Patent ID: 9289311
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. An improved artificial disc comprises: a superior member having an upper body portion; an inferior member having a lower body portion; and wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portions, when positioned in a disc space between the upper and lower vertebral bodies and affixed to a respective vertebral body, are independently movable relative to the other along complimentary bearing surfaces on each of the superior and inferior members and wherein the complimentary bearing surfaces are self-aligned by a magnetic attraction force generated by a permanent magnet in either the inferior or superior member; the magnet being contained in a first ferromagnetic shunt for directing the magnetic field in a region defined by an outer perimeter field boundary, the field boundary being projected to an opposed second shunt in the opposite inferior or superior member, wherein the opposed second shunt has a concave central portion extending to a maximum thickness along an outer perimeter, and wherein the inferior or superior member with a magnet has a third ferromagnetic shunt overlying an outer surface of the magnet, the third shunt has a convex curvature complimentary to the concave central portion of the opposite inferior or superior member.