Intervertebral implant comprising joint parts that are mounted to form a universal joint

An intervertebral implant comprising a central axis, an upper section, suitable for laying onto a base plate of a vertebral body lying above, and a lower section suitable for laying onto a cover plate of a vertebral body lying below, wherein:

• the upper section has a ventral side area, a dorsal side area, two lateral side areas, a top apposition surface, a bottom surface and a first projection extending from the bottom surface, the first projection including a first drill hole, the ventral side area including a first depression;
• the lower section has a ventral side area, a dorsal side area, two lateral side areas, a bottom apposition surface, a top surface and second and third projections extending from the top surface, the second and third projections including second and third drill holes, respectively, the ventral side area including a second depression;
• and
• a frame shaped, central joint section located between the upper and lower sections so that the upper section is moveable with respect to the lower section, the central joint section including a central bore and first, second, third and fourth drill holes, the first projection extending from the bottom surface of the upper section being receivable within the central bore formed in the central joint section, the central joint section being receivable between the second and third projections extending from the top surface of the lower section so that a first axle is receivable in the first and second drill holes formed in the central joint section and the first drill hole formed in the first projection, a second axle is receivable in the third drill hole formed in the central joint section and the second drill hole formed in the second projection and a third axle is receivable in the fourth drill hole formed in the central joint section and the third drill hole formed in the third projection;
• and
• a removable insert for temporary blocking movement of the upper and lower sections such that the insert maintains the upper and lower sections, measured at their ventral side areas, at a fixed distance from each other, the insert including a lower end and an upper end, the upper end being receivable in the first depression, the lower end being receivable in the second depression, the first and second depressions being dovetail guides that taper from the ventral side areas towards the dorsal side areas and the upper and lower ends on the insert being arranged complementary to the dovetail guides, the insert being coupled to one of the upper and lower sections by a screw;
• wherein an end of the second axle is spaced from an end of the third axle by a gap.