| abstract |
A prosthetic spinal disc nucleus (20) comprising a first prosthetic body (22), a second prosthetic body (24) and a coupling means (26). The first and second prosthetic bodies (22, 24) each have sufficient structural integrity for maintaining a desired separation between an opposing pair of vertebrae and a volume that is less than a volume of the nucleus cavity (96). The coupling means (26) selectively associates the first prosthetic body (22) with the second prosthetic body (24). During use, the first prosthetic body (22) is inserted into a nucleus cavity (96) through an opening (100) in an anulus (94). The coupling means (26) is configured such that the second prosthetic body (24) does not impede insertion of the first prosthetic body (22). The second prosthetic body (24) is similarly implanted. Following implant, the coupling means (26) relatively fixes the first and second prosthetic bodies (22, 24) to prevent subsequent movement of the prosthetic spinal disc nucleus (20), or any portion thereof, back through the opening (100) in the anulus (94). |