Patent ID: 7972337

Claim:
A method of establishing an anchor along an endplate adjacent an intervertebral disc, comprising: identifying a vertebral body comprising an outer surface and an endplate; identifying a defect in an intervertebral disc adjacent said vertebral body; providing a prosthetic device coupled to a bone anchor, wherein the prosthetic device is configured to repair the intervertebral disc, wherein the bone anchor is configured for insertion into the outer surface and for presenting an attachment site along the endplate, wherein the outer surface is offset at an angle substantially perpendicular from the endplate and extends around a circumference of the vertebral body, wherein the bone anchor comprises a neck, wherein said neck has a length defined by a sharpened leading edge and a trailing end, wherein said neck comprises an attachment site along at least a portion of its length, wherein said attachment site is attachable to the prosthetic device, wherein the attachment site is configured to extend above the endplate, wherein said neck comprises a bottom portion terminating in two or more keels, wherein said keels are configured for pull-out resistance and stability by presenting a larger surface area below the endplate and embedded in the outer surface, wherein said keels form an angle of about 10 to about 180 degrees relative to each other; wherein each of said keels comprises sharpened leading edges, wherein the attachment site is offset relative to both the anchor's angle of insertion and said neck to present said attachment site along the endplate, while said keels are inserted into the outer surface; advancing the sharpened leading edges of the keels within the outer surface while simultaneously advancing the attachment site, and thereby the prosthetic device, along and across the endplate, wherein the anchor is driven within the outer surface of the vertebral body along a trajectory that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the vertebral body and substantially parallel to the endplate; countersinking said anchor within said outer surface such that no portion of said anchor lies beyond said outer surface; and positioning the prosthetic device to close the defect.