Patent ID: 8486146
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An intervertebral prosthesis comprising: a core element; a pair of end plates adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of the core element for attaching the opposite ends of the core element to respective vertebrae, wherein at least one of the end plates has a pocket-shaped recess with an internal configuration defined by a bottom surface and a peripheral sidewall, wherein one end of the core element is adapted to be received in the recess and has an external configuration defined by a top surface adapted to oppose the bottom surface of the recess and a peripheral side surface adapted to oppose the sidewall of the recess, wherein the sidewall of the recess has an elongated groove that extends longitudinally around the sidewall and that is laterally open at one side towards the peripheral side surface of the one end of the core element when the one end of the core element is received in the recess; an elongated flexible retainer adapted to be received in and along the groove, the one end plate having an aperture for admitting the retainer longitudinally into the groove, the aperture extending to the groove laterally from an exterior point on the one end plate, and wherein the groove and the one end of the core element have surfaces cooperable with surfaces of the retainer to restrict movement of the end of the core element relative to the one end plate.