Patent ID: 8038716

Claim:
A method for implanting an intervertebral disc prosthesis in a portion of a spine, the method comprising: securing a first essentially flat vertebral contacting surface to a first vertebral body; securing a second essentially flat vertebral contacting surface to a second vertebral body; positioning a nucleus between the first and second vertebral contacting surfaces, a first bearing surface formed on the nucleus, a planar third surface formed on the nucleus opposite the first bearing surface; a first straight section formed on the first bearing surface, the first straight section having a constant non-zero slope oriented with respect to the planar third surface to provide a corrective angle; and positioning a second bearing surface to articulate with the first bearing surface such that the second bearing surface mates with the constantly sloped first straight section to urge the first and second vertebral contacting surfaces toward an orientation of the first vertebral contacting surface relative to the second vertebral contacting surface that provides a deformity correction across at least one axis, wherein the first straight section is positioned adjacent to and contiguous with a first curved section of the first bearing surface, wherein the first straight section has a radius of curvature different from a radius of curvature of the first curved section.