Patent ID: 8613769

Claim:
An apparatus for supporting vertebral bodies, comprising: a first end member adapted to engage an endplate of a first vertebral body; a second end member adapted to engage an endplate of a second vertebral body, said second end member comprising a socket including a spherical-shaped recessed portion; said first and second end members each having a perimetrical configuration extending about an open inner region and defining a lateral passage laterally communicating with said open inner region, said first and second end members spaced apart to define an axial space therebetween; and a support rod including opposite end portions, said end portions being positioned through said lateral passage and into said open inner region of said first and second end members to promote bone growth within said axial space, wherein one of said end portions is spherically-shaped, the spherically-shaped end portion being disposed in said spherical-shaped recessed portion such that said support rod is pivotable relative to said first end member about multiple axes.