Patent ID: 7473276

Claim:
An intervertebral implant sized and configured for implantation between an upper and lower vertebra, the implant comprising: an upper member having an upper surface for contacting at least a portion of the upper vertebra, a bottom surface, a dorsal side surface, a ventral side surface, and a pair of lateral side surfaces; a lower member having a lower surface for contacting at least a portion of the lower vertebra, a top surface, a dorsal side surface, a ventral side surface, and a pair of lateral side surfaces; and a central joint element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a dorsal side surface, a ventral side surface, and a pair of lateral side surfaces; wherein the bottom surface of the upper member is operatively coupled to the top surface of the central joint element so that the upper member is moveable with respect to the central joint element about a first swivel axis, and the top surface of the bottom member is operatively coupled to the bottom surface of the central joint element so that the bottom member is moveable with respect to the central joint element about a second swivel axis, the first swivel axis being substantially perpendicular to the second swivel axis; and wherein at least one of the side surfaces of at least one of the upper and lower members includes at least one elongated hole, the at least one elongated hole receiving a cam operatively associated with the central joint element, the interaction of the cam and the at least one elongated hole controlling the amount of movement between the central joint element and at least one of the upper and lower members.