# US 7,717,959 B2 · Intervertebral device and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,717,959 B2 - Document ID: US7717959B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/402,123 - Filed: 2003-03-28 - Published: 2004-01-15 - Granted: 2010-05-18 - Earliest claimed: 2002-03-30 - Inventors: Lytton William; Sui-Kay Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7717959B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/4425: {made of articulated components} - A61F 2002/30079: {magnetic} - A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol} - A61F 2002/30387: {Dovetail connection} - A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws} - A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection} - A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw} - A61F 2002/30654: {Details of the concave socket} - A61F 2002/30795: {Blind bores, e.g. of circular cross-section} - A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes} - A61F 2002/30892: {parallel} - A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component} - A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol - A61F 2210/009: magnetic - A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements - A61F 2220/0041: using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws - A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel - A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys - A61F 2310/00029: Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium - A61F 2310/00053: Vanadium or V-based alloys - A61F 2310/00203: containing alumina or aluminium oxide - A61F 2310/00239: containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2 - A61F 2310/00407: Coating made of titanium or of Ti-based alloys - A61F 2310/00976: Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An intervertebral disc replacement device is disclosed and includes a first implantable member having a first anchor plate and a concave body detachably coupled to the first anchor plate, and a second implantable member having a second anchor plate and a convex body detachably coupled to the second anchor plate, the convex body configured to engage the concave body in movable relation thereto. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An intervertebral implant system comprising: a first anchor plate comprising a bone-engaging surface configured to face toward and be secured to a first vertebral body adjacent to an intervertebral space; a second anchor plate configured to be secured to a second vertebral body adjacent to the intervertebral space, wherein the second anchor plate is formed separately from the first anchor plate; and a first intermediate component rigidly attachable to the first anchor plate independently of any conical pres-fitted interface, the first intermediate component comprising a concave body having a concave recess shaped to articulate with a convex surface to permit postoperative relative motion between the first and second anchor plates; and a coupling device actuatable between an attached position, in which the coupling device is positioned to block removal of the concave body from the first anchor plate, and a detached position, in which the coupling device is positioned to avoid blocking removal of the concave body from the first anchor plate, without requiring detachment of the first anchor plate from the first vertebral body and without requiring access to the bone-engaging surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant system of claim 1, further comprising a first anchoring element positioned on one anchor plate of the first and second anchor plates to enhance securement of the anchor plate to the corresponding vertebral body by penetrating the vertebral body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The intervertebral implant system of claim 2, wherein the first anchoring element is attached to the first anchor plate independently of any threaded connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The intervertebral implant system of claim 3, wherein the first anchoring element is formed as a single piece with the first anchor plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The intervertebral implant system of claim 2, wherein the first anchoring element comprises a sharp point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant system of claim 1, wherein the first intermediate component further comprises a convex body having the convex surface, wherein the convex body is configured to be at least one of attached to and detached from the second anchor plate without requiring detachment of the second anchor plate from the second vertebral body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant system of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a set screw configured to threadably engage the first anchor plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant system of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is formed as a separate piece from the first intermediate component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The intervertebral implant system of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is rigid. ### Claim 10 An intervertebral implant system comprising: a first anchor plate comprising a bone-engaging surface configured to face toward and be secured to a first vertebral body adjacent to an intervertebral space; a second anchor plate configured to be secured to a second vertebral body adjacent to the intervertebral space; a first intermediate component having a substantially rigid structure, wherein the first intermediate component is rigidly attachable to the anchor plates to perform a first function; and a second intermediate component having a substantially rigid structure, wherein the second intermediate component is rigidly attachable to the anchor plates to perform a second function; wherein the first and second intermediate components are interchangeably attachable to the anchor plates; wherein the first and second functions are different; wherein the bone-engaging surface is shaped to abut the first vertebral body without requiring removal of a substantial amount of bone tissue from the first vertebral body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The intervertebral implant system of claim 10, further comprising a first anchoring element positioned on one anchor plate of the first and second anchor plates to enhance securement of the anchor plate to the corresponding vertebral body by penetrating the vertebral body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The intervertebral implant system of claim 11, wherein the first anchoring element is formed as a single piece with the first anchor plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The intervertebral implant system of claim 11, wherein the first anchoring element comprises a sharp point. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The intervertebral implant system of claim 10, wherein the first intermediate component comprises an artificial disc component having a concave body attachable to the first anchor plate and a convex body attachable to the second anchor plate, wherein the convex body is shaped to articulate with the concave body to permit relative motion between the vertebral bodies. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The intervertebral implant system of claim 14, wherein the second intermediate component comprises a spacer attachable to the anchor plates to substantially prevent relative motion between the vertebral bodies. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The intervertebral implant system of claim 15, wherein the spacer comprises a fusion device having a cavity in communication with at least one of the vertebral bodies when the second intermediate component is attached to the anchor plates and at least one of the anchor plates is attached to the corresponding vertebral body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The intervertebral implant system of claim 10, further comprising a coupling member configured to be actuated to secure the first intermediate component to the first anchor plate, wherein the coupling member is detachable from the intervertebral space without requiring access to a bone-engaging surface of the first anchor plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The intervertebral implant system of claim 17, wherein the coupling member comprises a set screw configured to threadably engage the first anchor plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The intervertebral implant system of claim 10, wherein the first intermediate component is detachable from the first anchor plate without requiring detachment of the first anchor plate from the first vertebral body, wherein the second intermediate component is attachable to the first anchor plate without requiring detachment of the first anchor plate from the first vertebral body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The intervertebral implant system of claim 10, wherein the bone-engaging surface is substantially flat. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The intervertebral implant system of claim 10, wherein the bone-engaging surface comprises a plurality of sharp anchoring elements shaped to penetrate the first vertebral body as the first anchor plate is secured to the first vertebral body.