Patent ID: 7531001

Claim:
An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae, the prosthesis comprising: upper and lower prosthesis plates locatable against respective vertebrae and having opposing, concavely curved recesses therein; a core located between the plates, the core having a height extending between the plates which is smaller than a width of the core in a direction perpendicular to the height, the core having opposed, convexly curved top and bottom surfaces received in the recesses of the plates to allow the plates to slide in an articulated manner over the core; wherein the opposed surfaces of the core and the recesses of the plates comprise cooperating curvatures; wherein each plate is bounded by an annular rim, such that the annular rims are arranged to contact one another at a predetermined limit of sliding movement of the plates over the core; and wherein each plate includes an empty annular groove adjacent to the rim, each groove configured and arranged to facilitate handling of the plate by instruments used to place the prosthesis in use.