Patent ID: 7618458

Claim:
An intervertebral implant comprising: a first part having a first end, a second end, a first contact surface provided between the first and second ends, a first guide surface fixed to the first contact surface and extending out from the first contact surface, and a first base surface opposite to said first contact surface; a second part having a third end, a fourth end, a second contact surface provided between the third and fourth ends, a second guide surface fixed to the second contact surface and recessed into the second contact surface, and a second base surface opposite to said second contact surface; the first guide surface and the second guide surface comprising cooperating structures so that the first contact surface of the first part can slide relative to the second contact surface of the second part with a translation motion guided by the cooperating structures of the first and second guide surfaces; wherein the first contact surface is slidable relative to the second contact surface between a first position wherein the first end of the first part is connected with the third end of the second part and a second position wherein the first end of the first part is connected with the fourth end of the second part; and wherein a distance between the first base surface and the second base surface continuously increases while the first base surface remains generally parallel with the second base surface as the first contact surface slides relative to the second contact surface from the first position to the second position.