A device for securing a first vertebral body to a second vertebral body, wherein:
- the first vertebral body comprises an inferior end plate, a superior end plate, a distal outer surface and a proximal outer surface, wherein the distal outer surface and the proximal outer surface of the first vertebral body extend generally perpendicular to the inferior end plate and the superior end plate of the first vertebral body;
- wherein the second vertebral body comprises an inferior end plate, a superior end plate, a distal outer surface and a proximal outer surface, wherein the distal outer surface and the proximal outer surface of the second vertebral body extend generally perpendicular to the inferior end plate and the superior end plate of the second vertebral body;
- wherein the superior end plate of the first vertebral body and the inferior end plate of the second vertebral body are separated by a gap;
- and
- wherein the distal outer surface of the first vertebral body is generally aligned with the distal outer surface of the second vertebral body, and wherein the proximal outer surface of the first vertebral body is generally aligned with the proximal outer surface of the second vertebral body, said device comprising:
- a distal retention plate characterized by a long dimension, a short dimension, a first proximal bearing surface portion and a second proximal bearing surface portion, said distal retention plate having an elongate shaft secured in normal relation thereto;
- and
- a proximal retention plate characterized by a long dimension, a short dimension, a first distal bearing surface portion and a second distal bearing surface portion, said proximal retention plate having an elongate shaft secured in normal relation thereto;
- said elongate shaft of said distal retention plate being assembled in telescoping relation to said elongate shaft of said proximal retention plate, with:
- (i) said distal retention plate and said proximal retention plate being in rotationally fixed disposition relative to one another so that said long dimension of said distal retention plate extends parallel to said long dimension of said proximal retention plate, and
- (ii) said distal retention plate and said proximal retention plate being in longitudinally adjustable disposition relative to one another so that a distance between said first proximal bearing surface portion of said distal retention plate and said first distal bearing surface portion of said proximal retention plate, and a distance between said second proximal bearing surface portion of said distal retention plate and said second distal bearing surface portion of said proximal retention plate, are selectively adjustable;
- and further wherein said device is constructed so as to be capable of selectively assuming the following dispositions:
- (a) an insertion disposition in which said distal retention plate is disposed such that said long dimension of said distal retention plate is configured to extend generally parallel to a distal edge of the first vertebral body between the distal outer surface and the superior end plate of the first vertebral body;
- (b) a rotated disposition in which (i) said distal retention plate is disposed such that said short dimension of said distal retention plate is configured to extend generally parallel to the distal edge of the first vertebral body between the distal outer surface and the superior end plate of the first vertebral body, and (ii) the distance between said first proximal bearing surface portion of said distal retention plate and said first distal bearing surface portion of said proximal retention plate is greater than a distance between the distal outer surface of the first vertebral body and the proximal outer surface of the first vertebral body, and the distance between said second proximal bearing surface portion of said distal retention plate and said second distal bearing surface portion of said proximal retention plate is greater than a distance between the distal outer surface of the second vertebral body and the proximal outer surface of the second vertebral body;
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- (c) a secured disposition in which (i) said distal retention plate is disposed such that said short dimension of said distal retention plate is configured to extend generally parallel to the distal edge of the first vertebral body between the distal outer surface and the superior end plate of the first vertebral body, and (ii) the distance between said first proximal bearing surface portion of said distal retention plate and said first distal bearing surface portion of said proximal retention plate is the same as or less than the distance between the distal outer surface of the first vertebral body and the proximal outer surface of the first vertebral body, and the distance between said second proximal bearing surface portion of said distal retention plate and said second distal bearing surface portion of said proximal retention plate is the same as or less than the distance between the distal outer surface of the second vertebral body and the proximal outer surface of the second vertebral body.