Patent ID: 8328851
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for replacing an intervertebral disc comprising the step of: establishing an operative corridor to an intervertebral disc space via a lateral, trans-psoas surgical approach that leaves the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL) intact and includes monitoring nerves in the psoas muscle with a neurophysiology based monitoring system to avoid damaging said nerves; preparing the intervertebral disc space for receipt of a disc replacement implant, the disc replacement implant including a first anchor plate with a first surface for contacting a first vertebra adjacent the disc space and a second interior surface having an articulation recess integrally formed therein and offset posteriorly from a center point of the second interior surface, a second anchor plate having a third surface for contacting a second vertebra adjacent the disc space and a fourth interior surface, and an intradiscal element integrally joined with the fourth interior surface and offset posteriorly from a center point of the fourth surface, the intradiscal element configured to articulate with the articulation recess, the first anchor plate and second anchor plate together having an implant length defined by a distance along an X-axis, the X-axis being generally parallel to the coronal plane when the implant is positioned within the interbody space, an implant width defined by a distance along a Z-axis, the Z-axis being generally parallel to the sagittal plane when the implant is positioned in the intervertebral space, the implant length being greater than the implant width, and such that the implant extends from the apophyseal ring at a first lateral aspect of the intervertebral disc space to the apophyseal ring at a second lateral aspect of the intervertebral disc space when the implant is positioned in the intervertebral disc space; simultaneously introducing the first anchor plate and second anchor plate through the lateral trans-psoas operative corridor into the intervertebral disc space such that the intradiscal element of the second anchor plate cooperates within the articulation recess of the first anchor plate to post-operatively allow motion between the first and second vertebrae.