Patent ID: 7635389
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthetic device for placement in an intervertebral disc space defined between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra to provide articulating motion to the upper and lower vertebrae, comprising: an upper articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the upper articular portion including an upper posterior portion configured to be disposed at a location posterior of the intervertebral disc space; a lower articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the intervertebral disc space and configured to cooperate with the upper articular portion to provide articulating motion to the upper and lower vertebrae, the lower articular portion including a lower posterior portion configured to be disposed at a location posterior of the intervertebral disc space; and an attachment element extending from the upper posterior portion and when implanted extends in the general direction of the spinal column, the attachment element being configured to be fastened to the upper vertebra to at least partially secure in place the upper articular portion, wherein the upper and lower articular portions are laterally symmetric about an anterior-posterior longitudinal centerline and the attachment element is centrally aligned about the longitudinal centerline, wherein the attachment element is connected to the upper posterior portions by a movable joint centrally aligned about the longitudinal centerline, and wherein the upper and lower posterior portions extend in a substantially parallel direction when the prosthetic device is in a neutral position.