Patent ID: 7588600

Claim:
A method for replacing a damaged spinal disc between first and second vertebrae of a spinal column comprising: connecting a first mounting member with the first vertebra of the spinal column; and moving an artificial disc between the first and second vertebrae and into engagement with the first mounting member to guide the artificial disc into position between the first and second vertebrae, the artificial disc including a resilient core having a first surface and a second surface, a first retaining member fixedly connected to the first surface of the resilient core, and a second retaining member fixedly connected to the second surface of the resilient core, the first retaining member having an outer surface directly engageable with the first vertebra of the spinal column after the artificial disc is in position between the first and second vertebrae and an inner surface facing the first surface of the resilient core, the second retaining member having an outer surface directly engageable with the second vertebra of the spinal column after the artificial disc is in position between the first and second vertebrae and an inner surface facing the second surface of the resilient core.