Patent ID: 8888850

Claim:
An artificial disc replacement mechanism adapted for being installed within a reconditioned interior space established between successive vertebrae, said mechanism comprising: a rigid elongated body exhibiting a generally open conical shape and having a pair of spaced apart and lengthwise edges extending from a proximal edge and joining at a distal tapered edge, a sealing plug extending from said proximal edge and having outwardly extending lip edges which are adapted to overlay exterior surfaces of the successive vertebrae, an injection aperture communicating an exterior face of said plug with an open interior bounded by said rigid body; an inflatable membrane having an open end secured about a perimeter extending edge of said rigid body at a location proximate said sealing plug, said membrane extending over and enclosing said rigid elongated and open body in an initially flaccid and deformable condition; anchors displacing through apertures defined within said end plug and adapted to being engaged within each of the successive vertebrae so that said rigid body and supported membrane are suspended in inwardly extending and non-contacting fashion relative to opposing interior vertebral surfaces and within the reconditioned interior space; and a volume of a settable fluidic material introduced through said injection aperture and, upon passing through an interior of said sealing plug and flowing outwardly around said rigid body and against an interior of said membrane, progressively filling and causing outward expansion of said inflatable membrane away from said rigid body and to a supporting condition in contact with inner and opposing surfaces of the vertebrae defining the reconditioned interior space.