Patent ID: 8435296

Claim:
A spinal implant for placement between first and second vertebral bodies, comprising: a. a first member having a surface for engaging an end of a first vertebral body; b. a second member having a surface for engaging an end of a second vertebral body; c. at least one extendable support element having a contracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies and at least one extended configuration to extend the first member so that the surface thereof engages the end of the first vertebral body; and d. a locking system comprising a locking element that mechanically engages or interlocks with the extendable support element of the first member in a locked position to lock the implant between the first and second vertebral bodies in an expanded configuration, and a locking actuator disposed within the implant that moves the locking element into the locked position in response to deployment of the implant to said at least one extended configuration.