Patent ID: 6110210
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A prosthetic spinal disc nucleus for implantation into a nucleus cavity defined by an opposing pair of vertebrae and an anulus, the prosthetic spinal disc nucleus comprising:a first prosthetic body having sufficient structural integrity for separating an opposing pair of vertebrae and a volume that is less than a volume of a nucleus cavity;a second prosthetic body having sufficient structural integrity for separating an opposing pair of vertebrae and a volume that is less than a volume of a nucleus cavity;coupling means for selectively associating the first prosthetic body with the second prosthetic body, the coupling means configured to allow successive implantation of the first prosthetic body and then the second prosthetic body through an opening in the anulus and to substantially affix the first prosthetic body to the second prosthetic body upon implantation and final assembly; andwherein immediately following implantation of the second prosthetic body, the coupling means is connected to each of the first and second prosthetic bodies for relatively rapidly achieving the final assembly.