INTERVERTEBRAL PROSTHESES WITH COMPLIANT FILLER MATERIAL FOR SUPPORTING ADJACENT VERTEBRAL BODIES AND METHOD

摘要

An intervertebral prosthesis and method includes an artificial interbody disc for engaging faces of adjacent natural vertebral bodies when a natural disc is replaced. Channels in the interbody disc can provide flexible characteristics to accommodate loads on the subject's spinal column. A bio-compatible filler material having a flexural stiffness of less than 12 GPa can encourage bone growth in the channels. The filler material may be inserted during an operation or pre-inserted in the disc channels during manufacturing of the disc.