Patent ID: 8721725

Claim:
A method of securing an intervertebral prosthesis between adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising the steps of: preparing a disc space for receiving the intervertebral prosthesis; inserting the intervertebral prosthesis into the prepared disc space under slight distraction, the intervertebral prosthesis comprising two attachment plates connected in an articulating manner, the attachment plates comprising a base surface and cutting teeth, the base surface configured with serrated ridges for attachment to an endplate of an adjacent vertebral body, the cutting teeth configured to be self-tapping and to penetrate into the endplate of the adjacent vertebral body without forming a fixation channel in the endplate to receive the cutting teeth, each of the cutting teeth extending from the base surface and defined by an inclined posterior-facing surface, a steep anterior-facing surface, a medial-facing side surface, and a lateral-facing side surface, wherein the cutting teeth are arranged in at least two non-connected rows arranged with an interspace opening located between a convergence of the rows, the rows arranged symmetrically about a median plane in an anterior to posterior direction wherein the at least two rows converge in the posterior direction and open outward in the anterior direction, and the steep anterior-facing surface extends at 90° to the medial plane, wherein the inclined posterior-facing surface is a slide-on surface that gently distracts the endplates during insertion; and releasing the distraction force which presses the cutting teeth into the vertebral endplates; wherein the cutting teeth connect intimately with the vertebral endplates to provide primary fixation of the intervertebral prosthesis.