Human spinal disc prosthesis

摘要

An endoprosthesis has a resilient body (20) formed of one or more materials which may vary in stiffness from a relatively stiff exterior annular gasket portion (22) to a relatively supple central nucleus portion (24). Concaval-convex elements (30) at least partly surround that nucleus portion (24) so as to retain the body (20) between adjacent vertebral bodies in a patient's spine (10). Assemblies of endoprosthetic discs, endoprosthetic vertebral bodies, and endoprosthetic longitudinal ligaments may be constructed. To implant this endoprosthesis assembly, information is obtained regarding the size, shape, and nature of a patient's damaged spine. Thereafter, one or more prosthetic vertebral bodies and disc units are constructed in conformity with that information. Finally, the completed and conformed vertebral body and disc assembly is implanted in the patient's spine.