Patent ID: 8361148

Claim:
A method of stabilizing a portion of a spine, the method comprising: pivoting a first member of an expandable spinal implant relative to a second member of the expandable spinal implant in a first direction about a rotation axis to a closed configuration in which the spinal implant has a compact profile, the first and second members separate from and coupled to one another via first and second member mateable central portions; said central portions having an orientation substantially parallel to said rotation axis; inserting the spinal implant in the closed configuration into the spine between first and second vertebral bodies; pivoting the first member relative to the second member in a second direction about the rotation axis to an expanded generally X-shaped configuration while the spinal implant is within the spine, the second direction being opposite the first direction; and preventing further pivoting of the first member relative to the second member about the rotation axis by operation of a locking member, said locking member extending substantially from within said central portion that expands radially from a collapsed position to a neutral position when the first and second members are pivoted from the closed configuration to the expanded configuration.