Prosthetic intervertebral disc implants

摘要

Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the sagittal plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation.

主权项

1. A prosthetic intervertebral disc, comprising:
an upper plate including a first piece having first piece radial directions coupled with a second piece, the first piece including a first plurality of slots, each having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension and wherein the larger dimensions of the first plurality of slots are substantially aligned with the first piece radial directions, respectively, in the first piece and the second piece is positioned above the first piece such that the first plurality of slots are covered by the second piece; a lower plate including a third piece having third piece radial directions coupled with a fourth piece, the third piece including a second plurality of slots, each having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension and wherein the larger dimensions of the second plurality of slots are substantially aligned with the third piece radial directions, respectively, in the third piece and the fourth piece is positioned below the third piece such that the second plurality of slots are covered by the fourth piece; a core member positioned between the upper and lower plates; and a fibrous component extending through at least one of the first plurality of slots in the first piece of the upper plate and at least one of the second plurality of slots in the third piece of the lower plate such that the upper plate is held to the lower plate.