Patent ID: 8092496

Claim:
A system for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising: an artificial disc adapted to be implanted between adjacent vertebrae and having at least one degree of freedom; first and second rigid connecting elements; first and second anchors adapted to rigidly couple the first and second connecting elements to adjacent vertebrae; a rigid body coupled between the first and second connecting elements; and a first joint formed between the rigid body and the first connecting element and a second joint formed between the rigid body and the second connecting element such that the first and second connecting elements and the rigid body kinematically form a four bar linkage mechanism in a sagittal plane with the first and second adjacent vertebrae and the artificial disc when the artificial disc is disposed between the first and second adjacent vertebrae for restoring function to the first and second adjacent vertebrae, the first and second joints each having one degree of freedom in the sagittal plane, and at least one of the first and second joints being a sliding joint.