Intervertebral disc prosthesis

Abstract

This disclosure relates to intervertebral disc prostheses which may have an upper plate, a lower plate, and a mobile core, with the upper surface of the core being in contact with at least a part of the lower surface of the upper plate. In some configurations, limit stops reduce friction while limiting or preventing the movements of the core relative to the lower plate, in translation and in rotation, respectively, along an axis substantially parallel to the lower plate and about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lower plate. Instrumentation for insertion of the prostheses into intervertebral spaces is also described.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising:
 a superior plate configured to engage an inferior surface of a superior vertebral body;   an inferior plate configured to engage a superior surface of an inferior vertebral body, the inferior plate including a pair of contact plates disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of the inferior plate; and   a mobile core disposed between the superior plate and the inferior plate, the mobile core including a pair of recesses configured to receive the pair of contact plates.   
     
     
         14 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of contact plates extend from a superior surface of the inferior plate. 
     
     
         15 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of recesses are sized to allow for movement of the mobile core relative to the pair of contact plates. 
     
     
         16 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of recesses in conjunction with the pair of contact plates operate to limit movement of the mobile core relative to the superior plate and the inferior plate. 
     
     
         17 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of recesses in cooperation with the pair of contact plates limit both translational movement and rotational movement of the mobile core relative to the inferior plate. 
     
     
         18 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the superior plate includes two sets of teeth extending superiorly along opposing lateral sides of an upper surface of the superior plate to engage the superior vertebral body. 
     
     
         19 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the inferior plate includes two sets of teeth extending inferiorly along opposing lateral side of a lower surface of the inferior plate to engage the inferior vertebral body. 
     
     
         20 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the mobile core includes a substantially flat lower surface. 
     
     
         21 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 20 , wherein the substantially flat lower surface of the mobile core is formed in a protective shell attachable to an upper portion of the mobile core. 
     
     
         22 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein the protective shell of the mobile core is made of metal. 
     
     
         23 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 20 , wherein the substantially flat lower surface of the mobile core comprises a channel. 
     
     
         24 . A motion preserving disc prosthesis comprising:
 an upper plate including a superior surface and an inferior surface;   a lower plate including a superior surface and an inferior surface, the lower plate including a pair of contact plates extending superiorly and disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of the inferior plate; and   a core including an at least partially convex upper surface configured to engage the inferior surface of the upper plate and a substantially flat lower surface configured to slidably engage the superior surface of the lower plate, the core further including a pair of recesses configured to receive the pair of contact plates.   
     
     
         25 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the inferior surface of the upper plate includes a concave portion corresponding to the at least partially convex upper surface of the core. 
     
     
         26 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the pair of recesses are sized to allow for movement of the core relative to the pair of contact plates. 
     
     
         27 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 26 , wherein the pair of recesses interact with the pair of contact plates to limit movement of the core relative to the upper plate and the lower plate. 
     
     
         28 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 26 , wherein the pair of recesses in cooperation with the pair of contact plates limit both translational movement and rotational movement of the core relative to at least the lower plate. 
     
     
         29 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the upper plate includes two sets of teeth extending superiorly along opposing lateral sides of the superior surface, and wherein the two sets of teeth are configured to secure the disc prosthesis relative to an end plate of a vertebral body. 
     
     
         30 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the lower plate includes two sets of teeth extending inferiorly along opposing lateral sides of the inferior surface, and wherein the two sets of teeth are configured to secure the disc prosthesis relative to an end plate of a vertebral body. 
     
     
         31 . The disc prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the substantially flat lower surface of the core is formed in a protective shell attachable to an upper portion of the core. 
     
     
         32 . The intervertebral disc prosthesis of  claim 24 , wherein the substantially flat lower surface of the mobile core comprises a channel.