Patent ID: 7556651

Claim:
An artificial spinal joint for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the artificial spinal joint comprising: a first joint half comprising a first intervertebral articulating assembly, a first rostral connection assembly, and a first caudal connection assembly, wherein the first intervertebral articulating assembly comprises a first semi-cylindrical component and a first recess, and wherein the first semi-cylindrical component is shaped for articulating engagement with the first recess, and wherein the first rostral connection assembly is cooperatively connected to and positioned posteriorly from the first articulating assembly such that the first rostral connection assembly is located posterior to the pedicles of a superior vertebra when the first articulating assembly is in an intervertebral disc space, and wherein the first caudal connection assembly is cooperatively connected to and positioned posteriorly from the first articulating assembly such that the first caudal connection assembly is located posterior to the pedicles of an inferior vertebra when the first articulating assembly is in the intervertebral disc space; a second joint half unconnected and spaced apart from the first joint half and comprising a second intervertebral articulating assembly, a second rostral connection assembly, and a second caudal connection assembly, wherein the second intervertebral articulating assembly comprises a second semi-cylindrical component and a second recess, and wherein the second semi-cylindrical component is shaped for articulating engagement with the second recess; and a constraint component extending between the first rostral connection assembly and the first caudal connection assembly.