Patent ID: 8137404

Claim:
An artificial disc replacement implant, comprising: a central component having a superior member adapted to be positioned adjacent to an endplate of a superior vertebra, and an inferior member adapted to be positioned adjacent to an endplate of an adjacent inferior vertebra, the superior and inferior members being movable relative to one another, the central component further including leading and trailing ends and opposed first and second lateral sides extending between the leading and trailing ends, at least one of the lateral sides including a mating element formed thereon; and at least one lateral component extending laterally outward from at least one of the first and second lateral sides of the central component, the at least one lateral component having a mating element extending laterally-outward from a lateral edge of the lateral component and being slidably and removably matable to the mating element on at least one of the first and second lateral sides of the central component, and an elastic element that is configured to provide rotational resistance to adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae having the implant positioned therebetween.