Patent ID: 8353964
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthetic intervertebral disc comprising: (a) a resiliently flexible and compressible nucleus having an upper face, a lower face, and a peripheral outer surface extending between said upper and lower faces; (b) an upper end plate located proximate said upper face and having a first plurality of fingers extending radially and having respective tips located radially outwardly beyond said peripheral outer surface of said nucleus; (c) a lower end plate located proximate said lower face and having a second plurality of fingers extending radially and having respective tips located radially outwardly beyond said peripheral outer surface of said nucleus; (d) a strand of flexible tension-bearing material separate from the nucleus extending around one of the first plurality of fingers and to and around a respective one of the second plurality of fingers, separate from but adjacent said peripheral outer surface of said nucleus as a winding interconnecting said upper and lower end plates with each other; and (e) a respective end cap covering each of said end plates and attached thereto by at least one threaded fastener extending through said end cap and engaged in a respective threaded bore defined in the respective one of said end plates, each said end cap including a peripheral rim, extending in an axial direction with respect to the prosthetic intervertebral disc and located closely outwardly adjacent to and surrounding a part of the respective end plate to which it is attached, including said tips of said fingers, and preventing said winding from being disengaged from said fingers.