Patent ID: 8486145

Claim:
Apparatus comprising: a first spinal prosthetic member that flexes relative to a second spinal prosthetic member about a lateral-medial axis corresponding to a lateral-medial axis of a body, wherein said first spinal prosthetic member comprises a first attachment member and a first articulating member that extends therefrom, and said second spinal prosthetic member comprises a second attachment member and a second articulating member that extends therefrom, said first articulating member articulating with said second articulating member, and wherein said first and second attachment members are attachable to spinal structure, and wherein said second articulating member has an inner hollow portion that fits over a protrusion that extends upward from said second attachment member, said protrusion together with said inner hollow portion of said second articulating member extending partially into a recess formed in said first articulating member along a second axis generally perpendicular to said lateral-medial axis so as to define a gap between an inner surface of said recess and an outer surface of said inner hollow portion along said second axis; and a flexure limiting member attached to said first and second spinal prosthetic members, which limits flexure about the lateral-medial axis, wherein said flexure limiting member comprises an at least partial boot, and wherein articulation between said first articulating member and said second articulating member is restricted to be along an anterior face of one of the articulating members and a posterior face of the other articulating member.