ARTIFICIAL VERTEBRAL DISK REPLACEMENT IMPLANT WITH TRANSLATING PIVOT POINT AND METHOD

摘要

An artificial vertebral disk replacement implant 100 is disclosed along with its method of operation and a method of implanting. The implant 100 has first 110 and second 120 plates that each mate with a vertebral body. Each plate 110/120 has one side 112/122 for mating with a vertebral body. The first plate 110 has a socket 136 on one side, and the second plate 120 has an elongated ball 134 on one side. The socket 136 of the first plate 110 and the ball 134 of the second plate 120 form a ball-and-socket joint when the two plates 110/120 are in contact with each other. The implant 100 achieves a range of motion equivalent to a natural range of motion.