Patent ID: 7901459

Claim:
An artificial spinal joint for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra comprising: a first arthroplasty half comprising a first articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a first posterior joint replacement component spaced from the first articulating joint replacement component such that when the first articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the first posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a first bridge component coupled between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component, wherein the first bridge component has a length between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; and a second arthroplasty half comprising a second articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a second posterior joint replacement component spaced from the second articulating joint replacement component such that when the second articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the second posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a second bridge component coupled between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component, wherein the second bridge component has a length between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; wherein the first articulating joint replacement component is sized and shaped to engage the second articulating joint replacement component within the intervertebral disc space while the first and second posterior joint replacement components are disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra; wherein the first articulating joint replacement component includes a first rostral component in movable engagement with a first caudal component; wherein the second articulating joint replacement component includes a second rostral component in movable engagement with a second caudal component; and wherein at least one of: the first caudal component is connected with the second caudal component, and the first rostral component is connected with the second rostral component.