PROSTHETIC INTERVERTEBRAL DISC AND METHODS FOR USING SAME

摘要

Prosthetic intervertebral discs (100) and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs (100) include upper (110) and lower (120) endplates separated by a compressible core member (130). The prosthetic discs (100) described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs (100) exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital 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 (100). The interface mechanism between the endplates (110, 120) and the core members (130) of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs (100) enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation.