Patent ID: 8377133

Claim:
A method of fixing an intervertebral disc implant within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising removing at least a portion of the annulus; preparing an inner facing surface of at least one of the adjacent vertebrae that faces the other adjacent vertebra by removing tissue or bone to create an elongate groove in the inner facing surface sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a securing member; inserting a motion-preserving intervertebral disc implant having at least an upper and a lower bearing member with a ball and socket joint therebetween into the intervertebral space; inserting a securing member in the elongate groove; rotating the securing member having a rotary shaft disposed within the intervertebral space between the prepared inner facing surface of the one adjacent vertebrae and the adjacent bearing member without rotating the upper or lower bearing member; engaging the one bearing member with the securing member; engaging the prepared bone with a plurality of parallel bone-engaging plates of the securing member longitudinally spaced along the rotary shaft thereof as the securing member is rotated; forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses in the elongate groove by engagement of the bone-engaging plates of the securing member with the prepared bone via rotation of the securing member; and fixing the one bearing member to the one adjacent vertebra with the securing member such that the one bearing member is secured within the intervertebral space.