Patent ID: 8182534

Claim:
An intervertebral prosthesis comprising: a core element; a pair of endplates 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 endplates has a recess that receives one of the ends of the core element; and a retaining mechanism that holds said one end of the core element in the recess, wherein said retaining mechanism includes a retainer with an angular cross-section defined by a base portion and a flange portion projecting from the base portion, wherein the base portion is received in a groove in a wall of the recess and the flange portion projects outwardly of the groove and overhangs a shoulder on the core element, wherein the retainer has a series of flanges projecting from the base, the flanges being separated from each other by notches, wherein the retainer is a flexible wire and the notches facilitate bending of the wire, and wherein the groove extends peripherally in the wall of the recess and has an entrance externally of the wall for receiving the wire.