Posterior prosthetic intervertebral disc

A prosthetic intervertebral disc comprising:

• first and second end plates sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space, each end plate having a vertebral contacting surface and an inner surface;
• a first bearing surface on an inner surface of the first end plate and a second bearing surface on an inner surface of the second end plate, the first and second bearing surfaces opposed to one another;
• wherein the first and second end plates are each formed of at least two parts having a first configuration in which the parts are substantially axially aligned and a second configuration in which the parts are axially unaligned with each other;
• a mobile core configured to be received between the first and second bearing surfaces and arranged to allow articulation and rotation between the first and second end plates;
• and
• a track formed in the first and second end plates, the track configured to allow the mobile core to move from a first position outside of the bearing surfaces to a position between the bearing surfaces, wherein the movement of the mobile core from the first position to the second position increases a height of the disc.

A method of deploying a prosthetic intervertebral disc, the method comprising:

• providing a prosthetic intervertebral disc having first and second end plates each having a vertebral contacting surface and an inner surface, a first bearing surface on an inner surface of the first end plate and a second bearing surface on an inner surface of the second end plate, the first and second bearing surfaces arranged to allow articulation and rotation between the first and second plates, wherein the first and second plates are each formed of first, second and third parts;
• inserting the intervertebral disc between two vertebrae in a configuration in which the first, second and third parts of each of the plates are axially aligned;
• and
• deploying the first and second plates in situ from the first configuration to a second configuration in which the parts are axially unaligned with each other by both rotation and sliding of the parts over one another, wherein the deployment from the first configuration to the second configuration increases a height of the disc.

A method of deploying a prosthetic intervertebral disc, the method comprising:

• providing a prosthetic intervertebral disc comprising first and second end plates and a mobile core arranged to allow articulation and rotation between the first and second plates, wherein the first and second plates are each formed of at least two parts;
• inserting the intervertebral disc between two vertebrae in a configuration in which the first, second and third parts of each of the plates are substantially axially aligned;
• deploying the first and second plates in situ from the first configuration to a second configuration in which the parts are axially unaligned with each other;
• and
• moving the mobile core along a track between the end plates, wherein the movement of the mobile core from the first position to the second position increases a height of the disc.