Intervertebral implant having features for controlling angulation thereof

The implant as claimed 10, wherein the outer surface of the one of said first and second plates has a recess and the mesh overlies the recess.

An intervertebral implant comprising:

• a first plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, an inwardly deflectable ball shaped protuberance projecting from the inner surface and an annular groove surrounding the ball shaped protuberance;
• a second plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a curvate socket formed in the inner surface of said second plate and a raised rim surrounding the curvate socket;
• said first and second plates being assembled together so that the inner surfaces of said plates oppose one another and the inwardly deflectable ball shaped protuberance is disposed in the curvate socket, wherein the annular groove on said first plate is aligned with the raised rim on said second plate, the raised rim advancing into the annular groove when said first and second plates are angled relative to one another.

An intervertebral implant comprising:

• a first plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a ball shaped protuberance integrally formed with said first plate and projecting from the inner surface and an annular groove formed in the inner surface of said first plate and surrounding the ball shaped protuberance;
• a second plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a curvate socket integrally formed with said second plate and provided in the inner surface of said second plate and a raised rim surrounding the curvate socket;
• said first and second plates being assembled together with the ball shaped protuberance inserted in the curvate socket, wherein the raised rim on said second plate advances into the annular groove on said first plate for increasing a range of angulation of the said first and second plates relative to one another.