ARTIFICIAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC HAVING AN ARTICULATING JOINT

摘要

An intervertebral device includes a first plate (10) having an outer face (12) and an inner face (18), and a second plate 30 juxtaposed with the first plate, the second plate having an outer face (32), an inner face (34) that opposes the first plate (10) and a concavity (38) that opposes the first plate (10). The device includes an elongated member (50) extending from the first plate (10) toward the second plate (30), the elongated member (50) having a distal end (54) with a spherical surface that is engageable with the concavity (38) of the second plate (30) for providing an articulating joint between the first and second plates. The device also includes a resilient member (60) in contact with the elongated member (50) for counteracting compressive loads on the plates, the resilient member (60) being surrounded by the concavity (38) of the second plate (30).