Patent ID: 8795374

Claim:
A prosthetic intervertebral disc, comprising: a first end plate having a first exterior edge and having an angled ramp comprising a trough and extending inwardly from the first exterior edge and configured for accepting and contacting an insertable compressible core at the exterior edge and for positioning the insertable compressible core on a flat region between the first end plate and a second end plate after the first end plate has been inserted in an intervertebral space; the second end plate having a second exterior edge and having an angled ramp comprising a trough and extending inwardly from the second exterior edge and configured for accepting and contacting the insertable compressible core and for positioning the insertable compressible core on the flat region between the first end plate and the second end plate after the second end plate has been inserted in an intervertebral space; the insertable compressible core consisting essentially of a member selected from the group consisting of elastomers and hydrogels; at least one fiber extending between and engaged with the first and second end plates; and wherein said end plates are held together by said at least one fiber.