Patent ID: 8915963

Claim:
An implantable prosthetic for replacing an intervertebral disc of a spinal column, said implantable prosthetic comprising: a housing enclosing a void, said housing further comprising a monolithic upper housing member having a first upper surface adapted for cooperative engagement with a superior vertebra and a first lower surface opposite to said first upper surface, a first sidewall extending downwardly from a first peripheral edge of said first lower surface and surrounding the void, a first post extending from a center of said first upper surface longitudinally in a first direction away from the first upper surface and away from the void, said first post configured for insertion within a first channel prepared in said superior vertebra, a second post at said first peripheral edge extending in a second direction away from said first upper surface and from the void parallel to the first direction, said second post configured for engagement within said first channel prepared in said superior vertebra, and a first bore extending from said void through said upper housing member and longitudinally through said first post for receiving a bone screw configured to be driven into said superior vertebra, a monolithic lower housing member having a second lower surface adapted for cooperative engagement with an inferior vertebra and a second upper surface opposite to said second lower surface, a second sidewall extending upwardly from a second peripheral edge of said second upper surface and surrounding the void, a third post extending from a center of said second lower surface longitudinally in a third direction away from the lower surface and away from the void, said third post configured for insertion within a second channel prepared in said inferior vertebra, and a second bore extending from said void through said lower housing member for receiving a bone screw configured to be driven into said inferior vertebra, said first sidewall of said upper housing member slideably engaged with said second sidewall of said lower housing member to define said void, a resilient member seated in said void, said resilient member engaging said first lower surface of said upper housing member and said second upper surface of said lower housing member so as to replicate the natural relative movement of the superior and inferior vertebra; a first bone screw through and out from said first bore of said upper housing member and configured to extend into said superior vertebra; and a second bone screw through and out from said second bore of said lower housing member and configured to extend into said inferior vertebra.