Patent ID: 7655045

Claim:
An artificial intervertebral disc comprising: housing members including spaced inner surfaces facing each other and oppositely facing outer surfaces for engaging spaced apart intervertebral surfaces, one of the housing members having an undercut recess formed therein; bearing means extending from each of said inner surfaces for engaging each other while allowing for low friction and compression resistance relative to each other while under compression; load sharing means disposed between said inner surfaces and about at least a portion of said bearing means for sharing absorption of compressive loads with said bearing means while limiting the relative movement of said housing members, wherein said load sharing means includes a pad member disposed and retained between said inner surfaces of said housing members and having cushioning and elastic properties for countering and thereby self centering against forces caused by relative movement of said housing member while under compressive forces are applied to said outer surfaces of said housing members, the pad member including a flange extending around an external periphery thereof, the flange seated in locking engagement in the recess; and a pair of disc members, each of said disc members including one of said bearing means, said inner surfaces of said housing members including disc seating means for seating one of said disc members therein in opposing relationship of the other of said disc members seated in said seating means of the other of said housing members.