Patent ID: 8226723

Claim:
A self-retaining artificial spinal disc comprising: a disc body formed of a flexible material and having a superior surface and an opposed inferior surface, the disc body sized to fit an implant site between a caudally adjacent vertebral body and a cranially adjacent vertebral body of an existing human spine; a superior meniscus formed as a continuous peripheral extension of the flexible material of the superior surface and configured to encircle a portion of the cranially adjacent vertebral body; and an inferior meniscus formed as a continuous peripheral extension of the flexible material of the inferior surface and configured to encircle a portion of the caudally adjacent vertebral body; wherein the superior meniscus and the superior surface are operable to form a suction seal with the encircled portion of the cranially adjacent vertebral body and the inferior meniscus and the inferior surface are operable to form a suction seal with the encircled portion of the caudally adjacent vertebral body, to retain the artificial spinal disc in place post-surgery, without mechanical fasteners.