Patent ID: 7462196
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for achieving stability of an implant in an intervertebral space of the human body, comprising: (a) an implant having a superior endplate, an inferior endplate, and a flexible core disposed between the endplates, each endplate defining an exterior surface of the apparatus for engaging a respective vertebral endplate and further defining at least one elongated channel formed in the exterior surface of the apparatus, wherein a longitudinal axis of the channel is substantially parallel to a surface of the endplate; and (b) at least one modular projection in the elongated channel in at least one of each of the superior and inferior endplates of the implant to achieve stability within the intervertebral space, the at least one modular projection occupying less than an entire surface area of at least one of each of the superior and inferior endplates such that at least a portion of the exterior surface of each of the superior and inferior endplates is able to engage a respective vertebral endplate and the at least one modular projection is configured to engage a respective vertebral endplate along substantially its entire length when the at least one modular projection is disposed in the channel.