Artificial vertebral disk replacement implant with crossbar spacer and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device with that can be placed between two vertebrae. The implant is characterized by having a first plate and a second plate with a crossbar therebetween. The crossbar fits within cavities on each of the first and second plate and allows for pivotal or rotational motion and also for twisting motion.

1 . An implant sized to be inserted between adjacent vertebrae comprising: 
 a first piece having a first socket;    a second piece having a second socket; and    a crossbar member that is at least partially received in the first socket and the second socket, wherein after an implant is inserted and the patient has healed at least the first piece remains capable of pivoting about the crossbar member to accommodate at least one of flexion, extension and lateral bending; wherein at least one of the first piece and the second piece are moveable about the crossbar member to allow a twisting motion of said piece.    
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the crossbar member can pivot on itself.  
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first socket and second socket is sloped to allow rocking motion.  
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein one of the socket of the first piece and the socket of the second piece is oriented in a plane parallel to a sagittal plane of a patient and the other of the socket of the first piece and the socket of the second piece is oriented in a plane that is perpendicular to a sagittal plane of a patient.  
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein one of at least the first piece and the second piece can rotate on one of the beams of the crossbar.