Patent ID: 7740658

Claim:
A method of using an intervertebral disk prosthesis in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae of a patient, the method including: a) ensuring the intervertebral space is sufficiently clear; b) providing an egg-shaped intervertebral disk prosthesis that is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis thereof, the intervertebral disk prosthesis including: a generally bluntly rounded proximal end and an opposing generally bluntly rounded distal end, the distal end being at least partially convexly tapered, a first side and a second side, each side being at least partially convexly shaped, a first part with a convexly-shaped and rounded outer surface and an inner surface having a concavely-shaped socket, and a second part including a convexly-shaped and rounded outer surface and an inner surface having a convexly-shaped portion at least partially directly and slideably engaging with the socket of the first part thereby allowing at least two-degrees of freedom of movement of the first part with respect to the second part, wherein a length of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured from the distal end to the proximal end is greater than a width of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the first and second sides and is greater than a height of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the outer surface of the first part and the outer surface of the second part, and wherein the distal end has a lesser average radius of curvature than at the proximal end as measured on the outer surfaces of the first part that intersect the longitudinal axis; c) impacting the disk prosthesis to drive the disk prosthesis entirely within a nuclear region of the intervertebral space by temporarily distracting the vertebrae with minimal removal of a vertebral rim, thereby reducing the chance of dislodging the disk prosthesis post-surgery; and d) permitting a top of the first part to contact the first vertebra and a bottom of the second part to contact the second vertebra.