Patent ID: 8480739

Claim:
An implant for positioning between C1 and C2 vertebral members comprising: a blade sized to fit between the C1 and C2 vertebral members and having a length measured between an insertion tip and a second side, a width measured between opposing first and second lateral sides and being perpendicular to the length, and a height measured between a superior side configured to contact against the C1 vertebral member and an inferior side configured to contact against the C2 vertebral member, the blade including a first aperture that extends through the blade between the inferior and superior sides, the blade including a blade centerline that extends through the insertion tip and the second side and between the inferior and superior sides; a flange at the second side of the blade that extends perpendicular to the blade centerline above the superior side of the blade to extend along an exterior face of the C1 vertebral member, the flange including a second aperture with a aperture centerline, the aperture centerline orientated at an angle of between about 20-40° relative to the blade centerline, the flange being perpendicular to the blade centerline and positioned away from the first aperture in a non-overlapping arrangement, a lateral side of the flange being aligned with the first lateral side and an opposite lateral side of the flange being positioned adjacent the blade centerline; and a leg at the second side of the blade that extends outward below the inferior side of the blade and away from second side of the blade to extend across an exterior of the C2 vertebral member, a lateral side of the leg being aligned with the second lateral side and an opposite lateral side of the leg being positioned adjacent the blade centerline wherein the leg includes a leg centerline that extends along a length of the leg, with an angle formed between the blade centerline and the leg centerline being between about 140°-170°.