Patent ID: 7811326

Claim:
A prosthetic device for placement in an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebrae and a lower vertebrae to provide articulating motion to the upper and lower vertebrae, comprising: an upper articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the intervertebral space; and a lower articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the intervertebral space below the upper articular portion, the upper and lower articular portions being configured to provide articulating motion to the upper and lower vertebrae, the upper and lower articular portions each including a posterior section rigidly extending from a posterior portion of the respective upper and lower articular portions in a manner to extend from a posterior portion of the intervertebral space, the posterior section being configured to be disposed in a location posterior of the intervertebral space, wherein the posterior section of one of the upper and lower articular portions includes a post, the post having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the post having a distal end including a motion stop extending in a posterior direction from a distal-most end of the distal portion of the post, the motion stop configured to cooperate with the posterior section of the other of the upper and lower articular portions to limit an articulation range of the upper and lower articular portions, and wherein the posterior section of the other of the upper and lower articular portions includes a receiving portion configured to interact with the post during articulation such that the post extends through the receiving portion.