CA2649107A1

CA2649107A1 - Posterior spinal device and method

Info

Publication number: CA2649107A1
Application number: CA002649107A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Malan De Villiers; David Hovda
Original assignee: Spinal Motion, Inc.; Malan De Villiers; David Hovda
Current assignee: Simplify Medical Inc
Priority date: 2006-04-12
Filing date: 2007-04-12
Publication date: 2007-10-25
Also published as: US8734519B2; JP2009533187A; WO2007121320A2; EP2007322A2; KR20090007418A; WO2007121320A3; US8486147B2; AU2007238092A1; USRE47796E1; AU2007238092A8; US8801792B2; EP2007322A4; US20100268344A1; US20100286787A1; US20070282449A1; US20080125864A1

Abstract

An intervertebral joint assembly includes an upper support and a lower support, each of which has two or more components. The upper and lower support components are arranged in situ to form the upper and lower supports, respectively. By arranging the supports in situ, the supports can be introduced from the back of the patient, for example with an arthroscope. Each of the upper and lower supports has a surface adapted to engage a vertebra and a surface adapted to engage the other support or an intermediate member to form an articulate joint which articulates the joint assembly. In some embodiments, the components of the upper and lower supports are assembled in situ, for example with pivoting, telescoping or bending, to form the upper and lower supports, respectively. The supports can be attached to vertebrae with pedicles screws, and/or other anchors attached to the supports.

Description

POSTERIOR SPINAL DEVICE AND METHOD
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from the following provisional applications:
U.S. Appl. No. 60/744,710, filed April 12, 2006, entitled "Spinal Disk Arthroscopy" (attorney docket no. 022031-001900US); U.S. Appl. No. 60/746,731, filed May 8, 2006, entitled "Spinal Disk Arthroscopy" (attorney docket no. 022031-001910US); U.S. Appl. No.
60/883,493, filed on January 4, 2007, entitled " Spinal Disk Arthroscopy "(attorney docket no.
022031-001920US);
the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The disclosure of the present application is related to those of U.S.
Appl. No.
10/855,253, filed May 26, 2004, entitled "Prosthetic Disc for Intervertebral Insertion" U.S. Publ.
No. 2005/002 1 1 45 (attorney docket no. 022031-000310US); U.S. Appl. No.
10/913,780, filed August 6, 2004, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Intervertebral Disc Prosthesis Insertion"
(attorney docket no., 022031-001000US); U.S. Appl. No. 11/187,733, filed July 21, 2005, entitled "Intervertebral Prosthesis Placement Instrument" (attorney docket no.

001100US); U.S. Appl. No. 10/903,913, filed July 30, 2004, entitled "Intervertebral Prosthetic Disc with Metallic Core", U.S. Publ. No. 2006/0025862 (attorney docket no.

001400US); U.S. Appl. No. 60/820,769, filed on July 28, 2006, entitled "Spinal Prosthesis with Offset Anchors" (attorney docket no. 022031-002000US), U.S. Appl. No.
60/820,770, filed on July 28, 2006, entitled "Spinal Prosthesis with Multiple Pillar Anchors"
(attorney docket no.
022031-003100US) the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention. This invention relates to medical devices and methods. More specifically, the invention relates to a prosthetic disc for intervertebral insertion, such as in the lumbar and cervical spine. The invention also relates to the replacement of zygophyseal joints.

[0004] In the event of damage to a lumbar or cervical intervertebral disc, one possible surgical treatment is to replace the damaged disc with an intervertebral disc prosthesis. Several types of intervertebral disc prostheses are currently available. One type available under the trademark LINK® SB Charite (Waldemar Link Gmbh, Hamburg, Germany), includes upper and lower prosthesis plates or shells which engage the adjacent vertebral bodies with a low friction core between the plates. [See EP 1142544A1 and EP 1250898A1] A potential drawback of that design is that the prosthctic device must be inserted from the anterior side of the patient, and this appi-oach can be difficult and may i-eyuire a vascular surgeon as the prosthetic devices passes near important blood vessels located anterior to the spine. Other currently available intervertebral disc prostheses usually have similar drawbacks, including invasiveness of the surgery and/or surgical skill and complexity.

[0005] Anothei- prosthetic approach has been to fuse the vertebrae, foi-example with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery or posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery. Fusion surgery generally requires at least partial removal of one or more facet joints, bone grafting, and support with a fusion cage to stop the motion at that segment.
] 0 Although the fusion cages can be inserted from the back of the patient, such prostheses generally do not provide a flexible joint at the damaged disc site or other implant site. Thus a potential disadvantage of these fusion approaches is that motion is not restored.

[0006] In light of the above, it would be desirable to pi-ovide improved prostheses, particulai-ly less invasive surgical prostheses which at least partially restoi-e rnotion.

[0007] 2. Description of the Background Art. Published U.S. patent applications 2002/0035400A1 and 2002/0128715A1 describe disc irnplants which comprise opposing plates with a core between them over which the plates can slide. Other patents related to intervertebral disc prostheses include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,759,766; 4,863,477; 4,997,432;
5,035,716; 5,071,437;
5,370,697; 5,401,269; 5,507,816; 5,534,030; 5,556,431; 5,674,296; 5,676,702;
5,702,450;
5,824,094; 5,865,846; 5,989,291; 6,001,130; 6,022,376; 6,039,763; 6,139,579;
6,156,067;
6,162,252; 6,315,797; 6,348,071; 6,368,350; 6,416,551; 6,592,624; 6,607,558;
6,706,068 and 6,936,071. Other patent applications related to intervertebral disc prostheses include U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.: 2003/0009224; 2003/0074076; 2003/0191536;
2003/0208271;
2003/0135277; 2003/0199982; 2001/0016773 and 2003/0100951. Otherrelated patents include WO 01/01893A1, WO 2005/053580, EP 1344507, EP 1344506, EP 1250898, EP 1306064, EP
1344508, EP 1344493, EP 1417940, EP 1142544, and EP 0333990.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides an implanted intervertebral joint assembly which both restores motion and can be implanted from the back of the patient, thereby decreasing the invasiveness of the procedure, for example with a smaller posterior surgical incision avoiding important blood vessels located anterior to the spine. Components of the assembly are usually introduced to the surgical site through an incision, in soine instances aided with an arthroscope (or other viewing device), and assembled in sitzr to foi-m an upper support and a lower support.
Each of uppei- and lower supports has a surface aciapted to engage a vei-tebra and a surface adapted to engage the other support or an intennediate member to fonn an articulate joint which articulates the supports. The upper and lowei- supports usually include bone anchors and/or sti-uctures to receive anchoring screws to anchor the supports to the vei-tebrae. The intervertebral joint assembly with formed supports is implanted between vertebrae to replace a damaged disc or damaged zygophyseal joint, thereby providing an articulate prosthesis at the implant site.

100091 The components can be assembled, fonned and arranged in many ways to form the supports in situ. For example, the upper and lower supports can be fonned by injecting a bladder with a polymer or by deformation of a metal as with stents. Typically, the upper and lower supports will be shaped as rings, discs, triangles, polygons or the like, and the coinponents will be a segment or portion of the support so that asseinbly of the components forms the support.
For example, in the case of rings, the components may each be an arc of the ring, with no one arc spanning more than 180 degrees. Thus, there will be at least two ring coinponents, more often at least thi-ee or rnore ring segments. The segments may be joined in a vari ety of ways. In the illustrated embodiments shown below, the seginents are joined by pivots, but in other embodiments the components could be joined by springs, fasteners, coaxial (telescoping) sleeves, linkages, or the like. In still other embodiments, the components could be unjoined pi-ior to implantation and joined by coupling meinbers, screws, adhesives, or in other ways after introduction into the patient.

100101 In one aspect the present invention comprises an intervertebral joint assembly comprising an upper support and a lower support. The supports each have two or more components which can be arranged in situ to form the supports, so that the invasiveness of the surgery is minimized. The upper support has a lower surface and the lower support has an upper surface. The upper and lower surfaces are adapted to engage each other or an intennediate member to form an articulate joint, thereby restoring at least some motion between vertebrae when the assembly is positioned between vertebrae. Although the inten-nediate member often coinprises biconvex spherical surfaces, any combination of surfaces can be used including plano/concave, plano/convex and biconcave surfaces. While the member is preferably made of inetal such as cobalt chrome, the inember can be made of biocompatible polymer. For embodiments without an interrnediate member in which the upper and lower surfaces of the supports directly engage each other, the engagement surfaces are typically concave and convex, and while the surfaces are preferably fonned in metal such as cobalt chrome, the surfaces can be fonned in any biocompatible material, for example polymer.

100111 The supports will have surfaces adapted to engage the adjacent vertebrae and facilitate insertion of the assembly into the intervertebral space. Usually, the surfaces will be flat, although they may be modified or slightly shaped to conform to the vertebrae.
In the illustrated embodiments, the two or more components will assemble to fonn an upper flat surface to engage an upper vei-tebra. Similarly, the two or more components of the lower support will assemble to fonn a lower flat surface to engage the upper surface of a lower vertebra.

[0012] In some embodiments, the vertebrae engagerr-ent surfaces may have anchors and/or other structures to attach and anchor the supports to the vertebrae. For example, at least one component of the upper support includes at least one structure which is adapted to anchor the support in an upper vertebra, for example an anchor or hole adapted to receive an anchoring screw; and/or at least one coinponent of the lower support includes at least one structure which is adapted to anchor the support in a lowei- vertebrae, for example an anchor or hole adapted to receive an anchoring screw. Various sizes and shapes of anchors can be used.
For example, the anchor(s) can comprise an elongate anchor, or fin, adapted to enter a groove fonned in a vertebra while the asseinbly is inserted into an intervertebral location. Also, the anchor may comprise a protrusion having a tip adapted to engage the surface of the vertebrae, for a example a tip at the end of a pyramidal protrusion or a tip at the end of a conic protrusion.
Additional anchors can be attached to each of the components. For example, at least two components of the upper support can comprise one or more anchors adapted to anchor the upper support in the upper vertebrae and/or at least two components of the lower support can comprise one or more anchors adapted to anchor the lower support in the lower vertebrae. Alternatively or in addition to anchors, at least one of the support components can include a structure, for example a hole, adapted to receive an anchoring screw. Anchoring screws can be used instead of elongate anchors to attach the supports to the vertebrae. For example, the use of anchoring screws can permit adjustment to the position of the joint assembly after the joint assembly is inserted in the intervertebral space because the screws can be attached after the joint asseinbly is positioned at the desired final position within the intervertebral space.

[0013] Any number of appropriately arranged components can be assembled to form the supports. For example, each support can comprise three or more coinponents with each component having a first end and a second end which mechanically couple the components arranged to fonn the supports. To provide stability to the assembly, the engagement surfaces of the articulate joint can be located at least partially within a bounded area on each support defined by locations where the components are coupled, for example a triangular bounded area defined by three joints located neai- the ends of three interlocking components.

100141 ln the illustrated einbodiments, the components of the supports are pivotally attached (hinged) so that they can be assembled in sitir to fon-n the support by unfolding the components at a surgical site. For example, the components can be adapted to fold or collapse to a narrow profile, usually straight, configured for introduction to a surgical site.
After introduction, the structure can be pivoted and/or unfolded to fon-n the first support at the surgical site. This process can be repeated to fon-n the second support at the surgical site. In another einbodiment, both supports are unfolded simultaneously. Such an "elongate" arrangement of components allows a sinallei- incision to be used, and in soine instances allows the implant to be introduced with an arthroscope or other viewing devices. While assembly of the components to fon-n the supports can be accomplished in rnany ways, assembly of the components can include at least one of pivoting, telescoping or bending the coinponents. In an embodiment, one or more supports comprise three components: a distal component, a middle component and a proximal component, and at least one of the three components includes an elongate anchor adapted to enter a groove formed in a vertebra. Alternatively, at least one of the three components includes a hole to receive an anchoring screw.

100151 Articulation of the upper and lower supports can be achieved in any number of ways.
For example, the lower surface of the upper support can coinprise a convex or concave feature, and the upper surface of the lower support can comprise a concave or convex feature which mates the feature on the upper support. Alternatively, an intermediate member comprising first and second curved surfaces, or a first curved surface and a second flat surface, can be positioned between the supports so that the first and second surfaces engage the upper and lower supports, respectively. Preferably, the intermediate member is allowed to move freely, or float, between both surfaces of the two supports. Alternatively, the intermediate member can be held rigidly against one of the supports while allowed to slide along the other support to articulate the supports.

100161 In many embodiments the upper support comprises an upper support ring and a the lower support comprises a lower support ring, usually including an outer circular periphery and an open interior. The upper ring can include two or more separable components.
The upper ring components can be introduced in a disassembled condition and joined in sitzt to form the upper ring. The lower ring can include two or inore separable components. The lower ring components can be introduced in a disassembled configuration and joined in sitzt to fonn the lower ring. The upper i-ing may ]have a lower surface and the lower ring may have an upper surface. The upper and lower surfaces carn be adapted to permit the rings to articulate.

100171 In some embodiments the lower surface of the upper ring may include a convex or concave feature, and the upper surface of the lower ring may include a concave or convex feature which mates the feature on the upper ring. In further embodiments the upper and lower rings can separate into at least two arcuate sections. In other embodiments, the upper and lower rings can separate into at least three arcuate sections. In yet other embodiments bone anchors may hold the rings in place. For example, external posts having elongate shafts can be used to attach the rings to the bone anchors, and the elongate shafts can mate with the bone anchors and/or the rings.

100181 In another aspect the present invention comprises a method for introducing a joint assernbly to an intei-vertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies. The upper support components are introduced. The upper components are arranged in sitzt into an upper support.
The lower support coinponents are introduced to the intervertebral space. The lower support components are arranged into a lower support. The support surfaces are arranged to articulate.
100191 In some embodiments the support components are introduced from the back of the patient (i.e. posteriorly). The upper support and/or the lower support can be attached to bone anchors to provide additional support, and external posts can be used to attach the bone anchors to the upper support and/oi- the lower support. The coinponents of the upper and lower supports can be introduced and arranged together. The components of each support can be arranged by pivoting one or more components on each support from a first narrow profile arrangement to a second wide profile arrangement. For example, at least one gear one each support can be rotated to pivot the one ore more coinponents of each support.

100201 ln many embodiinents a method for assembling an intervertebral prosthesis in situ within a patient comprises introducing components of the intervertebral prosthesis into the patient in a narrow profile arrangement. The components at least one gear is rotated to pivot the components from the narrow profile arrangement to a wide profile arrangeinent to assemble the prosthesis.

100211 In specific embodiments, the components of the prosthesis are retained by a placement instrument while the components are introduced in the narrow profile configuration. The at least one gear can be disposed on one or more of the components and engaged by a rack disposed on the placement insti-ument so that the at least one gear i-otates while the components are advanced distal]y and/oi- the rack is reti-acted proxiinally.

10022] In anothei- aspect, the present invention provides an instrument foi-introducing a joint assembly to an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies. The instrument comprises a shaft and a cartridge to retain the joint assembly. The cartridge is coupled to the shaft. The cartridge comprises a structure to engage the intervertebral joint assembly and pivot at least one component of the intervertebral joint asseinbly.

100231 In specific embodiments, the structure comprises at least one of a rack or a gear to engage the intervertebral joint assembly. The cartridge coinprises a casing.
The casing can be shaped to at least partially cover the joint assembly and permit the joint assembly to slide relative to the casing. The casing can be shaped to hold upper and lower coinponents of the joint assembly together and limit movement while the casing at least partially covers the joint asseinbly. The cartridge can coinprise an inner part shaped to fit at least partially within the casing and move relative to the casing. The shaft can comprise threads to advance the inner part and/or retract the casing. The inner part can comprise a protrusion to extend between components of upper and lower support components of the joint assembly and limit rnovement.
The protrusion can comprise a wedge with proximally inclined opposing surfaces and opposed flanges to limit movement between upper and lower support components of the joint assembly.
[0024] In many embodiments an intervertebral joint assembly coinprises an upper support having a lower surface in which the upper support comprises two or inore components and at least one gear to arrange the components. The upper support components may be arranged in situ with rotation of the at least one gear on the upper support to form the upper support. A
lower support has an upper surface and comprises two or more components and at least one gear to arrange the components. The lower support components may be arranged in situ with rotation of the at least one gear on the lower support to assernble the lower support.
The upper and lower surfaces are adapted to engage each other or an intermediate member to form an articulate joint.
[0025] In specific embodiments, the at least one gear on each support can be connected to the at least one of the components of each support so that rotation of the at least one gear pivots the at least one component. The at least one gear on each support can be fixed to the at least one coinponent. Each support can comprise three or more components and at least two gears to arrange the three or more components. The two or more components of each support can be connected with a joint, and rotation of the at least one gear on each support may pivot at least one of the two or inore components about the joint. An axis of rotation of the at least one joint can be aligned with an axis of rotation of the at least one gear. Each surface may be formed in a protrusion extending from each support. The at least one geai- on each support may comprise an annular shape disposed around the protrusion on each support. Each protrusion may comprise a flange that extends toward the intennediate meinber to retain the member. In addition or in combination, each protrusion may comprise a retention element that extends at least partially over the at least one gear to retain the at least one gear while the gear rotates around the protrusion. Each protrusion can extend froin the coinponent on each support to an annular rim, and at least one annular rim can comprise a bevel to limit articulation between the upper support and the lower support to a pre-determined angle.

100261 In many embodiments, an intervertebral prosthesis is provided. The prosthesis comprises a first support adapted to expand from a narrow profile to an expanded profile while in the intervertebral space. A second support is adapted to expand froin a narrow pi-ofile to an expanded profile while in the intervertebral space. The first and second supports are adapted to engage each other or an inter-rnediate member to articulate while in the expanded configurations.
100271 In many einbodiments, the prosthesis comprises anchors adapted to pennit stacking with another prosthesis positioned in an adjacent intervertebral space. In specific embodiments, the first support and the second support articulate with at least one of a flexion/extension, a lateral bending, an axial rotation or a lateral translation.

100281 In another aspect, a method of articulating between adjacent vertebrae is provided. The method comprises inserting an intei-vertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae. The intervertebral prosthesis is expanded froin a narrow profile configuration to an expanded configuration. The prosthesis articulates the vertebrae in the expanded configuration.

100291 In specific einbodiments, the prosthesis is inserted into the intervertebral space from a posterior lateral approach. The posterior lateral approach may substantially comprise a Wiltse approach. Tissue can be dissected with a blunt instrument along the posterior lateral approach.
An access opening froin about 7 to 15 mm across may be fonned along the posterior lateral approach. In many embodiments, the facet joints of the adjacent vertebrae reinain substantially intact after insertion of the prosthesis into the intervertebral space.

100301 In many embodiments, a method of articulating adjacent vertebrae is provided. The method comprises penetrating a spinal disc annulus located between the adjacent vertebrae to fonn an opening in the spinal disc annulus. A spinal prostheses can be inserted in a narrow profile configuration through the opening. The spinal prosthesis can be expanded inside the annulus from the narrow profile configuration to an expanded profile configuration. The spinal prosthesis can articulate the vertebrae while in the expanded configuration.

100311 In specific embodiments, the spinal disc annulus is peneti-ated to fonn another opening away from the opening. A distraction tool is inserted through the another opening to distract the adjacent vertebrae. The vertebi-ae can be distracted with the distraction tool while the prosthesis is inserted through the opening.

[0032] In many embodiments, a method of removing an expandable prosthesis from an intervertebral space is provided. The method comprises collapsing the expandable prosthesis from an expanded configuration to a narrow profile configuration while the prosthesis is positioned in the intervertebral space. The expandable prosthesis is removed fi-om the intervertebral space in the narrow profile configuration.

[0033] In many embodiments, the expandable prosthesis can be removed fi-oin a removal opening fonned to remove the expandable prosthesis. In specific embodiments, the expandable prosthesis can be removed from an insertion opening formed to insert the expandable prosthesis.
[0034] In many embodiments, a method of preparing an intervertebral space for a prosthesis is provided. The method comprises removing material from the intervertebral space. An expandable inember is inserted into the intervertebral space to evaluate the intervertebral space.
[0035] In specific embodiments, additional inaterial is removed in response to the evaluated intervertebral space. The expandable member inay comprise at least one of a balloon or a template.

[0036] In many embodiments, a method of positioning a prosthesis in an intervertebral space is provide. The method comprises inserting a first instruinent through a first surgical opening to contact the prosthesis at a first location. A second instrument can be inserted through a second surgical opening to contact the prosthesis at a second location. A position of the prosthesis can be adjusted with the first instnament and the second instrument.

[0037] In specific embodiments, the second surgical opening comprises a contra-lateral opening. The second instrument may be connected to the prosthesis.

[0038] In another aspect, a prosthesis assembly for insertion into an intervertebral space is provided. The prosthesis assembly comprises a first end portion adapted to attach to a first

9 instrument while the prosthesis assembly is positioned in an intervertebral space. A second end portion is adapted to attach to a second instrument while the prosthesis assembly is positioned in the intervertebral space.

100391 In specific embodiments, at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion comprises a spacer adapted for removal fi-om the prosthesis. The prosthesis assembly may be expandable from a first narrow profile configuration to a second expanded configuration, and the prosthesis assembly may comprise a locking mechanism to lock components of the prosthesis asseinbly in the expanded configuration.

[0040] In many embodiments, an instruinent for introducing a prosthesis into an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies is provided, the instruinent comprises a shaft. A
structure is connected to the shaft near the end of the shaft. The structure can be adapted to retain the joint assembly while the joint assembly is advanced into the intervertebral space such that components of the prosthesis pivot from a narrow protile configuration to an expanded profile configuration while the prosthesis is advanced into the intervertebral space.

[0041] In specific embodiments, the structure may comprise at least one of casing or a spacer to limit inovement of the components while the components pivot froin the narrow profile configuration to the expanded profile configuration. The structure may coinprise a spacer attached to the components of the prosthesis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional side view of an intervertebral joint assembly;
100431 FIG. 2A shows an upper ring formed from arcuate sections;

[0044] Fig. 2B shows a lower ring formed from arcuate sections;

[0045] Fig. 2C shows a top down view of an upper ring formed with three arcuate sections and a low profile connector;

[0046] FIG. 2D shows a torsion stops formed in an upper ring ;
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a joint assembly supported with screws;
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a top down view of the joint assembly of FIG. 3.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly in accordance with an embodiment.

100501 FIGS. 6A-6D show a method for introducing the joint assembly of FIG. 5 into an intervertebral space.

100511 FIGS. 7A and 7B show the biconvex corc of the joint assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.
100521 FIGS. 8A-8E show the distal support component of the upper support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.

100531 FIGS. 9A-9C show the middle support component of the upper support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.

100541 FIGS. l 0A-l OD show the proximal support cornponent of the upper support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.

] 0 100551 FIGS. 1 I A-1 l D show the distal support component of the lower support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.

100561 FIGS. 12A-12D show the middle support component of the lower support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.

100571 FIGS. 13A-13D show the proximal support component of the lowei- support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D.

100581 FIG. 14 shows an embodiment using anchoring screws driven froin the posterior instead of elongate anchors.

100591 FIGS. 15A to 15D show a method of implanting a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly as in FIG 14 according to an embodiment.

100601 FIG. 16 shows a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly with a curved proximal coinponent a curved middle component according to an embodiment.

100611 FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a self expanding intervertebral joint asseinbly with gears in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[00621 FIG. 18 shows a schematic illustration of a placement instrument with a cartridge loaded with a self-expanding intervertebral joint assembly as in FIG. 17 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

100631 FIGS. 19A and 19B schematically illustrate details of the self-expanding intervertebral joint assembly loaded in the cartridge as in FIGS. 17 and 18, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

100641 FIGS. 20A to 20E show a method for inti-oducing the joint assembly with the cartridge as in FIGS. 17 to 19 into an intervertebral space, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

100651 FIGS. 21 A to 21 D show posterior lateral access to the intervertebral space, according to embodiments of the pi-esent invention.

100661 FIGS. 22A to 22E show a method for introducing a joint assembly into an intervertebral disc space, in accordance with ernbodiments of the present invention.

100671 FIGS. 23A and 23B show radiopaque markers on upper and lower supports of an expandable intervertebral prosthesis, according to embodiments of the present invention.

100681 FIGS. 24A to 24E show a method of removing an expandable intervertebral prosthesis as in FIGS. 20A to 20E, in accordance with ernbodiinents of the present invention.

100691 FIGS 25Ato 25D show blunt dissection oftissue to access the intervertebral space, according to embodiments of the present invention.

100701 FIG. 26 shows an expandable intervertebral prosthesis comprising an upper support that engages a lower support to articulate, according to embodiments of the present invention.

100711 FIG. 27 shows self expanding prostheses that can be stacked in adjacent intervertebral spaces, according to embodiments of the present invention.

100721 FIGS. 27A to 27C show in situ deployment of an expandable articulate intervertebral prosthesis in an intervertebral space with a placement instrurnent and a contralateral placement instruinent, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0073] FIGS. 28A to 28D show a placement instrument as in FIGS. 27A to 27C, according to embodiments of the present invention.

100741 FIGS. 29A to 29D show a contralateral placement instrument as in FIGS.
27A to 27C, according to einbodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0075] The present invention is generally directed to replacement of spinal disc and zygophyseal joints, for example joints between facets of inferior and superior articular processes of adjacent vertebra. By providing components which can be assembled in situ to form supports, the surgical site can be accessed from the back or posterior side of the patient. This access to the surgical site from the posterior side of the patient can be easier to perfonn.
Foi- example where access to the surgical site avoids important arteries and/or veins, the presence of a vascular surgeon may not be necessary.

100761 FIG. 1 illustrates an intervertebral joint assembly 1 for insertion into a spine 2 of a patient. The joint assembly can include an inferior endplate 4 and a superior end plate 6. The joint assembly can be inserted between two adjacent spinal vertebrae, for example a superior vertebra 8 and an inferior vei-tebra 10. Joint assembly 1 includes a superior component such as an upper ring 14 and an inferior component such as a lower ring 16. Upper ring 14 can be fon-ned from separable components 18 by joining separable components 18 in sitit. Lower ring 16 can be fon-ned from separable components 20 in sitzr. In sitat formation of upper and lower rings 14 and 16 generally includes forming the ring with at least a portion of the ring between superior vertebra 8 and inferior vertebra 10. Separable coinponents 20 can be joined with a locking mechanisin 36. The locking mechanism includes a first interlocking segment, such as channel 32, and second interlocking segment, such as key 34, generally in the appearance of a lock and key mechanism. Upper ring 14 can include superior plate 6, and lower ring 16 can include inferior plate 4. The end plates can attach the rings to the vertebrae with fins and or serrations as described in U.S. App. No. 10/855,253, filed May 26, 2004, entitled " Prosthetic Disc for Intervertebral lnsertion", U.S. Pub. No. 20050021145 (attorney docket no. 022031-000310US), the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated herein by reference.

Upper ring 14 has a lower surface 22, and lower ring 16 has an upper surface 24 Lower surface 22 is fon-ned with a feature such as radius of curvature 26. Upper surface 24 is fon-ned with the feature such as radius of cui-vature 26 so that the upper and lower surfaces 1nate. For exainple, as both the upper surface 24 and the lower surface 22 are formed to a spherical shape having radius of curvature 26, the surfaces mate and move along a spherical surface of articulation 28. The spherical surface of articulation has a center 30. As shown in Fig. 1. the center of the surface of articulation is located in the inferior vertebra 10, and upper surface 24 is convex while lower surface 22 is concave. In an alternate embodiment, center 30 of surface of articulation 28 can be located in the superior vertebra 8, and upper surface 24 concave while lower surface 22 is convex. In alternate embodiments, the upper and lower surfaces can be fon-ned with a mating feature which is not the surface of a sphere, such as an outer surface of a doughnut, or torus.
Lower ring 16 can include a lower flange 40 which limits motion of the rings over the surface of articulation. A portion 48 of upper ring 14 can be formed to receive lower flange 40 fon-ned in lower ring 16, thereby limiting motion of the upper and lower rings. Upper ring 18 can include an upper flange 42 which limits motion of the rings over the surface of articulation. A portion 50 of lower ring 16 can be fon-ned to receive upper flange 42, thereby limiting motion of the upper and lower rings. The coinponents of the joint assembly can be made from any suitable biocompatible material including Titanium, Cobalt Chrome. In particulai-, it inay be desirable to coat a Cobalt/Chrome surface with Titanium where the plates meet with the vertebi-ae. Also, it may be desirable to provide channels permitting lubrication of the convex and concave surfaces.
Channels permitting lubrication of surfaces are described in U.S. App. No.

10/903,913, filed July 30, 2004, entitled "lntervertebral Prosthetic Disc with Metallic Core", published under U.S. Publ.
No. 2006/0025862 (attorney docket no. 022031-001400US), the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated herein by reference.

100771 Turning now to Fig. 2A, upper ring 14 can be formed with separable components 18 such as arcuate sections 60 and 62. Locking mechanism 36 can be used at two locations to permit the arcuate sections to be joined together in sitti to form the upper ring.

10078] Turning now to Fig. 213, lower ring 16 can be formed with separable components 20 such as arcuate sections 66 and 68. Locking inechanism 36 can be used at two locations to permit the arcuate sections to be joined together in sitzt to form the lower ring.

[0079] Turning now to an embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2C, an upper ring 16 can be fon-ned with three arcuate sections 90, 92 and 94. Locking mechanism 36 rigidly joins components 92 and 94. A first low profile connector 82 joins arcuate section 90 and arcuate section 92. Low profile connector 82 can be formed in arcuate section 90. Arcuate section 92 can have an opening fon-ned thereon to receive low profile connector 82, so as to permit insertion of low profile connector 82 into arcuate connector 92. In alternate embodiments, arcuate section 90 can have an opening formed thereon to receive low profile connector 82. A second low profile connector 84 joins arcuate section 90 and arcuate section 94. Second low profile connector 84 can be formed in arcuate section 90. Arcuate section 94 can have an opening formed thereon to receive second low profile connector 84, so as to permit insertion of low profile connector 84 into second arcuate connector 94. Insertion of first low profile connector 82 into first arcuate section 92 and insertion of second low profile connector 84 into second arcuate section 94 fonns upper ring 18 as a rigid structure. Lower ring 16 can be fon-ned from three arcuate sections 20 in a manner similar to that shown above with respect to upper ring 14.

[0080] Turning now to Fig. 2D which shows torsion stops which can be provided to prevent torsional rotation of upper ring 14 relative to lower ring 16. Stops 96 can be formed in the surface of upper ring 14. Lower ring 16 can have openings 98 shaped to receive stops 96.
Torsional motion is limited by stops 96 engaging the surface of lower ring 16.
In alternate einbodiments, stops can be fonned in the surface of lower ring 16 and openings can be formed upper ring 14 to receive the stops.

(0081] Turning now to Fig. 3, a ci-oss-sectional side view of a joint assembly supported with screws is shown. An inferior pedicle screw ] 00 is inserted into an infei-ior pedicle of inferior vertebra 10. Pedicle screw 100 can comprise a conventional pedicle screw.
Inferior pediele screw 100 supports lower ring 16 and anchors lower ring 16 to inferior vertebra 10. A superior pedicle screw ] 02 is inserted into a superior pedicle of superior vertebra 8.
Superior pedicle screw 102 supports upper ring 14 and anchors upper ring 14 to superior vertebra S. An inferior post 104 can be inserted from lower ring 16 into inferior pedicle screw 100 to affix lower ring 16 to inferior pedicle screw 100. A superior post 106 can project upwards from upper ring 14 into superior pedicle screw 102 to affix upper ring 14 to superior pedicle screw 102. In alternate embodiments, the pedicle screws or custom designed screws can pass through support structures attached to the upper and lower rings. These support structures may resemble rods as used in pedicular screw fixation systems or may be integral posts fonning part of the posterior part of the endplates. A dorsal, back or posterior location on spine 2 is generally designated as back 204 of spine 2 of the patient. A ventral, front or anterior location on spine 2 is generally designated as front 202 of spine 2 of the patient.

[0082] Turning now to Fig. 4, a top down view of the joint assembly of Fig. 3 is shown. A
second inferior pedicle screw 120 is inserted into inferior vertebra 10 of spine 2 of the patient to anchor the lower ring. Both first inferior pedicle screw 100 and second inferior pedicle screw 120 can be inserted from the back of the patient.

[0083] Components of lower ring 16 as described above can be provided at the surgical site by access from the posterior side of the patient. Access can be provided to permit in situ assembly of intervertebral joint 1, for example posterior access and assembly with an arthroscope. Lower ring 16 can be foi-rned in situ as described above, and anchored to the inferior vertebra 10 with the pedicle screws. Components of upper ring 14 as described above can be provided and assembled at the surgical site with access from the posterior side of the patient. A second superior pedicle support screw similar to first superior pedicle support screw 102 can be inserted into superior vertebra 8. Upper ring 14 can be assembled in situ and anchored to superior vertebra 8 as described above to forrn assembled intervertebral joint 1.

100841 FIG. 5 shows a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly 300. The asseinbly includes an upper support 302 and a lower support 304. An intermediate meinber, or biconvex core 306 is positioned between the upper and lower supports to permit the upper and lower supports to articulate. An elongate anchor 308, is located on the upper support and anchors the asseinbly into the upper vertebra. Another elongate anchor 310 is located on the lower support and anchors the lower support into the lower vertebral. The elongate anchors are adapted to enter a groove foi-med in the vertebrae. Pyramidal anchors 312 are located on the upper support to anchor the upper support into the upper vertebra. Pyramidal anchors 314 are located on the lower support and anchor the lower support on the lower vertebra.

100851 Upper support 302 includes a distal component 320, a proximal component 322 and a middle component 324 which can be arranged in situ to form the upper support.
Distal component 320 is connected to proximal component 322 with an articulate joint 326. Proximal coinponent 322 is connected to middle component 324 with a joint 328. These components are arranged in situ to form the lower support by articulating the upper support components about the joints. An aperture 340 is located in the distal component 320. A cable can be passed through the aperture. The cable is used to arrange the components by pulling on the cable to pivot the components into place as described more fully herein below.

10086] Lower support 304 includes a distal component 330, a proximal component 332 and a middle component 334 which can be arranged in situ to form the lower support.
Distal component 330 is connected to proximal cornponent 332 with an articulate joint 336. Proximal component 332 is connected to iniddle component 334 with a joint 338. These coinponents are arranged in sitzt to form the lower support by articulating the upper support components about the joints. An aperture 342 is located in the distal component 320. A cable can be passed through the aperture. The cable is used to arrange the components by pulling on the cable to pivot the components into place as described more fully herein below.

[0087] The upper and lower supports include features which permit the supports to articulate and restore motion between the vertebrae. Upper support 302 has a protruding structure 325 which has a concave surface feature formed therein, as shown below, which mates the upper surface of biconvex core 306. Lower support 304 has a protruding structure 335 which has a concave surface feature formed therein, as shown below, which mates the lower surface of biconvex core 306. In an alternate embodiment, the features of the upper and lower support are in direct contact and mate to provide articulation. For example, the upper support can have a protrusion with a convex surface, and the lower support can have a protrusion with a concave sui-face, in which the two surfaces mate to fonn a load bearing articulate joint.

100881 FIGS. 6A-6D show a method foi- introducing the joint assembly of FIG. 5 into an intervertebral space. As shown in these figures, the upper and lower supports are arranged and introduced together, although the upper and lower supports can be arranged sequentially. In a preferred embodiment, an insertion instrument removably attaches to the proximal components and holds the components together as shown in FIGS. 6A-6D. While many instruments can be adapted to removably attach the proximal cornponents, one such instruinent is described in U.S.
App. No. 11/187,733, filed July 21, 2005, entitled "Intervertebral Prosthesis Placement Instrument" (attorney docket no. 02203 1-001 1 00US), the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated herein by reference 100891 Refemng to FIG. 6A, distal component 320 and proximal component 322 of the upper support 302 are arranged in an elongate configuration for introduction to the surgical site.
Middle component 324 is folded within a recess so that the upper support components have a slender profile for introduction into the surgical site. Distal component 330 and proximal component 332 of lower support 304 are similarly arranged in an elongate configuration with middle component 324 is folded within a recess so that the lower support coinponents have a slender profile.

100901 Referring now to FIG. 613, the components are shown in an intennediate configuration.
The distal components 320, 330 are pivoted proximally with respect to the proximal components.
Distal component 320 has pivoted about joint 326. Cable 350 is used to pull upper support distal component 320 and pivot distal component 320 about joint 326. A stop 364 limits pivoting motion of distal component 320 in relation to proximal component 322. Cable 352 is used to pull lower support distal component 330 proximally and pivot distal coinponent 330 about joint 336. A stop 404 (shown in FIG. 6A) limits pivoting motion of distal component 330. A groove (shown below) can be provided in each of the upper and lower distal components so that the middle coinponents will not deploy until the distal components have reached the stops.
100911 Refen-ing now to FIG. 6C, the middle components 324, 334 of the upper and lower supports, respectively, pivot outward after the distal components are arranged. Upper cable 350 is attached near the distal end of middle component 324 so that cable 350 pulls on middle component 324 to pivot about joint 328. Similarly, lower cable 352 is attached near the distal end of middle component 334 so that cable 352 pulls on middle coinponent 334 to pivot about joint 328. The cables are pulled until the middle components reach a final position as shown in FIG. 6D. The cable can also be guided through upper proximal component 322 and lower proximal component 332 and from there into a tensioner which can be pai-t of the placement instruinent which will facilitate pulling thereof.

100921 Referring now to FIG. 6D, this top view shows middle component 324 in a final position so that the upper support is fully formed. Stops can be provided on each of the distal and iniddle components to limit pivoting motion of the middle coinponents about the proximal components. The upper and lower support are fully formed once the middle components pivot to reach the stops. Stops can be formed with a protrusion which slides in a groove as described more fully herein below. Once the upper and lower supports are fully forrned, the joint assembly is inserted into the intervertebral space. In a preferred embodiment, the joint asseinbly is inserted partially into the intervertebral space in a rigid wedge configuration and then allowed to freely articulate, so as to limit stretching and promote ligamentotaxis, as described in co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 10/913,780, filed August 6, 2004 entitled " Methods and Apparatus for Invertebral Disc Prosthesis Insertion" (attorney docket no., 022031-001000US), the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated herein by reference.

100931 FIGS. 7A and 7B show biconvex core 306 of the joint assembly 300 of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D. FIG. 7A shows a side view of the core, and FIG. 7B shows a top view of the core. Core 306 includes a groove 350 and an upper flange 352 and a lower flange 354.
Groove 350 engages a flange on the lower support, shown herein below, to retain core 306 within support 300, as described in U.S. App. No. 10/855,253, filed May 26, 2004, entitled "
Prosthetic Disc for Intervertebral Insertion", U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0021145 (attorney docket no.
022031-000310US), the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Core 306 includes an upper convex surface 356 and a lower convex surface 358. These surfaces mate with surfaces in the protrusions described above. Core 306 can be made from any biocompatible material including known biocompatible polymers and metals. In a preferred embodiment, core 306 is made from metal, for example cobalt chrome, and includes at least one channel 359 to permit fluid to lubricate the load bearing surfaces of the core, as described in U.S. App. No.
10/903,913, filed July 30, 2004, entitled "Intervertebral Prosthetic Disc with Metallic Core", published as U.S.
Pub. No. 2006/0025862 (attorney docket no. 022031-001400US), the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Although core 306 is shown as biconvex, the core can be any shape and have any combination of surfaces including plano/convex, plano/concave and biconcave surfaces. Core 306 includes a channel 351 formed around the periphery of the core.

Channel 351 is fonned in core 306 to define an upper i-im flange 353 and a lower rim flange 355.
Channel 351 receives a flange on the lower support to limit motion of the core in relation to the lower support, for example to prevent the core from sliding off the concave surface of the lower support. In an alternate embodiment, both the upper support and the lower support have a flange which is received by channel 351 to prevent the supports from sliding off the core.

100941 FIGS. 8A through FIG. 8E show distal component 320 of upper support 302. FIG. 8B
shows a front view of distal component 320 while FIG. 8A, FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D
show top, side and cross-sectional views, respectively of distal component 320. Distal component 320 has a proximal end 326, and also includes an aperture 360 fonned near proximal end 326. Aperture 326 inates with proximal component 322 to fonn pivot joint 326. Several pyrainidal anchors 312 are formed on the surface of distal component 320 and anchor the support to the upper vertebra.
Distal component 320 includes a distal region 365, which is shown in detail in FIG. 8E. Each pyramidal anchor has a square base about 0.9 mm on each side and a height of about 0.8 mm.

As shown in FIG. 8A aperture 340 is fonned in distal component 320 to pass cable 350 as described above. A recess 366 is formed in distal coinponent 320 to pennit the middle component to pivot toward distal end portion 365. Within recess 366 a groove 368 is fonned in component 320 which receives a protrusion formed in the middle component, described herein below.

100951 FIGS. 9A through FIG. 9C show middle support component 324 of upper support 302.
FIG. 9B shows a front view of middle component 324 while FIG. 9A shows a top view and FIG.
9C shows a side view. Middle component 324 has an aperture 370 fonned near the proximal end. Aperture 370 mates with proximal component 322 to fonn pivot joint 328.
An aperture 380 formed in the distal end of middle component 324 has cable 350 positioned therein as described above. Proximal advancing of cable 352 pivots middle component 324 about joint 328. An upper protrusion 376 is located near the distal end of middle component 324. A lower protrusion 378 is also located near the distal end of middle component 324.
Protrusion 378 slides in grove 368 of distal component 320 as described above. Middle coinponent 324 includes protruding structure 325. Protruding structure 325 includes a concave surface feature 372 which engages the biconvex core. Protruding structure 325 also includes a bevel 374 which mates with flange fonned on protruding structure 335 as described herein below.

[0096] FIGS. l 0A through FIG. I OD show proximal support component 322 of upper support 302. FIG. l OB shows a front view of component 322 while FIGS l 0A, l OC and l OD show top, side and cross-sectional views of component 322, respectively. An aperture 392 is fonned near the proximal end of proximal component 322. Aperture 392 mates with middle component 324 to fon-n pivot joint 328 as described above. Proximal component 322 includes elongate anchor 308, and pyramidal anchors 312 as described above. An aperture 390 is formed near the distal end of proximal component 322. Aperture 390 inates with distal component 320 to fon-n pivot joint 326 as described above. Pi-oxirnal component 322 includes a recess 394 which at least partially encloses middle component 324 while the components are in an elongate configuration as described above. Within recess 394 component 322 has a groove 398 formed therein. Groove 398 receives the protrusion of the middle component as described above to permit the middle component to pivot from within recess 394 as described above. A cutout 396 is fonned in proximal component 322. Cutout 396 receives protruding structure 325 while middle component 324 is positioned within recess 394.

100971 FIGS. 11 A through F1G. I 1 D show distal component 330 of lower support 304. F1G.
1 1 B shows a front view of distal component 330 while FIG. 1 l A, FIG. I 1 C
and FIG. l 1 D show top, side and cross-sectional views, respectively of distal component 330.
Distal component 330 has a proximal end 336, and also includes an aperture 400 fonned near proximal end 336.
Aperture 336 mates with proximal component 332 to fonn pivot joint 336.
Several pyramidal anchors 314 are fonned on the surface of distal component 330 and anchor the support to the lower vertebra. Distal component 330 includes a distal end 406 . Each pyramidal anchor has a square base about 0.9 mm on each side and a height of about 0.8 mm. As shown in FIG. 11A
aperture 342 is formed in distal component 330 to pass cable 352 as described above. A recess 406 is fonned in distal component 330 to permit the middle component to pivot toward distal end 405. Within recess 406 a groove 408 is fonned in component 330 which receives a protrusion formed in the middle component, described herein below.

100981 FIGS. 12A through FIG. 12D show middle support component 334 of lower support 304. FIG. 12B shows a front view of iniddle component 334 while FIG. 12A shows a top view and FIG. 12C shows a side view. Middle component 334 has an aperture 410 fon-ned near the proximal end. Aperture 410 mates with proximal component 332 to fon-n pivot joint 338. An aperture 420 formed in the distal end of middle component 334 has cable 352 positioned therein as described above. Proximal advancing of cable 352 pivots middle component 334 about joint 338. An upper protrusion 416 is located near the distal end of middle component 334. A lower protrusion 418 is also located near the distal end of middle component 334.
Protrusion 418 slides in grove 408 of distal component 330 as described above. Middle component 334 includes protruding structure 335. Protruding structure 335 includes a concave surface feature 412 which engages the biconvex core. Protruding structure 335 also includes a flange 424, or retaining i-ing, as shown in detail in FIG. 12D. Flange 424 mates bevel 374 as described above.
Flange 424 is slopped at an angle 428 to mate with bevel 374 while the upper and lower supports of the joint assembly are deflected at a maximum angle of about six degrees. A gi-oove 426 extends around protruding structure 335. Grove 426 mates with the flange on the biconvex core described above, thereby retaining the biconvex core between upper protruding structure 325 and lower protruding structure 335. In an alternate embodiinent, the upper support also includes a groove and a flange which are similar to groove 426 and flange 424, and the upper support grove and flange mate with upper rim flange 353 and channel 351 as described above.
Thus, in this altei-nate embodiment both the upper support and the lower support include groves and flanges which mate with the core to prevent the upper and lowei- supports froin sliding off the core.
100991 FIGS. 13A-13D show the proximal support component of the lower support of FIGS. 5 and 6A-6D. FIGS. 13A through FIG. 13D show proximal support component 332 of lower support 304. FIG. I OB shows a front view of component 332 while FIGS 13A, 13C
and 13D

show top, side and cross-sectional views of component 332, respectively. An aperture 432 is formed near the proximal end of proximal component 332. Aperture 432 mates with middle component 334 to fon-n pivot joint 338 as described above. Proximal component 332 includes elongate anchor 310, and pyramidal anchors 314 as described above. An aperture 430 is formed near the distal end of proximal component 332. Aperture 430 mates with distal coinponent 330 to fon-n pivot joint 336 as described above. Proximal component 332 includes a recess 434 which at least partially encloses middle component 334 while the components are in an elongate configuration as described above. Within recess 434 coinponent 332 has a groove 438 formed therein. Groove 438 receives the protrusion of the iniddle component as described above to permit the middle component to pivot from within recess 434 as described above. A cutout 436 is formed in proximal component 332. Cutout 436 receives protruding structure 335 while middle component 334 is positioned within recess 434.

101001 FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of an articulate intervertebral joint assembly 500 using anchoring screws 506, 508, 510, and 512 instead of a pair of elongate anchors as described above. Joint assembly 500 is inade with many of the coinponents as described above and can be asseinbled in situ by unfolding and/or pivoting the components as described above. Joint assembly 500 includes an upper support 502 and a lower support 504. Upper support 502 includes a protruding structure 514 on the proximal component and a protruding structure 516 on the distal component. Protruding structure 514 has a hole formed therein to receive anchoring screw 510, and protruding sti-ucture 516 has a hole fonned therein to receive anchoring screw 512. Lower support 504 includes a protruding stnacture 518 on the proximal coinponent and a protruding structure 520 on the distal component. Lower support protruding structure 518 has a hole fonned therein to receive anchoring screw 506, and protruding structure 520 has a hole formed therein to receive anchoring screw 508.

101011 While joint asseinbly 500 is assembled in situ similarly to joint assembly 300 as described above, the use of screws instead of elongate fins can provide advantages. After upper support 502 and lower support 504 are assembled in situ, joint assembly 500 is fully inserted and positioned in the intervertebral space. In some embodiments, joint assembly 500 is assembled at least partially in the intervertebral space by pivoting the coinponents while a portion of at least one coinponent is positioned within the intervertebral space. The position of asseinbly 500 is adjusted to a desired final position after asseinbly 500 has been fully inserted into the intervertebral space. Such adjustment after insertion into the intervertebral space can be difficult with some embodiments using elongate anchors as described above. The anchoring screws are inserted to hold the joint assembly in place at the desired final position.
The anchoring screws are driven from the posterior of the patient and attach to the vertebrae and/or pedicles as described above. As shown in FIG. 14 the anchoring screws are used instead of the elongate anchors shown above, although anchoring screws can be used in conjunction with elongate anchors in other embodirnents.

10102] FIGS. 15A to 15D show a method of introducing a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly 500 as in FIG. 14 according to an embodiment. Joint assembly 300 can be similarly introduced. Joint assembly 500 is introduced into a patient P as shown in FIG.
15A. A patient reference system 570 includes a lateral patient direction L, a posterior patient direction P and a vertical patient direction V. Vertical patient direction V corresponds to vertical as the patient is standing and also corresponds to an inferior to superior orientation on the patient. An intervertebral space 560 is located adjacent the inferior vertebrae 10. For clarity only one vertebra several vertebrae as described above is shown. As shown in these figures, the upper and lower supports are arranged and introduced together, although the upper and lower supports can be arranged sequentially. An oblique direction 580 is located between the lateral and posterior directions. Although the joint assembly is introduced into the patient from a posterior direction, the implant can be rotated in the oblique direction near the spine to enter the spine along oblique direction 580. In some embodiments the joint assembly is introduced from the lateral direction, for example from the side of the patient. Although lateral introduction from the side of the patient can require a greatei- surgical distance traversed from the skin of the patient to the implant site, the tissue cut is typically inuscle or other soft tissue such that the lateral implantation can be less invasive than implantation from the posterior direction.

101031 Refen-ing again to FIG. 15A, the distal coi-nponent and the proximal component of the upper support are arranged in an elongate configuration for introduction to the surgical site as described above. The middle component is folded within a recess so that the upper support components have a slender profile for introduction into the surgical site. The distal coi-nponent and the proximal component of the lower support are similarly an-anged in an elongate configuration with the middle coi-nponent folded within a recess so that the lower support components have a slender profile.

101041 Referring now to FIG. 1513, the components are shown introduced into intervertebral space 560 in the elongate configuration. The distal coi-nponent is advanced at least partially into the intervertebral space while the components reinain in the elongate configuration.

101051 Refen-ing now to FIG. 15C, the components are shown in an intennediate configuration in the intervertebral space. The components have pivoted about the joints while the implant is positioned at least partially within the intervertebral space. The distal components are pivoted proximally with respect to the proximal components, and the distal components have pivoted about the joints. Cables as described above are used to pull the distal components and pivot the distal components about the joints. The stops as described above liinit pivoting rnotion of the distal components in relation to the proximal components.

101061 Refen-ing now to FIG. 15D, the middle components of the upper and lower supports have been pivoted outward to the final position. The cables are attached near the distal end of middle components so that cables pull on the middle components to pivot the middle components about the joints, as described above. The middle components pivot while the proximal and distal components are positioned within the intervertebral space.
The cables are pulled until the middle coinponents reach the final position as shown in FIG.
15D. In some instances, it inay be desirable to position the implant within the intervertebral space after the upper and lower supports are fon-ned. The upper and lower supports are anchored to the vertebrae with screws as described above.

101071 FIG. 16. shows a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly 600 with a curved proximal component and a curved middle component according to an einbodiment.
Joint assembly 600 shows modifications to joint assembly 300 shown above, and joint assembly 500 can be similarly modified. An upper support 602 includes a distal component 620, a proximal component 622 and a middle coi-nponent 624. The distal coi-nponent is attached to the proximal coi-nponent with an articulate joint 626. The proximal component is attached to the middle coi-nponent with a joint 628. Proximal coi-nponent 622 includes a curved edge 640. Curved edge 640 can correspond with any curve, foi- example an arc fonned with from a radius of a circle.
Curved edge 640 pennits the proximal coi-nponent to have a larger surface area oriented toward the vertebra. Additional anchors, for example pyramidal anchors, are provided on this larger surface area to attach to the vertebra. Middle component 624 also includes a curved edge which nests in proximal component 622. The curved edge of middle component 624 provides the middle coi-nponent with a larger cross sectional width and a larger surface area than embodiments 300 and 500 shown above. The larger cross sectional width is sufficiently wide so that at least a portion of the middle component remains within the proximal component while the support is fonned and no hole is present in the upper surface of the fonned upper support. The lower support is formed similar to the upper support with curved edges on the proximal and middle components so as to provide a larger surface area on the lower support and a fonned lower support without a hole in the middle. In alternate embodiments, the middle coinponents include several small anchors, for example pyramidal anchors, on the surfaces oriented toward the vertebrae. In additional embodiments, the middle component is curved on the outer edge opposite edge 640 so that the upper support is curved on each outward facing edge of the proximal, distal and middle components. In these additional embodiments, the lower support is similarly fonned.

101081 FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a self expanding intervertebral joint assembly 700 with gears in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The asseinbly includes an upper support 702 and a lower support 704. An intennediate member, or biconvex core 706 is positioned between the upper and lower supports to permit the upper and lower supports to articulate. Pyramidal anchors 712 are located on the upper support to anchor the upper support into the upper vertebra. Pyramidal anchors 714 (shown in FIG. 19) are located on the lower support and anchor the lower support on the lower vertebra.

101091 Upper support 702 includes a distal component 720, a proximal component 722 and a middle component 724 which can be an-anged in situ to fonn the upper support.
At least one gear is disposed on each of the components of the upper support. Distal component 720 is connected to proximal component 722 with an articulate joint 726. Proximal component 722 is connected to middle component 724 with a joint 728. These components are arranged in situ to form the lower support by articulating the upper support components about the joints. A
retention ring gear 716 is located on the upper support and disposed around the protruding retention ring structure of the upper suppoi-t that retains the biconvex core as described above. In many embodiments, gear 716 may comprise a freewheeling gear. Gear 716 can be used to arrange the components of the upper support by rotating so as to pivot the components into place as described more fully herein below.

[01101 Lower support 704 includes a distal component 730, a proximal component 732 and a middle component 734, which can be arranged in sitT.t to form the lower support. At least one gear is disposed on each of the components of the lower support. Distal component 730 is connected to proximal component 732 with an articulate joint 736 (shown below in FIG. 19).
Proximal coinponent 732 is connected to middle component 734 with a joint 738 (shown below in FIG. 19). These components are arranged in situ to form the lower support by articulating the upper support cornponents about the joints. A retention ring gear 718 is located on the lower support and disposed around the protruding retention ring structure of the lower support that retains the biconvex core as described above. In many embodiments, gear 716 may comprise a freewheeling gear. Gear 718 can be used to arrange the components of the lower support by rotating so as to pivot the components into place as described more fully herein below.

101111 FIG. 18 shows a schematic illustration of a placement instrument 800 with a cartridge 8101oaded with a self-expanding intervertebral joint assembly 700 as in F1G.
17 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The cartridge can permit sinooth deployment of the intervertebral joint assembly in a narrow, uneven space such as a narrow uneven intervertebral space. Cartridge 810 comprises an outer cartridge casing 820, an inner cartridge part 830, and a shaft 840. Shaft 840 is connected to cartridge 810. Shaft 840 has threads 842 formed thereon.
Threads 842 inate with threads 822 formed in outer cartridge casing 820. A
knob 844 is connected near one end of shaft 840 and rotation of knob 844 causes rotation of shaft 840 so as to advance shaft 840 in relation to outer cartridge casing 820.

[01121 Rotation of shaft 840 can advance inner cartridge part 840 so as to advance and deploy self-expanding intervertebral joint assembly 700. Shaft 840 is connected to inner cartridge part 830 such that rotation of shaft 840 can cause inner cartridge part 830 to advance distally along with shaft 840. Self expanding intervertebral joint asseinbly 700 is positioned near inner cartridge part 830. As inner cartridge part 830 advances distally intervertebral joint assembly 700 is pushed forward and advances distally. In some embodiments outer cartridge casing 820 can retract while the inner cartridge part advances distally or retract while the inner remains , The gears of the intervertebral joint assembly are inechanically coupled to the outer cartridge casing to rotated the gears as the assembly advances relative to the outer cartridge casing.
Rotation of gears 716 and gear 718 can pivot the components of the upper and lower asseinbly so as to form the upper and lower supports, respectively.

[0113] FIGS. 19A and 19B schematically illustrate details of the self expanding intervertebral joint assembly loaded in the cartridge as in FIGS. 17 and 18, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Outer cartridge casing 820 extends over at least a portion of intervertebral joint assembly to pennit advancement of the joint assembly into at least a portion of the intervertebral space while the joint assembly is substantially covered with outer cartridge casing 820. Outer cartridge casing 820 covers pyramidal anchors 712 and pyramidal anchors 714.
Distal component 720 of upper support 702 and distal component 730 of lower support 704 are located near an opening in outer cartridge casing 820. Inner cartridge part 830 includes a wedge 832, upper flange 836 and lower flange 838. The upper and lower flanges include inner opposing surfaces, and the inner surface of each flange opposes one of the wedge surfaces to clamp the components of the upper and lower supports in a parallel configuration. Inner cartridge part 830 is connected to shaft 840.

[0114] Self expanding intervertebral joint assembly 700 includes structure to permit articulation between upper support 702 and lower support 704 to restore inotion between the vertebrae. Upper support 702 has a protruding structure 725 which extends from middle component 724 and has a concave surface feature fonned therein, as shown herein above, which mates the upper surface of biconvex core 706. Lower support 704 has a protruding structure 735 which extends from middle component 734 and has a concave surface feature formed therein, as shown herein above, which mates the lower surface of biconvex core 706. In an alternate embodiment, the features of the upper and lower support are in direct contact and mate to provide articulation. For example, the upper support can have a protrusion with a convex surface, and the lower support can have a protrusion with a concave surface, in which the two surfaces mate to form a load bearing articulate joint.

[0115] Protruding structure 725 and protruding stnacture 726 can also include structures to retain the biconvex core and upper and lower retention ring gears, respectively. Protruding structure 725 can include a retention ring, rim or annular flange as described above such as an annular flange 770 that projects radially inward toward biconvex core 706 to retain biconvex core 706. Annular flange 770 has a bevel 772 formed thereon to limit motion between the upper and lower supports. Retention ring gear 716 can have an annular shape formed to inate with protruding structure 725. Protruding structure 725 can include an outer circular surface that mates with an inner surface of inner annular surface of retention ring gear 716. Retention ring gear 716 can rotate around protruding structure 725. ln addition to inwardly protruding annular flange 770 that retains biconvex core 706, protruding structure 725 can include a retention element 774 such as an outwardly protruding annular flange and/or C-ring clip to retain retention ring gear 716. Protruding structure 735 can include a radially inwardly projecting retention ring, rim or annular flange such as an annular flange 771 that extends toward biconvex core 706 to retain biconvex core 706. Retention ring gear 718 can also have an annular shape formed to mate with protruding structure 735. Protruding structure 735 can include an outer circular surface that mates with an inner annular surface of retention ring gear 718.
Retention ring gear 718 can rotate around protruding structure 735. In addition to an inwardly protruding annular flange that retains biconvex core 706, protruding structure 735 can include an outwardly protruding retention element 775 such as an annular flange and/oi- C-ring clip to retain i-etention ring gear 718.

101161 Implant 700 includes structures that pivot while the uppei- and lower supports are forrned. A pivot gear 727 can engage upper retention ring gear 716. Pivot gear 727 is connected to joint 726 so that rotation of pivot gear 727 rotates pivot joint 726 to rotate distal component 720. A pivot joint 728 connects proximal component 722 to middle component 724 of upper support 702. Rotation about pivot joint 728 pivots middle component 724 toward the deployed position. A pivot gear 737 can engage lower retention ring gear 718. Pivot gear 737 is connected to pivot joint 736 so that rotation of pivot gear 737 rotates pivot joint 736 to rotate distal component 704 toward the deployed position. A pivot joint 738 connects proximal component 732 to middle component 734 of lower support 704. Rotation about pivot joint 738 pivots middle component 734 toward the deployed position.

101171 Wedge 832, upper flange 836 and lower flange 838 restrain motion of the joint assembly during deployment by clainping the joint assembly while the joint assembly is advanced. Wedge 832 is positioned between upper support 702 and lower support 704. Wedge 832 and upper flange 836 engage proximal component 722 of upper support 702.
Wedge 832 and lower flange 838 engage proximal component 732 of lower support 704.
Advancement of inner cartridge part 830 advances wedge 832, upper, the upper and lower supports distally to engage gears of the support 101181 FIGS. 20A to 20E show a method for introducing the joint assembly with the cartridge as in FIGS. 17 to 19 into an intervertebral space, in accordance with embodiinents of the present invention. The upper and lower supports are arranged and introduced together, although the upper and lower supports can be arranged sequentially. In a preferred embodiment, placement instrument 800 removably attaches to the components and holds the components of the upper and lower support together during asseinbly of the components as shown in FIGS. 20A-20D.
The components of the upper and lower supports are ari-anged in a narrow pi-ofile configuration while positioned within the cartridge. The components of each support can be arranged to a second wide profile configuration to fonn the assembled upper and lower supports.

101191 Referring now to FIG. 20A, distal component 720 and proximal component 722 of upper support 702 can be arranged in an elongate configuration for introduction to the surgical site. Middle coinponent 724 is folded within a recess so that the upper support components have a slender profile for introduction into the surgical site. Distal component 730 and proxiinal component 732 of lower support 704 are similarly arranged in an elongate configuration, and middle component 724 is folded within a recess so that the lower support colnponents have a slender profile. Outer cartridge casing 820 has an inner surface that includes a structure, for example a rack 824, formed thereon. Rack 824 includes teeth that can engage retention ring gear 716 and retention ring gear 718. In alternate embodiments, the cartridge can comprise a gear on or near the outer casing to engage at least one of the gears of the supports.
A joint 834 connects shaft 840 to inner cartridge part 830 and permits shaft 840 to rotate while inner cartridge part 830 is advanced distally. An arrow 754 indicates distal advancement of inner cartridge part 830 and the components of the upper and lower supports in relation to rack 824 of outer cartridge casing 820. Rack 824 may not engage the retention ring gears until inner cartridge part 830 and the components of the upper and lower supports have advanced distally by a predetermined amount.
101201 Referring now to FIG. 2013, inner cartridge part 830 has advanced the components of the upper and lower supports a sufficient distance so that rack 824 engages retention ring 824 of the upper support and the retention ring of the lower support. Retention ring gear 716 also engages pivot gear 726. Pivot gear 726 can be fixedly connected to distal component 720 of upper support 702 so that rotation of pivot gear 726 pivots distal component 720. Rack 824 can also engage retention ring gear 718 of lower support 704. Pivot gear 736 of lower support 704 can be fixedly connected to distal component 730 of lower support 704 so that rotation of pivot gear 736 pivots distal component 730. The retention ring gears can rotate about an axis of rotation that may be concentric with the protruding structures that retain the biconvex core. The pivot gears can rotate about an axis of rotation that is concentric with the pivot gears. In many embodiments, the axis of rotation of each retention ring gear is aligned with the axes of rotation of each pivot gear so that the axes are parallel. The axis of rotation of pivot gear 727 is concentric with an axis of rotation of joint 726, and the axis of rotation of pivot gear 737 is concentric with an axis of rotation of joint 736.

101211 Referring now to FIG. 20C, the components are shown in an intennediate configuration. Distal component 720 and distal coi-nponent 730 pivot proximally with respect to the proximal components as indicated with an arrow 756. Distal coi-nponent 720 pivots about joint 726, and distal coinponent 730 pivots about joint 736. Distal component 720 pivots to a stop against proxiinal component 722. Retention ring gear 725, pivot gear 727 and rack 824 are dimensioned to pivot distal component 702 a pre-determined ainount, for example 90 degrees, in response to retention ring gear 716 moving along rack 824. A pinion gear 750 engages rack 824 while distal coi-nponent 720 is positioned in the final deployed configuration. Pinion gear 750 can be mounted on proximal component 722 and/or inner cartridge part 830.
Distal advancement of inner cartridge part 830 causes pinion gear 750 to engage rack 824 and rotate while inner cartridge part 830 advances distally. Pinion gear can 830 engage pivot gear 729 and rotate pivot gear 729. Pivot gear 729 can be fixedly connected to middle coi-nponent 724 so that rotation of pivot gear 729 about joint 728 pivots iniddle component 724. Each of the components of the lower support can be similarly dimensioned and positioned to effect pivotal rotation of the lower components.

101221 Middle component 724 can include a protrusion 760. Protrusion 760 can be shaped to slide within a channel 762, groove, or curved slot, fonned in distal component 702. Pivotal rotation of middle component 724 can advance protrusion 760 along channel 762.
The coinponents of the lower support can include a similar protrusion and channel.

[0123] Referring now to FIG. 20D, middle component 324 and middle component 334 of the upper and lower supports, respectively, pivot outward after the distal components are arranged.
Stops can be provided on each of the distal and middle components to liinit pivoting motion of the middle components about the proxiinal components. An arrow 758 indicates pivotal motion of middle component 724 toward the final position to fonn the upper support.
The upper and lower support can be fully formed once the middle components pivot to reach the stops. Channel 762 includes an end that receives protrusion 760 to stop pivotal motion of middle component 724. Pinion gear 750, pivot gear 729 and channel 760 can be dimensioned so that pinion gear 750 reaches a distal end of rack 824 when protrusion 760 reaches end 764 of channel 762. Pivot gear 729 rotates about an axis of rotation that can be concentric with pivot gear 729. Joint 729 rotates about an axis of rotation that can be concentric with pivot gear 729.
Pivot gear 739 rotates about an axis of rotation that can be concentric with pivot gear 739.
Joint 738 rotates about an axis of rotation that can be concentric with pivot gear 739.

101241 Referring now to FIG. 20E, this isometric view shows middle component 724 and middle component 734 in final positions, such that the upper and lower supports are fully forined. Screws 742, 744, 746 and 748 can be used to anchor the upper support and the lower to the superior and inferior vertebrae, respectively. In soine einbodiments, the outer cartridge casing is inserted at least partially into and or near the intervertebral space while the upper and lower support components are advanced relative to the outer cartridge casing and into the intervertebral space so as to form the upper and lower supports in the intervertebral space, for example as is shown in Figs. 15A to 15D. In many einbodiments, the upper and lower supports can be fonned near the intervertebral space while the outer cartridge casing is positioned outside and near the intervertebral space. In an ernbodiment, the joint asseinbly can be inserted partially into the intervertebral space in a rigid wedge configuration and then allowed to freely articulate, so as to limit stretching and proinote ligamentotaxis, as described in co-pending U.S. Appl. No.
4 0/9l 3,780, filed August 6, 2004, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Invertebral Disc Prosthesis Insertion" (attorney docket no. 022031-00I OOOUS), the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated herein by reference.

[0125] The prosthesis as shown in Fig. 20E with fully fonned supports and a mobile bearing core member disposed between the supports is capable of several kinds of articulate motion. For example, flexion/extension articulate motion in the anterior and posterior directions, and lateral bending comprising side to side inotion on the patient. The prosthesis can also provide axial rotation between the supports, for example rotation about a vertical axis of rotation, that corresponds to a twist along the spine of the patient. The prosthesis can also provide translation between the endplates with the mobile bearing core.

(0126] In many embodiments, the angles and lengths of the screws are selected to provide safety. In specific embodiments, the screws are selected and angled to leave bone stock and process substantially intact.

10127] In many embodiments the surfaces of the supports of prosthesis are adapted to anchor the prosthesis to the vertebrae. As can be seen with reference to the above figures, pyrarnidal anchors disposed in rows can be located on the surfaces of the support components that engage the vertebrae. Such pyramidal anchors can be formed by machining the surfaces to form a serrated surface. The expanded prosthesis can be coated to promote anchoring.
In many ernbodirnents, the bone contacting surfaces of the upper and lower supports are coated with a bone growth proinoting substance. Examples include Titanium plasma spray coating, hydroxy apatite. In specitic embodiments, the bone contacting surfaces can be coated with nano Calcium Phosphate particles to promote bone growth.

101281 The upper and lower supports can comprise many biocompatible materials.
In some embodiments the upper and lower supports comprise ceramic, ceramic coinposite, polymer, cobalt chrome, titanium and coinbinations thereof.

101291 FIGS. 21 A to 21 D show posterior and/or posterior lateral access to the intervertebral space, according to embodiments of the present invention. Einbodiments provide in sitir disc expansion within the disc space to provide minimal disruption to the posterior bone support, facets and nerves and to retain the anatomical structures. In many embodiinents, two far posterio-lateral minimally invasive approaches are used so as to allow for the ininirnum of facet (zygophyseal) joint removal such that the facet joints remain substantially intact. In inany embodiments a Total Disc Replacement (TDR) is provided.

101301 An anterior aspect of the lumbar spine is shown in FIG. 21 B. A
posterior aspect 800 of the lumbar spine includes several spinal processes as shown in F1G. 8A. A disc 820 includes an annulus 822 and a nucleus 824. In many embodiments, these processes are remain substantially intact following posterior and posterior-lateral insertion of the intei-vertebral prosthesis. In some embodiments, a naturally occurring and pre-existing opening 810 is used to access disc 820 posteriorly. A suitably sized instrument, for example about a 9 mm diameter size instrument, can be introduced into the naturally occurring intervertebral space through opening 810. In specific embodiments, the upper and lower supports each comprise about a 9 mm narrow profile configuration to pass through pre-existing opening 810. In some embodiments, an opening 812 can be formed to access the intervertebral space, for example as shown in FIGS
21 A and 21 D.
An instrument with a narrow profile size of about 13mm across may be used with such openings.
Opening 810 can comprise cuts fon-ned the inferior articular spinal process and/or cuts fon-ned in the superior spinal process that comprise the facet joint, or zygophyseal joint, of adjacent spinal vertebrae. In some einbodiments, the opening may be fon-ned in a manner similar to that which is perfonned with Transforaininal Interbody Fusion (TLIF). In many embodiments, symmetric opposing openings are used to access the intervertebral space, for example pre-existing openings and/or fon-ned openings. In many embodiments, a posterior lateral approach through soft tissue, for exarnple a Wiltse approach is used to access the posterior aspect of the spine. A superior view of a lumbar vertebra is shown in FIG. 21 C. In many embodiments, at least a portion of the sui-gical instruments and/or the expandable articulate prosthesis will pass through the vertebral foramen, for example a foi-anien as shown in FIG. 21 C. As the expandable articulate prosthesis may pass at least partially through the foramen, embodiments of the present invention may be referred to as Transforaininal Interbody Articulation (TLIA, or TIA). A
posterior lateral approach 832 per-mits access to disc 820 through the vertebral foramen.

10131] In some embodiments it may be desirable to access the disc and intervertebral space with an anterior or anterior lateral approach using the expandable articulate prosthesis. With an anterior approach the expandable prosthesis can minimize movement or disruption of the blood vessels in front of the spine (descending aorta and vena cava), minimize the formation of scar tissue during healing following device placement by reducing invasiveness of the anterior placement, avoid abnormal posterior anatoiny would make an anterior approach rnore appropriate for the patient (e.g. unusual nerve location).

101321 FIGS. 22A to 22E show a method for introducing a joint assembly into an intervertebral disc space, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Annulus 822 of disc 820 is thicker anteriorly than posteriorly. A first opening 920A is fonned in a posterior portion of annulus 822 with penetration of the annulus into nucleus 824 of disc 820. A
second opening 920B is fonned in a posterior portion of annulus 822 with penetration of the annulus into nucleus 824. A tissue removal instrument 930 is inserted through opening 920A into nucleus 824 to remove nucleus 824. A viewing instrument 932, comprising an endoscope, arthroscope, fiber optic or the like, is inserted into opening 920B to permit viewing of the reinoval of nucleus 824.
In some embodiments, the insti-uments can be switched following removal of some tissue to facilitated complete removal of the nucleus, for example viewing instrument 932 inserted into opening 920A and tissue removal instrument 930 inserted into opening 920B.
Bilateral disc entry as shown can facilitate disc decompression, insertion of the expandable prosthesis, and anchoring of the prosthetic disc.

[0133] An expandable member template 934B can be inserted into the evacuated disc space through opening 92A with instrument 934 to determine that sufficient tissue has been removed.
Expandable member template 934B may comprise an expandable balloon that can be filled with a radiopaque material. The balloon may comprise a radiopaque inaterial, and be inflated with a gas and/or saline and the like. In specific einbodiments, a Mylar balloon is filled with Barium solution and the Mylar Balloon has an expanded shape that corresponds to the foot print of the expandable articulate prosthesis. After viewing the shape of the expanded member, for example with fluoroscopy, additional tissue may be removed if desired. In some embodiments, the template may have radiographic inarkers to indict the midline and anterior /
posterior orientation.
A fluoroscopic image of the template can be saved and compared to the prosthetic disc image. In many embodiments, the template has a lower height than the prosthesis that is sufficient to evaluate the footprint of material removed and ensui-e that sufficient material has been i-emoved to allow expansion of the prosthetic disc.

101341 In some embodiments, a portion of the annulus may be removed to guide the expandable prosthesis during delivery into the intervertebral space. The annulus coinprises Type

11 collagen, which is strong, and can guide placement of the prosthesis in some einbodiments. In specific embodiments, the annulus can be shaped during the discectomy to guide the prosthesis during deployment into the evacuated space, and the expandable articulate prosthesis may be press fit anteriorly into the annular annulus so as to resist rotation within the disc space. ln specific embodiments, the interior shape of the annulus formed during discectomy corresponds to structures on the expandable articulate prosthesis, for example a foot print of the expandable articulate prosthesis.

[0135] An expandable articulate prosthesis 942 can be deployed with a deployment instrument 940 inserted through opening 920A. Deployment instrument 940 may comprise racks, gears, pulleys, cables and the like as described above to expand prosthesis 942 as the prosthesis is advanced into the disc space. A distractor 950 can be inserted through opening 920B to distract the adjacent vertebrae while prosthesis is deployed with expansion into the evacuated disc space.
An instrument 960 can be inserted into opening 920A to adjust the location of expandable intervertebral prosthesis 942 after the upper and lower supports are fully fonned. Adjustment to the location of the disc with fully formed supports can be done while distractor 950 is inserted through opening 920B. Alignment can be accomplished using natural indicia such as the pedicles and/or with radiopaque markers, for exainple markers on the prosthesis. Screws can be passed through opening 920A to anchor the upper and lower supports on one side of the prosthesis, and screws can be passed through opening 920B to anchor the upper and lower supports on the other side of the prosthesis.

[0136] FIGS. 23A and 23B show radiopaque markers on upper and lower supports of an expandable intervertebral prosthesis, according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG.
23A shows a superior view of an upper expandable support 1010 that comprises radiopaque markers 1012 positioned on the upper support. FIG. 23B shows an inferior view of a lower expandable support 1020 that comprises radiopaque markers 1012 positioned on the lower support. The radio opaque markers can be used to detect alignment of the upper support and lower support in a manner siinilar to that described in U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/187,733, filed July 21, 2005, entitled "Intervertebral Prosthesis Placement Instrument" (attorney docket no. 022031-001100US); U.S. Appl. No. 10/903,913, filed July 30, 2004, entitled "lntervertebral Prosthetic Disc with Metallic Core", U.S. Publ. No. 2006/0025862 (attorney docket no.

001400US), the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated by reference. The markers can be helpful in detecting anterior posterior alignment with fluoroscopy, lateral alignment with the pedicles and rotation of the upper and/or lower support in relation to the pedicles. The markers can be used in addition to other indicia, for example with the pedicles to ensure that the posterior lateral edges of the inserted disc are equidistant from the center of the pedicles and at the same disc level.

101371 FIGS. 24A to 24E show a method of removing an expandable intervertebral prosthesis as in FIGS. 20A to 20E, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Screws 742, 744, 746 and 748 can be removed. An instrument with a casing as described above is introduced into the intervertebral space. The instrument coinprises a distal end 1100 with an upper protrusion structure 1110 to engage the upper support through the screw hole for screw 744 and a lower protrusion structure 1 120 to engage the lower support through the screw hole for screw 748, for example as shown in FIG. 24A. Other engagement structures on the supports and instrument may be used. Outer cartridge casing 820 is advanced such that pinion gear 750 is engaged with rack 824, for example as shown in FIG. 24B. The implant may also be retracted while engaged with the protrusion structures such that the rack and pinion gear are engaged.
This engagement causes middle component 724 to swing under the proximal component in a narrow profile configuration, for exainple as shown in FIG 24C. Further retraction of the prosthesis and/or advanceinent of the casing engages retention ring gear 716 with rack 824 so as to pivot the distal component into the elongate and narrow profile configuration as shown in FIG.
24D. Retraction of the expandable intervertebral can be continued so as to retract and fully collapse the prosthesis to the narrow profile configuration as shown in FIG.
24E.

101381 FIGS 25Ato 25D show blunt dissection of tissue to access the intervertebral space, according to embodiments of the present invention. A dilator 1210, for example a 20 gauge needle, is passed through a skin 1220 of the patient to a posterior aspect 1230 of the spine of the patient. Sequential dilators 1240 coinprising blunt dissection instruments are sequentially passed over dilator 1210 and each other until the tissue is dilated to a desired size. An operative tube 1250 is place over the sequential dilators to provide access to posterior aspect 1230 of the spine.
Operative tube 1250 can be locked in place with an arm 1260. The dilators can then be removed to establish an operative corridor. A posterior lateral approach can be made though inuscle tissue in a minimally invasive fashion. Many of the other approaches described above can be made in a similar miniinally invasive fashion with blunt dissection.

101391 FIG. 26 shows an expandable intervertebral prosthesis 1300 comprising an upper support that engages a lower support to articulate, according to embodiments of the present invention. Upper support 1310 comprises an expandable support as described above. Lower support 1320 comprises an expandable support as described above. Lower support comprises a convex protrusion 1322 to engage upper support 1310. Upper support cornprises a concave recessed surface 1312 to receive convex protrusion 1322.
Convex protrusion 1322 and concave recessed surface 1322 articulate the upper and lower supports. The upper and lower supports can articulate with at least one of a flexion/extension, a lateral bending or an axial rotation.

101401 Referring now to Fig. 27, self expanding prostheses can be stacked in adjacent intervertebral spaces, according to embodirnents of the present invention. A
stacked arrangement 1400 comprises intervertebral prostheses in adjacent intervertebral spaces.
Adjacent intervertebral spaces 1410 are defined by an upper vertebra 1402, a middle vertebra 1404 and a lower vertebra 1406. In many embodiinents, the prosthesis comprises anchors adapted to permit stacking with another prosthesis positioned in an adjacent intervertebral space.
An upper prosthesis 1420 comprises upper anchors 1428 and lower anchors 1426.
Upper prosthesis 1420 comprises an expandable upper and lower support with a mobile bearing core meinber 1422 located between the upper and lower expandable supports as described above. A
lower prosthesis 1430 comprises upper anchors 1438 and lower anchors 1436.
Lower prosthesis 1430 comprises an expandable upper and lower support with a mobile bearing core member 1432 located between the upper and lower support as described above. The angles of the screws and/or other anchors inay be oriented and positioned with lengths to permit stacking of multiple prostheses in adjacent intervertebral spaces as described in U.S. Appl. No.
60/820,769, filed on July 28, 2006, entitled "Spinal Prosthesis with Offset Anchors", the full disclosure of which has been previously incorporated by reference. Lower anchors 1426 of upper prosthesis 1420 are oriented outward and upper anchors 1438 of lower prosthesis 1430 are oriented inward, such that the tips of the anchors from each of the prostheses avoid each other. In a specific embodiment a first expandable articulate prosthesis is placed with a posterior and/or posterior lateral approach in the intervertebral space defined by L4 and L5 and a second expandable articulate prosthesis is placed with a posterior/posterior lateral approach in the intervertebral space defined by L3 and L4.

101411 FIGS. 27A to 27C show in sitat deployment of an expandable articulate intervertebral prosthesis 1510 in an intervertebral space with a placement instrument and a contralateral placement instrument, according to embodiments of the present invention. An inferior vertebra 1500 coinprises spinal processes as shown above. Two posterior lateral access ports can be formed with blunt dissection with a Wiltse approach as described above. In many ernbodiinents, the annulus remains substantially intact following removal of the nucleus, and the prosthesis is positioned within the annulus via posterior lateral access openings in the annulus as described above. A placement instrument 1520 is used to advance prosthesis 1510 and a contralateral placement instruinent 1530 can be used to manipulate the prosthesis 1510 during deployment.
Placement instrument 1520 can be attached to prosthesis 1510 with a threaded spacer 1524 that is positioned between the upper and lower supports.

[0142] Prosthesis 1510 can comprise an elongate narrow profile configuration and an expanded wide profile configuration as described above and can be advanced into the intervertebral space in the elongate narrow profile configuration. Prosthesis 1510 comprises upper and lower supports, and each support can comprise a distal support component, a proximal support component and a middle support component as described above. A distal component 1512 is pivotally connected to a proxiinal component 1516. While the components are advanced into the intervertebral space, distal component 1512 pivots in relation to proximal component 1516. In specific embodiments, distal component 1512 is a final position when pivoted to 90 degrees. A threaded leading edge spacer 1513, or distal spacer, can be attached to distal component 1512 to connect the distal component to contralateral placement instruinent 1530 with rotation of the contralateral placement instrument. A threaded trailing edge spacer 1518, or proximal spacer, can be attached to proximal coinponent 1516 to connect the proximal component with placement instrument 1520 with rotation of the placement instrument. A middle component 1514 can pivot into position after the distal component has pivoted into position as described above.

[0143] A gut, or cable 1532 can be used to expand prosthesis 1510. Cable 1532 can comprise, nylon or other suitable material, for example surgical suture material.
Following preparation of the intervertebral space, for example after a discectomy, cable 1532 can be threaded, or advanced, into one surgical access port, through the prepared intervertebral space and/or openings in the annulus, and out the other surgical access port. Tension in a proximal direction can be applied to cable 1532 to expand prosthesis 1510. Contralateral placernent instrument 1532 comprises an opening to receive cable 1532 such that contralateral placement instrument 1532 can be advanced distally to engage distal component 1512. Cable 1532 can guide the contralateral placement instrument into position as the contralateral placeinent instrument is advanced distally so as to engage the leading edge threaded spacer. The leading edge threaded spacer can be positioned between the distal components and attached to the distal components with a cable. Threaded connection of the contralateral placement instrument to the leading edge spacer connects contralateral placement instrument 1530 to distal component 1512. Tension applied to cable 1532 can pivot distal component 1512 into the deployed position. Additional displacement of cable 1532 can pivot middle component 1514 into position.

101441 In many embodiments, the fully formed upper and lower supports can be locked into position with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may comprise an insertable elongate member, a cam and/or a ratchet. Channels, or longitudinal slots, can be fonned in the components to receive an elongate member after the supports are fully formed, for example a rod. The longitudinal slots can extend substantially along the length of the respective component, for example along the length of the proximal component and/or along the length of the distal coinponent. In many embodiments, the middle coinponent swings clear of the channels when pivoted into position, such that the elongate member can be inserted into the slot while the middle component is in the deployed wide profile position. Interference of the elongate member with the middle component and/or proximal and distal components locks the components into position while the support is fully formed. The elongate member may comprise an oval rod, a rectangular rod, and/or a circular rod and the like. The rods can be removed to collapse and remove the prosthesis. In many embodiments, the rods and disc components may comprise a ratehet mechanism which retains the elongate member in position in the longitudinal slots after insertion. In some embodiments, a cam mechanism is provided that rotates into position so as to lock the components into position, for example upon rotation of the middle coinponent to the deployed wide profile configuration.

[01451 In many embodiments, the placernent instrument and contralateral placement instrument are both connected to the prosthesis, for example simultaneously connected to the prosthesis. This connection of both placement instruments can be used to inanipulate the prosthesis into position. In specific embodiments, both instruments are simultaneously connected to the articulate, expanded prosthesis while the upper and lower supports are in fully formed and locked positions as described above and the support positioned in the intervertebral space and/or annulus.

[01461 FIGS. 28A to 28D show a placement instrument 1600 as in FIGS. 27A to 27C, according to embodiments of the present invention. The placement instrument can be inserted posteriorly through the canal and/or foramen so as to engage the boney endplates near the disc space. In rnany embodiments, the placement instrument is inserted after two minimally invasive Wiltse incisions and/or dissections and a discectomy that uses a posterior parallel distractor.
Placement instruinent 1600 comprises a distractor with a distractor tip 1630 that can be inserted at least partially into the intervertebral space. Instruinent 1600 comprises a stop to limit penetration of distractor tip 1630. Instrument 1600 comprises handles 1610 to distract the adjacent vertebrae. Instrument 1600 comprises a hinge 1620 that opens distractor tip 1630 upon inward motion of handles 1610.

[0147] Instrument 1600 is adapted to pass the prostheses in an elongate narrow profile configuration into the intervertebral space. Distractor tip 1630 comprises a channel 1640 with grooves 1642 fonned therein. Channel 1640 is dimensioned to pass the prosthesis in an elongate narrow profile configuration. Grooves 1642 are dimensioned and spaced to receive anchors on the external surfaces of the support components, for example pyramidal components as described above. In some embodiments, the anchors may coinprise elongate pyramidal anchors and or elongate keels or flanges and the grooves adapted to pass the elongate anchors with the groove aligned with the elongate anchor. In many embodiments, channel 1640 is sized to distract the vertebrae with distractor tip 1630 while the elongate prosthesis slides down channel 1640. Near hinge 1620, channel 1640 can be sized to pass the prosthesis with a sliding fit.

[0148] Instrument 1600 comprises an insertion tool 1650 to advance the prosthesis along channel 1640 so as to advance the prosthesis into the intervertebral space.
Insertion tool 1650 comprises a shaft 1654 and a handle 1652. Handle 1652 is connected to shaft 1654. In many embodiments handle 1652 comprises a grub screw, and handle 1652 and shaft 1654 comprise strong materials such that handle 1652 can be hainmered so as to drive the prosthesis distally into the intervertebral space and distract the vertebrae with separation of distal tip 1630.

[0149] FIGS. 29A to 29D show a contralateral placement instrument 1700 as in FIGS. 27A to 27C, according to embodiments of the present invention. In many embodiments, the placement instrument engages the prosthesis with a leading edge spacer 1706, or distal spacer. The expandable articulate intervertebral prosthesis comprises an upper support 1702, or superior endplate, and a lower support 1704, or lower endplate. Spacer 1706 can be attached to the upper and lower supports, for example attached with a cable that can be cut.
Contralateral placement instrument 1700 comprises an elongate shaft 1710. Elongate shaft 1710 comprises a channel 1712. Shaft 1710 comprises an opening 1718 that exposes and extends to channel 1710. Shaft 17 10 comprises a nipple portion near a distal end 1730 that extends between upper support 1702 and lower support 1704 when the insertion tool is connected to spacer 1706.
Spacer 1706 liinits articulate inovement between the upper and lower supports during deployment.
Spacer 1706 may be provided as a part or component of a prosthesis assembly for insertion of the prosthesis into the intervertebral space, and spacer 1706 may be connected to shaft 1710.

101501 Shaft 1710 can be connected to the prosthesis upon connection to spacer 1706. Shaft 1710 coinprises threads 1714 that engage threads on spacer 1706. In some embodiments, the threads may be positioned on the nipple. Shaft 1710 comprises a shoulder 1716 that engages a shoulder stop 1708 that limits threaded advancement of shaft 17170. Distal end 1730 includes channel 1712 such that the cable can be threaded through shaft 1710 froin distal end 1730 to proximal opening 1718. A sleeve 1720, or tube, can be provided that fits over shaft 1710.

[0151] In inany embodiments, sleeve 1720 may guide shaft 1710. Sleeve 1720 may be sized to fit within an access tube. In many embodiments, shaft 1710 slides inside sleeve 1720, and shaft 1710 may coinprise a flange 1719 that slides within sleeve 1720. A channel 1724, or space, can be provided inside sleeve 1720 that allows clearance for flange 1719 while the flange slides inside the sleeve. A screw retained end cap 1722 may be provided on the end of sleeve 1720.
[0152] In many embodiments, the trailing edge spacer, or proximal spacer is substantially similar to the trailing edge spacer, or proximal spacer, and the spacers are removably attached to the upper and lower supports. The leading edge spacer and trailing edge spacer can be factory mounted and tied to the upper and lower supports with cable that can be cut, for example nylon gut cable. The elongate members, for example longitudinal rectangular rods, are inserted into their designated slots so as to cut the cable and release the spacers from the supports. In such embodiments, the expanded upper and lower supports can be positioned in the intervertebral space and/or annulus before the upper and lower supports are locked.

[0153] An upper channel 1740 and a lower channel 1742 are each adapted to receive an elongate support member. An upper elongate member 1750 is sized to pass through upper channel 1740 formed in at least one component of the upper support. A lower elongate member 1752 is sized to pass through lower channel 1742 formed in at least one component of the lower support. An upper attachment cable 1760 attaches spacer 1706 to upper support 1702. A lower attachment cable 1762 attaches spacer 1706 to lower support 1704. The upper and lower elongate members each comprise a sharpened distal end portion to cut the respective attachment cable. Upper elongate member 1750 comprises a sharpened distal end portion 1758 to cut upper attachrnent cable 1760.

101541 While the exemplary embodiments have been described in some detail for clarity of understanding and by way of exainple, a variety of additional modifications, adaptations, and changes may be clear to those of skill in the art. Hence, the scope of the present invention is limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An intervertebral joint assembly comprising:

an upper support having a lower surface and comprising two or more components, wherein said upper support components may be arranged in situ to form the upper support; and a lower support having an upper surface and comprising two or more components wherein said lower support components may be arranged in situ to form the lower support; and wherein the upper support the upper and lower surfaces are adapted to engaged each other or an intermediate member to form an articulate joint.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the two or more components of the upper support comprises an upper flat surface to engage an upper vertebra along an upper vertebral engagement surface, and the upper flat surfaces are positioned along the upper vertebral engagement surface while the upper components are arranged to form the upper support.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the two or more components of the lower support comprises a lower flat surface to engage a lower vertebra along a lower vertebra engagement surface, and the lower flat surfaces are positioned along the lower vertebra engagement surface while the lower components are arranged to form the lower support.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one component of the upper support comprises at least one structure adapted to anchor the support in an upper vertebra, and/or at least one component of the lower support comprises at least one structure adapted to anchor the support in a lower vertebra.

The assembly of claim 4 wherein the anchor structure(s) comprise holes adapted to receive anchoring screws.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the anchor structure(s) comprise protrusions adapted to engage vertebra when the assembly is inserted into an intervertebral location.

7. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the anchor structure(s) comprise an elongate anchor adapted to enter a grove formed in a vertebra while the assembly is inserted into an intervertebral location.

8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein at least two components of the upper support comprise one or more of structures adapted to anchor the upper support in the upper vertebrae and/or at least two components of the lower support comprise one or more structures adapted to anchor the lower support in the lower vertebrae.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each support comprises three or more components, each component having a first end and a second end which mechanically couple the components arranged to form the supports.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the components are coupled at locations on each support to define a bounded area on the support, and wherein the articulation surfaces are located at least partially within the bounded areas.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the components of one or more supports are adapted to assemble in situ to form the support at a surgical site.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the components are adapted to assemble in situ from a first elongate arrangement for introduction to a surgical site to a second folded arrangement to form the support at the surgical site.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the components of both supports are adapted to assemble an situ to form the supports.

14. The assembly of claim 11 wherein adapted to assemble comprises at least one of adapted to pivot, or adapted to telescope, or adapted to bend.

15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein one or more supports comprise three components.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the three components comprises a distal component, a middle component and a proximal component.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the middle component extends between the proximal and distal components.

18. The assembly of claim 16 wherein at least one of the three components comprises an elongate anchor adapted to enter a groove formed in a vertebra.

19. An intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the upper support comprises a convex or concave feature and the upper surface of the lower support comprises a concave or convex feature which mates the feature on the upper support.

20. An intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 1, wherein the intermediate member comprises first and second curved surfaces, the first and second surfaces engaging the upper and lower supports, respectively.

21. The intervertebral joint assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper support comprises an upper support ring and the upper support components are separable and may be joined in situ to form the upper support ring, and wherein the lower support comprises a lower support ring and the lower support components are separable and may be joined in situ to form the lower support ring.

22. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 21, wherein the lower surface of the upper ring comprises a convex or concave feature and the upper surface of the lower ring comprises a concave or convex feature which mates the feature on the upper ring.

23. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 21, wherein the upper and lower rings separate into at least two arcuate sections.

24. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 21, wherein the upper and lower rings separate into at least three arcuate sections.

25. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 21, further comprising bone anchors for holding the rings in place.

26. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 25, wherein the anchors comprise screws.

27. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 21, further comprising external posts having elongate shafts to attach the rings to the bone anchors.

28. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim 27, wherein the shafts mate with the rings.

29. The intervertebral joint assembly as in claim27, wherein the shafts mate with the anchors.

30. A method for introducing a joint assembly to an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies, said method comprising:

introducing upper support components, arranging the components in situ into an upper support, introducing lower support components to the intervertebral space; and arranging the lower support components into a lower support, wherein the support surfaces are arranged to articulate.

31. The method as in claim 30, wherein the support components are introduced from the back of the patient.

32. The method as in claim 30, further comprising attaching the upper support or the lower support to bone anchors.

33 The method of claim 32, wherein external posts attach the bone anchors to upper support or the lower support.

34. The method as in claim 30, wherein the components of the upper and lower supports are introduced and arranged together.

35. The method as in claim 30, wherein the components of each support are arranged by pivoting one or more components of each support from a first narrow profile arrangement to a second wide profile arrangement to assemble each support.

36. The method as in claim 35 wherein at least one gear on each support is rotated to pivot the one or more components on each support.

37. A method for assembling an intervertebral prosthesis in situ within a patient, the method comprising:
introducing components of the intervertebral prosthesis into the patient in a narrow profile arrangement; and rotating at least one gear to pivot the components from the narrow profile arrangement to a wide profile arrangement to assemble the prosthesis.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the components of the prosthesis are retained by a placement instrument while the components are introduced in the narrow profile configuration.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the at least one gear is disposed on one or more of the components and is engaged by a rack disposed on the placement instrument so that the at least one gear rotates while the components are advanced distally and/or the rack is retracted proxically.

40. An instrument for introducing a joint assembly to an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies, the instrument comprising:
a shaft; and a cartridge to retain the joint assembly, the cartridge coupled to the shaft, and wherein the cartridge comprises a structure to engage the intervertebral joint assembly and pivot at least one component of the intervertebral joint assembly.

41. The instrument of claim 40 wherein the structure comprises at least one of a rack or a gear to engage the intervertebral joint assembly

42. The instrument of claim 40 wherein the cartridge comprises a casing shaped to at least partially cover the joint assembly and permit the joint assembly to slide relative to casing.

43. The instrument of claim 42 wherein the casing is shaped to hold upper and lower components of the joint assembly together and limit movement while the casing at least partially covers the joint assembly.

44. The instrument of claim 40 wherein the cartridge comprises an inner part shaped to fit at least partially within the casing and move relative to the casing.

45. The instrument of claim 44 wherein shaft comprises threads to advance the inner part and/or retract the casing.

46. The instrument of claim 44 wherein the inner part comprises a protrusion to extend between components of upper and lower support components of the joint assembly and limit movement.

47. The instrument of claim 46 wherein the protrusion comprises a wedge with proximally inclined opposing surfaces.

48. The instrument of claim 44 wherein the inner part comprises opposed flanges to limit movement between upper and lower support components of the joint assembly.

49. An intervertebral joint assembly comprising:
an upper support having a lower surface and comprising two or more components and at least one gear to arrange the components, wherein said upper support components may be arranged in situ with rotation of the at least one gear of the upper support to assemble the upper support; and a lower support having an upper surface and comprising two or more components and at least one gear to arrange the components, wherein said lower support components may be arranged in situ with rotation of the at lest one gear of the lower support to assemble the lower support; and wherein the upper and lower surfaces are adapted to engage each other or an intermediate member to form an articulate joint.

50. The joint assembly of claim 49 wherein the at least one gear on each support is connected to at least one of the components of each support so that rotation of the at least one gear pivots the at least one component.

51. The joint assembly of claim 50 wherein the at least one gear on each support is fixed to the at least one component.

52. The joint assembly of claim 49 wherein each support comprises three or more components and at least two gears to arrange the three or more components.

53. The joint assembly of claim 49 wherein the two or more components of each support are connected with a joint, and rotation of the at least one gear on each support pivots at least one of the one or more components about the joint.

54. The joint assembly of claim 53 wherein on each support an axis of rotation of the at least one joint is aligned with an axis of rotation of the at least one gear.

55. The joint assembly of claim 49 wherein each surface is formed in a protrusion extending from each support, and the at least one gear on each support comprises an annular shape disposed around the protrusion.

56. The joint assembly of claim 55 wherein each protrusion comprises a flange that extends toward the intermediate member to retain the member.

57. The joint assembly of claim 55 wherein each protrusion comprises a retention element that extends at least partially over the at least one gear to retain the at least one gear while the gear rotates around the protrusion.

58. The joint assembly of claim 55 wherein each protrusion extends from the component on each support to an annular rim, and at least one annular rim comprises a bevel to limit articulation between the upper support and the lower support to a pre-determined angle.

59. An intervertebral prosthesis comprising:
a first support adapted to expand from a narrow profile to an expanded profile while in an intervertebral space; and a second support adapted to expand from a narrow profile to an expanded profile while in the intervertebral space;
wherein the first and second supports are adapted to engage each other or an intermediate member to articulate while in the expanded configurations.

60. The prosthesis of claim 59 wherein the prosthesis comprises anchors adapted to permit stacking with another prosthesis positioned in an adjacent intervertebral space.

61. The prosthesis of claim 59 wherein the first support and second support articulate with at least one of a flexion/extension, a lateral bending, an axial rotation or a lateral translation.

62. A method of articulating adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:
inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae; and expanding the intervertebral prosthesis from a narrow profile configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the prosthesis articulates the adjacent vertebrae in the expanded configuration.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the prosthesis is inserted into the intervertebral space from a posterior lateral approach.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the posterior lateral approach substantially comprises a Wiltse approach

65. The method of claim 63 further comprising dissecting at least some tissue with a blunt instrument along the posterior lateral approach.

66. The method of claim 63 further comprising forming an access opening from about 7 to 15 mm across along the posterior lateral approach.

67. The method of claim 63 wherein the facet joints of the adjacent vertebrae remain substantially intact insertion of the prosthesis into the intervertebral space.

68. A method of articulating adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:
penetrating a spinal disc annulus located between the adjacent vertebrae to form an opening in the spinal disc annulus;
inserting a spinal prostheses in a narrow profile configuration through the opening; and expanding the spinal prosthesis inside the annulus from the narrow profile configuration to an expanded profile configuration, wherein the spinal prosthesis articulates the vertebrae while in the expanded configuration.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising penetrating the spinal disc annulus to form another opening away from the opening.

70. The method of claim 69 further comprising inserting a distraction tool through the another opening to distract the adjacent vertebrae.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the vertebrae are distracted with the distraction tool while the prosthesis is inserted through the opening.

72. A method of removing an expandable prosthesis from an intervertebral space, the method comprising:
collapsing the expandable prosthesis from an expanded configuration to a narrow profile configuration while the prosthesis is positioned in the intervertebral space; and removing the expandable prosthesis from the intervertebral space in the narrow profile configuration.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the expandable prosthesis is removed from a removal opening formed to remove the prosthesis.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the expandable prosthesis is removed from an insertion opening formed to insert the expandable prosthesis.

75. A method of preparing an intervertebral space for a prosthesis, the method comprising:
removing material from the intervertebral space; and inserting an expandable member into the intervertebral space to evaluate the intervertebral space.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising removing additional material in response to the evaluated intervertebral space.

77. The method of claim 75 wherein the expandable member comprises at least one of a balloon or a template.

78. A method of positioning a prosthesis in an intervertebral space, the method comprising:

inserting a first instrument through a first surgical opening to contact the prosthesis at a first location; and inserting a second instrument through a second surgical opening to contact the prosthesis at a second location, wherein a position of the prosthesis is adjusted with the first instrument and the second instrument.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the second surgical opening comprises a contra-lateral opening.

80. The method of claim 78 further comprising connecting the second instrument to the prosthesis.

81. A prosthesis assembly for insertion into an intervertebral space, the prosthesis assembly comprising:
a first end portion adapted to attach to a first instrument while the prosthesis is positioned in an intervertebral space; and a second end portion adapted to attach to a second instrument while the prosthesis is positioned in the intervertebral space.

82. The prosthesis of claim 81 wherein at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion comprises a spacer adapted for removal from the prosthesis assembly.

83. The prosthesis of claim 81 wherein the prosthesis assembly is expandable from a first narrow profile configuration to a second expanded configuration, and the prosthesis assembly comprises a locking mechanism to lock components of the prosthesis in the expanded configuration.

84. An instrument for introducing a prosthesis into an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies, the instrument comprising:
a shaft; and a structure connected to the shaft near the end of the shaft, wherein the structure adapted to retain the joint assembly while the joint assembly is advanced into the intervertebral space such that components of the prosthesis pivot from a narrow profile configuration to an expanded profile configuration.

85. The instrument of claim 84 wherein the structure comprises at least one of casing or a spacer to limit movement of the components while the components pivot from the narrow profile configuration to the expanded profile configuration.

86. The instrument of claim 84 wherein the structure comprises a spacer attached to the components of the prosthesis.