Intervertebral prosthetic devices and methods of implanting the same
within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bodies are
provided. One device includes first and second components, each
configured to engage a respective one of the adjacent vertebral bodies.
Each component includes a vertebral support plate with a spherical
segment protruding therefrom. The spherical segments are disposed to
reside within nuclear recesses in the adjacent vertebral bodies when the
device is implanted in the intervertebral space, and are configured with
a common center of rotation which aligns with the natural axis of
rotation of the adjacent vertebral bodies. An articulation member, which
interfaces the first and second vertebral support plates, may be an
articular ball and respective concave articular surface regions in the
plates, or alternatively, a convex articular surface and a respective
concave articular surface in the vertebral support plates of the first
and second components.