Patent ID: 7485146

Claim:
A disc replacement system for use in the spine, comprising: a first anchor plate having a first surface for engaging a first vertebra and a second surface including a cutout region; a second anchor plate having a first surface for engaging with a second vertebra and a second surface including a cutout region; a first pair of intradiscal liners having a first surface for engaging with said cutout region of said first anchor plate and a second surface including a semi-cylindrical articular surface; a second pair of intradiscal liners having a first surface for engaging with said cutout region of said second anchor plate and a second surface including a semi-cylindrical articular surface; and an intradiscal element including a first pair of articular surfaces having generally arcuate cross-sections for articulating with said semi-cylindrical articular surface of said first pair of intradiscal liners and a first generally planar surface for engaging said cutout region of said first anchor plate, and a second pair of articular surfaces having generally arcuate cross-sections for articulating with said semi-cylindrical articular surface of said second pair of intradiscal liners and a second generally planar surface for engaging said cutout region of said second anchor plate.