intermediate joint connecting the pair of links together and being attached to the deploying device, the intermediate joint of the first jointed linkage being attached to the first member at the distal opening, the intermediate joint of the second jointed linkage being attached to the second member at the second opening, and the intermediate joint of the third jointed linkage being attached to the third member at the third opening; the first, second, and third members being nested together with the first distal section being axially movable relative to the second distal section between the first pair of arms to adjust a height measured between the first and second plates, and the second distal section being axially movable relative to the third distal section between the second pair of arms to adjust an angular orientation of the first and second plates; the third shaft including a hollow interior that telescopingly receives the first and second shafts in an overlapping arrangement with the first shaft extending through a majority of the third shaft when the device is in a closed orientation.