Patent ID: 11957598
Assignee: LDR MEDICAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 7:
8. A motion preserving disc prosthesis comprising:
a first endplate including first and second surfaces;
a second endplate including first and second surfaces; and
a nucleus including first and second surfaces contacting the second surface of the first endplate and the first surface of the second endplate, respectively, wherein the first surface of the nucleus comprises at least one central recess intersecting a plurality of grooves radiating outwardly from the at least one central recess to facilitate engagement of the nucleus relative to the second surface of the first endplate in response to movement by a patient, wherein contacting portions adjacent to the at least one central recess and plurality of grooves are configured to provide a contact area between the first surface of the nucleus and second surface of the first endplate that is substantially equal to a contact area between the second surface of the nucleus and the first surface of the second endplate, whereby constraints applied to the disc prosthesis are absorbed equally by both surfaces of the nucleus, wherein the plurality of grooves are interconnected via the at least one central recess, wherein the contacting portions of the first surface of the nucleus and the second surface of the first endplate are each substantially flat and wherein an angle formed by edges of the at least one central recess relative to a substantially flat contacting portion of the first surface of the nucleus is softened.