Patent ID: 8066742

Claim:
A method of implanting a prosthetic device comprising: inserting a single-piece spacer between a superior vertebra and an adjacent inferior vertebra; the spacer having a center and comprising: a posterior portion comprising: first and second spinous-process receiving notches; first, second, third, and fourth flanges; the first and second flanges forming the first notch; the third and fourth flanges forming the second notch oriented generally opposite the first notch; an intermediate section abutting the first, second, third, and fourth flanges; the intermediate section separating the first notch from the second notch; the intermediate section having a posterior face that is flush with both a posterior face of the first flange and a posterior face of the second flange; an anterior portion having a fifth flange forming a groove with the first flange, the groove forming an upwardly facing concave surface; the first notch and groove each having respective minimum points; wherein the spacer is monolithically formed; receiving a spinous process of the superior vertebra in the first notch and receiving a portion of the inferior vertebra in the second notch such that the first and second notches extend through a sagittal plane defined by the superior and inferior vertebrae; wherein, after the receiving step and when the spacer is viewed normal to the sagittal plane, the minimum point of the groove is disposed along an upper perimeter profile of the spacer at a point closest to the center of the spacer and the minimum point of the groove is positioned vertically above the minimum point of the first notch; wherein the anterior portion is disposed more anteriorly than the posterior portion.