Patent ID: 8114082

Claim:
An anchor system for establishing an anchor along an endplate adjacent an intervertebral disc, comprising: a prosthetic device; and a bone anchor, wherein the bone anchor is rotationally coupled to the prosthetic device, wherein the prosthetic device is configured to repair the intervertebral disc, wherein the bone anchor is configured for insertion into an outer surface of a vertebral body and for presenting an attachment site along an endplate of the vertebral body, wherein the outer surface is offset at an angle substantially perpendicular to the endplate, wherein the bone anchor comprises a neck, wherein said neck has a length defined by a sharpened leading edge and a trailing end, wherein said neck comprises an attachment site along at least a portion of its length, wherein said attachment site is attachable to the prosthetic device, wherein said attachment site is configured to extend above the endplate, wherein said neck comprises a bottom portion terminating in two or more keels, wherein said keels are configured for pull-out resistance and stability by presenting a larger surface area below the endplate and embedded in the outer surface of the vertebral body, wherein said keels form an angle of about 10 to about 180 degrees relative to each other; wherein each of said keels comprises sharpened leading edges and at least two friction zones, wherein said friction zones are configured for resting rotation and pull-out of the bone anchor, wherein said attachment site is offset relative to both the bone anchor's angle of insertion and said neck to present said attachment site along the endplate, while said keels are inserted into the outer surface of the vertebral body, wherein the sharpened leading edges of the keels are configured for advancement within the outer surface while the attachment site and the prosthetic device are simultaneously advanced along and across the endplate, and wherein the anchor is configured for countersinking within said outer surface such that no portion of said bone anchor lies beyond said outer surface.