Patent ID: 8808381

Claim:
A prosthetic intervertebral disc for implantation between adjacent first and second vertebrae in a human spine comprising: a compressible core member having an intermediate portion and an upper protrusion from an intermediate portion and a lower protrusion from an intermediate portion, the upper and lower protrusions being located on opposite sides of the compressible core member; a first endplate having first endplate radial directions, the first endplate comprising a first plurality of slots each having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension and wherein the larger dimensions of the first plurality of slots are substantially aligned in respective first endplate radial directions, the first endplate being fixable to a first vertebra, the first endplate having a first surface surrounded by a second surface with the first and second surfaces being separated by a first edge, wherein the first surface receives and is in contact with the upper protrusion, and the second surface is in contact with a first area of the compressible core member adjacent to the upper protrusion; a second endplate having second endplate radial directions, the second endplate comprising a second plurality of slots each having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension and wherein the larger dimensions of the second plurality of slots are substantially aligned in respective second endplate radial directions, the second endplate being fixable to a second vertebra adjacent the first vertebra in the spine, the second endplate having a third surface surrounded by a fourth surface with the third and fourth surfaces being separated by a second edge, wherein the third surface receives and is in contact with the lower protrusion, and the fourth surface is in contact with a second area of the compressible core member adjacent to the lower protrusion; and at least one fiber extending through the first plurality of slots in the first endplate and through the second plurality of slots in the second endplate.