Intervertebral implant with joint elements carried by universal joint

Abstract

An intervertebral implant, specifically an artificial intervertebral disk, with a central axis, an upper section, suitable for laying onto the base plate of a vertebral body lying on top and lower section, suitable for laying onto the cover plate of a vertebral body lying below, wherein (A) the upper section is provided with a ventral side area, a dorsal side area, two lateral side areas, a top apposition surface and a bottom surface; (B) the lower section is provided with a ventral side area, a dorsal side area, two lateral side areas, a bottom apposition surface and a top surface; (C) the two sections are moveable in relation to each other by means of one joint arranged between the two sections, wherein (D) the joint is a universal joint with two swivel axles standing perpendicular to each other.

1 . An intervertebral implant system for stabilizing first and second vertebrae in a spinal column comprising:
 a plurality of bone fixation devices having a longitudinal central axis; and   a three dimensional body configured for insertion between endplates of the first and second vertebrae and having a central axis, an upper surface for contacting the first vertebrae, a lower surface for contacting the second vertebrae, and ventral side areas, the three dimensional body having a plurality of drill holes having longitudinal axes, at least one drill hole extending from the ventral side area and piercing the upper surface at a non-orthogonal angle, at least one of the drill holes extending from the ventral side area and piercing the lower surface at a non-orthogonal angle, wherein the longitudinal axes of at least one of the drill holes piercing the upper surface makes an angle γ with the central axis that lies in the range between 20 degrees and 65 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 15  further comprising an insert plate slideably attachable to the ventral side areas of the three dimensional body. 
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 2  wherein the height of the insert plate is substantially equal to or less than the height of the ventral side area where the insert plate is attachable to the three-dimensional body. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the head of the bone screws has external threads and at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of drill holes in the three dimensional body have internal threads configured to mate with the external threads of the head of the bone screw. 
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1  where in at least two of the drill holes in the three dimensional body extend from the ventral side area through the upper surface and at least two of the drill holes in the three dimensional body extend from the ventral side area through the lower surface. 
     
     
         6 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the at least one drill hole that extends through the upper surface is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the at least one drill hole that extends through the lower surface. 
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 2 , wherein the insert plate is insertable in a depression in the ventral side area of the three dimensional body. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axes of at least one of the drill holes piercing the lower surface makes an angle γ with the central axis that lies in the range between 20 degrees and 65 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the drill holes have a conical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1  further comprising a joint which permits motion of the upper surface relative to the lower surface. 
     
     
         11 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 10  having a first axle and a second axle, the first axle arranged perpendicular to the second axle. 
     
     
         12 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 11  wherein the movement of the upper surface relative to the lower surface about the first axle is limited within an angle of about 16 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 12  wherein the movement of the upper surface relative to the lower surface about the second axle is limited within an angle of about 14 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 2  wherein the insert plate is configured to maintain the upper and lower surface at the front side at a fixed distance from each other. 
     
     
         15 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface and the lower surface have three-dimensional structures to assist in engaging the vertebrae. 
     
     
         16 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of bone fixation devices are bone screws having a threaded shaft and a head, the shaft having a longitudinal central axis; and
 the plurality of drill holes are configured to receive the bone screws. 
 
     
     
         17 . An intervertebral implant system for stabilizing first and second vertebrae in a spinal column comprising:
 A plurality of bone screws having a threaded shaft and a head, the shaft having a longitudinal central axis;   a three dimensional body configured for insertion between endplates of the first and second vertebrae and having a central axis, an upper surface for contacting the first vertebrae, a lower surface for contacting the second vertebrae, and a ventral side area, the three dimensional body having a plurality of drill holes having longitudinal axes, at least one drill hole extending from the ventral side area and piercing the upper surface, at least one of the drill holes extending from the ventral side area and piercing the lower surface, wherein the longitudinal axes of at least one of the drill holes piercing the upper surface makes an angle γ with the central axis that lies in the range between 20 degrees and 65 degrees and the longitudinal axes of at least one of the drill holes piercing the lower surface makes an angle γ with the central axis that lies in the range between 20 degrees and 65 degrees; and   an insert plate slideably attachable to the ventral side area of the three dimensional body, the height of the insert plate being substantially equal to or less than the height of the ventral side area where the insert plate is attachable to the three-dimensional body.   
     
     
         18 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 17  where in at least two of the drill holes in the three dimensional body extend from the ventral side area through the upper surface and at least two of the drill holes in the three dimensional body extend from the ventral side area through the lower surface. 
     
     
         19 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 17 , wherein the insert plate is insertable in a depression in the ventral side area of the three dimensional body. 
     
     
         20 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 17  wherein a plurality of the drill holes have a conical shape.