Patent ID: 8257441
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising: first and second cooperating elements, said elements having anterior and posterior ends and lateral sides; the first element including an outer surface and an inner surface directed towards the second element; the second element including an outer surface and an inner surface directed towards the first element; the first element inner surface including a generally central, longitudinally extending articulated tongue extending between the anterior and posterior ends of the first element, and a first pair of articulated shoulders extending longitudinally on opposite sides of said tongue; the second element inner surface including a generally central, longitudinally extending articulated groove extending between the anterior and posterior ends of the second element, and a second pair of articulated shoulders extending longitudinally on opposite sides of said groove; the tongue and groove being generally complementary in shape whereby, when the prosthesis is in an assembled state, the groove is adapted to moveably receive the tongue therein; the first and second pairs of shoulders being in cooperative arrangement wherein the shoulders of the first element bear against the shoulders of the second element when the prosthesis is in the assembled state; said tongue comprising a proximal end, proximal to the inner surface of the first element, and a terminal end opposite the first end, wherein the proximal end has a narrower width, in transverse cross section, than the terminal end; said groove defined by an opening, opposed side walls, and a base for accommodating the tongue terminal end, the opening of the groove being narrower, in transverse cross section, than the width of the terminal end of the tongue; and wherein the opening of the groove includes opposing tongues extending from the upper edges of the side walls opposite to the base and longitudinally across the second element, wherein the tongues define a narrowed region of the opening, generally centrally along the length of the groove.