Intervertebral Prosthetic Device For Spinal Stabilization and Method of Implanting Same

Abstract

A prosthetic device for insertion between first and second vertebrae comprises a unitary body having posterior and anterior portions. The posterior portion includes first and second flanges and the anterior portion includes third and fourth flanges. The first and third flanges form a first groove and the second and fourth flanges form a second groove. The first and second grooves are configured to extend through the sagittal plane when the body is disposed between first and second vertebrae.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An prosthetic device for insertion between first and second vertebrae, the device comprising:
 a unitary body having a posterior portion and an anterior portion;   the posterior portion comprising a first upwardly extending flange, a second downwardly extending flange, a first spinous process receiving surface and a second spinous process receiving surface;   the anterior portion comprising a third upwardly extending flange and a fourth downwardly extending flange;   the first and third upwardly extending flanges forming a first groove having an upwardly facing concave surface;   the second and fourth downwardly extending flanges forming a second groove having a downwardly facing concave surface;   wherein the body is configured such that when the body is inserted directly between the first and second vertebrae:
 the first and second grooves extend through a sagittal plane defined by the first and second vertebrae; 
   wherein the body is configured such that when the body is inserted between the first and second vertebrae and viewed normal to the sagittal plane, a maximum point of the second groove is positioned vertically above a maximum point of the second spinous process receiving surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the anterior portion includes a substantially planar anterior face. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second spinous process receiving surfaces are upwardly and downwardly extending notches respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the downwardly extending notch and the second groove are generally perpendicular with respect to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the upwardly extending notch is longer than the downwardly extending notch. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the second groove is shallower than the downwardly extending notch. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second grooves are generally parallel. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises first and second conduits extending through the body member for engaging respective tethers for attaching the body member to at least one of the vertebra, the conduits extending generally parallel to the first and second grooves.