Patent ID: 8211148

Claim:
A system for locking a spinal motion segment comprising: an artificial disc adapted to be secured to first and second adjacent vertebrae of a spinal motion segment in an interbody space between said first and second vertebrae; and a disc locking implant device adapted to be secured to the first and second vertebrae, the disc locking implant device including: first and second spaced apart lateral interbody wing members each having an anterior end and a posterior end; and an anterior retention plate affixed to the anterior end of each of said wing members, the plate being configured for attachment to the first and second vertebrae to hold said first and second wing members and the first and second vertebrae in a locked orientation relative to one another; and wherein said artificial disc comprises an articulating artificial disc at least partially positioned between said interbody wing members of said disc locking implant device, said articulating artificial disc configured to mimic the natural structure and function of a natural intervertebral disc to substantially preserve motion of the spinal motion segment without fusion between the first and second vertebrae, wherein said articulating artificial disc comprises at least two articular elements that articulate relative to one another prior to being at least partially positioned between said interbody wing members of said disc locking implant device, and wherein the anterior retention plate is configured to be positioned at a location and has a length adapted to span the first and second adjacent vertebrae on an anterior side of the first and second vertebrae.