Method and apparatus for intervertebral implant anchorage

An implantable device for insertion into an intradiscal space between adjacent vertebra, the device comprising:

• a first anchor plate comprising a plate member sized to be positioned within an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebra and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal portion capable of being introduced into an end plate of one of the adjacent vertebrae;
• a second anchor plate comprising a plate member sized to be positioned within an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebra and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal portion capable of being introduced into an end plate of one of the adjacent vertebrae;
• and
• an intradiscal component coupled to the first and second anchor plates, the intradiscal component including a cage having a first side for positioning adjacent a first vertebra and a second side for positioning adjacent a second vertebra, the first side including a plurality of holes through which the anchoring elements on the first anchor plate can be positioned, and the second side including a plurality of holes through which the anchoring elements on the second anchor plate can be positioned.

A kit for forming an implantable device for insertion into an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebrae, the kit comprising:

• an intradiscal component sized to be positioned within an intradiscal section between first and second adjacent vertebrae, the intradiscal component comprising a cage having a first side for positioning adjacent the first vertebra and a second side for positioning adjacent the second vertebra, the first and second sides of the cage including a plurality of holes;
• a first anchor plate comprising a plate member and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, the first anchor plate being positionable within the cage and the anchoring elements being extendable out of the cage through the plurality of holes on the first side of the cage;
• and
• a second anchor plate comprising a plate member and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, the second anchor plate being positionable within the cage and the anchoring elements being extendable out of the cage through the plurality of holes on the second side of the cage.

A method for anchoring an implantable device within an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:

• creating a space between the adjacent vertebrae;
• inserting into the space created an implantable device comprising
• a first anchor plate comprising a plate member sized to be positioned within the space and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal portion capable of being introduced into an end plate of one of the adjacent vertebrae,
• a second anchor plate comprising a plate member sized to be positioned within the space and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal portion capable of being introduced into an end plate of one of the adjacent vertebrae, and an intradiscal component coupled to the first and second anchor plates;
• and
• causing the anchoring elements on the first and second anchor plates to be introduced into the adjacent vertebrae through each of the vertebral end plates by applying a force to the anchor plate approximately perpendicular to a plane of the end plate so as to cause the anchoring elements on the anchor plate to be introduced into the vertebra through the vertebral end plate.

A method for anchoring an implantable device within an intradiscal section between adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:

• creating a space between the adjacent vertebrae;
• inserting into the space created an implantable device comprising
• a first anchor plate comprising a plate member sized to be positioned within the space and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal portion capable of being introduced into an end plate of one of the adjacent vertebrae,
• a second anchor plate comprising a plate member sized to be positioned within the space and a plurality of anchoring elements extending from a surface of the plate member, each anchoring element including a distal portion capable of being introduced into an end plate of one of the adjacent vertebrae, and an intradiscal component coupled to the first and second anchor plates;
• and
• causing the anchoring elements on the first and second anchor plates to be introduced into the adjacent vertebrae through each of the vertebral end plates without first creating one or more holes in the vertebrae for the anchoring elements.