Artificial disc system

An artificial disc system, comprising:

• an artificial disc comprising:
• a first plate having a first vertebral endplate-engaging surface, a first core-engaging surface including a first concave portion, the first core-engaging surface being opposite the first vertebral endplate-engaging surface;
• a second plate having a second vertebral endplate-engaging surface, a second core-engaging surface being opposite the second vertebral endplate-engaging surface, the second plate configured to be positioned substantially parallel to the first plate, the first and second plates configured to occupy a space defined by first and second vertebral endplates of a spine;
• a mobile core sized and configured to be positioned between the first plate and the second plate to space the first plate from the second plate and to permit the first and second plates to move relative to one another, wherein the mobile core has first and second plate-engaging surfaces, the first plate-engaging surface being configured to contact the first core-engaging surface and the second plate-engaging surface being configured to contact the second core-engaging surface, the first plate-engaging surface being formed as a convex dome portion shaped to mate with the first concave portion of the first core-engaging surface;
• and
• a plurality of raised barriers positioned with respect to the mobile core to partially limit motion of the mobile core with respect to the first and second plates, wherein the plurality of raised barriers are positioned so as to partially surround the mobile core, wherein the plurality of raised barriers are positioned so as to form a plurality of openings between each of the plurality of raised barriers and an adjacent raised barrier;
• wherein the first plate includes a first slot formed as a first opening extending through a first ventral portion of the first plate, and the second plate includes a second slot formed as a second opening extending through a second ventral portion of the second plate, wherein the artificial disc further comprises:
• a first endplate-engaging ventral structure configured to engage with the first plate by sliding into the first slot of the first plate, the first endplate-engaging ventral structure having at least one spike configured to extend into a first vertebral endplate;
• and
• a second endplate-engaging ventral structure configured to engage with the second plate by sliding into the second slot of the second plate, the second endplate-engaging ventral structure having at least one spike configured to extend into a second vertebral endplate;
• and
• a surgical tool for inserting the artificial disc between the first and second vertebral endplates, the surgical tool comprising:
• a handle portion;
• an elongate insertion portion extending distally away from the handle portion;
• and
• an implant holder connected at a distal end of the elongate insertion portion and having first and second portions sized and configured to engage the first and second plates so as to hold the first and second plates relatively firmly during insertion and positioning of the first and second plates between the first and second vertebral endplates in a disc space.