Importance

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Abstract

An artificial intervertebral disk for replacing a damaged human disk between two adjacent vertebrae in a human spinal column is disclosed. The invention comprises a pair of cylindrically shaped members in a vertical stacked relationship and a flexible spacer therebetween. The cylindrically shaped members are joined together in a ball and socket relationship which provides full rotational movement thereof. The flexible spacer therebetween provides the resilient compressive strength necessary to maintain the vertical separation of the adjacent vertebrae. The flexible resilient spacer completely surrounds the ball and socket portions of the cylindrically shaped members. Each cylindrically shaped member is fastened to the bone in the adjacent vertebrae with an arcuate plate and is secured with a fastener that engages the bone in the adjacent vertebrae and a threaded recess in the cylindrically shaped member. A cavity is routed out of the adjacent vertebrae by a routing guide tool and the invention is implanted in the patient by a special alignment and holding tool that allows the surgeon to drill through channels in the bone in the adjacent vertebrae in perfect alignment with threadable recesses in the cylindrically shaped members. An sized fastener is inserted through an aperture in the arcuate plate and engages the bone material and a threaded portion the recess in the cylindrically shaped member.

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First Claim