Patent ID: 8864832

Claim:
A prosthetic system for implantation between upper and lower vertebrae, the system comprising: an upper joint component comprising an upper contact surface and an upper articulation surface, the upper joint component including recessed shoulders spaced apart from the upper articulation surface and configured to limit motion; a lower joint component comprising a lower contact surface and a lower articulation surface configured to movably engage the upper articulation surface to form an articulating joint, wherein the articulating joint is adapted for implantation within a disc space between the upper and lower vertebrae, allowing the upper and lower vertebrae to move relative to one another, the lower joint component including upwardly protruding extensions, spaced apart from the lower articulation surface and configured to engage with the recessed shoulders to limit motion, wherein the engagement of the recessed shoulders and the upwardly protruding extensions limit flexion and extension motion to prevent dislocation of the joint formed by the articulating surfaces; a bridge component extending posteriorly from one of either the upper or lower joint components and from the disc space, the bridge component having a distal end opposite the one of the either upper or lower joint components, wherein the distal end of the bridge component comprises a connection component adapted to receive a fastener; and a keel extending from the upper contact surface, the keel comprising: a first elongated section having a maximum first height from an anterior end of the upper joint component to a location between the anterior end and a posterior end of the upper joint component, and a second elongated section having a second height, wherein the second height is greater than the maximum first height.