Patent ID: 8021428

Claim:
A disc prosthesis device comprising: first and second endplates each having an articulating contact surface and a bone facing surface, the contact surface of the first endplate has a shape complementary to the contact surface of the second endplate such that the first and second endplates can articulate while in contact with one another, at least one of the first and second endplates consisting of a ceramic material; and at least one non-ceramic bone attachment element in the form of a longitudinal strip seated within a recess formed in at least one of the bone facing surfaces such that the bone attachment element covers less than a full area of the bone facing surface and sits flush with the bone facing surface, the at least one non-ceramic bone attachment element including a plurality of bone-penetrating teeth extending therefrom, the plurality of bone-penetrating teeth extending parallel to one another and along a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal strip, and wherein the plurality of bone-penetrating teeth are oriented and adapted so as to be compressed during insertion.