as used herein , the following definitions apply . in the context of this application , the word anterior is meant to apply to that aspect of the spine facing the abdomen of the patient . the word posterior is meant to apply to that aspect of the spine facing the back of the patient . fig1 shows a perspective view of a bean shaped implant 10 which illustrates the difference in height between the anterior and posterior sides . as shown the thickness of the anterior side 12 of the implant is larger than the posterior side 14 . the convexity of the bean shaped implant 10 as illustrated in fig2 . these physiological characteristics are key to mimicking the natural juxtaposition and movements of the disc and vertebral endplates . this uniquely allows the implants be built to individual specifications to suit the individual patient . in particular , the vertebral endplates are not parallel in the normal disc space , therefore the prosthesis is designed with the anterior aspect thicker than the posterior aspect . the normal disc space is bi - concave and thus both the inferior and superior surfaces of the bean shaped implants facing the vertebral endplates must be convex . furthermore , in the present invention , the difference in thickness as well as the convexity between the anterior and posterior part of the bean shaped prosthesis is variable and can be adjusted to individual patient needs . the exact and varying degrees of convexity a cross the implant are obtained through radiological graphing . the further advantages of the bean shaped implant shall be apparent when we discuss surgical techniques and the biomechanical properties of the implant . fig3 is a top view and fig4 is a perspective view showing all three components after insertion . one of the bean shaped implants 10 is meant to be inserted on the left side and the second is inserted on the right side . because of the design , the prosthesis can be inserted through a posterior as well as an anterior approach using techniques that are familiar to spine surgeons . the part of the annulus fibrosus 16 which is left intact supports the containment of the prosthesis and lessens the chances of migration . the central inflatable nucleus 18 of the artificial disc is to occupy the disc space left empty between the two afore mentioned implants 10 . the size of the midline implant can be chosen using pre - operative measurements to fill adequately the existing cavity . when completely inflated , the implant shall fill the cavity completely , maximizing areas of contact between the prosthesis and the end plates thus minimizing the chance of subsidence or migration . the midline implant 18 consists of a membrane , which can be inserted on top of an inserting tool . once in place , the midline implant can be filled under pressure with liquid gel , gas , polymer , or any other biocompatible material . the pressure inside the implant can be regulated and optimized . the central implant 18 has a detachable catheter , that is preferably attached at the time of insertion . once the implant is in place , the catheter used to inflate the device can be removed , leaving the ( one - way valve ) implant in place . the inflatable implant , when totally expanded , locks in place the other components of the prosthesis , eliminating or at least significantly reducing the chances of migration . the body of the prosthesis is made of a silastic material or any other biocompatible material of adequate consistency , resiliency , flexibility , and compressibility . these characteristics are necessary to provide adequate constrain in flexion — extension , lateral tilt , rotation , and axial loading , thus mimicking the natural intervertebral disc . fig5 illustrates the complete prosthesis including metal fins 20 which ensure satisfactory attachment to the vertebral endplates and prevents migration . the fins 20 are part of a metal plate 22 which inferior and superior surfaces of the endplates of the bean shaped implant 10 . the plates 22 and fins 20 are made of medical grade , porous titanium alloy or any other metal porcelain , or other synthetic material . the metal plates have at least two fins facing the endplates to prevent displacement . alternatively porous titanium may be sprayed on the surface of the implant 10 or metal having “ memory ” may be used . when using a metal with a memory , the fins on the plate are reduced such that they are smooth and “ flat ” on the metal surface . once the implant including the metal is placed in the body and the temperature if the same increases , the fins “ grow ” and “ develop ” on the plate to resume their previous shape . in another embodiment , a pressure monitor 24 may be inserted in the midline implant to allow for post - operative intradiscal pressure measurement . in yet another embodiment of this invention , the surfaces of the bean shaped prostheses facing the vertebral endplates are coated with porous titanium . in yet another embodiment of this invention , the surfaces of the midline implant facing the vertebral endplates are coated with porous titanium . in yet another embodiment of this invention , the inferior and superior surfaces of the bean - shaped implant are made of memory titanium alloy allowing for full expansion of the fins after implantation . the surgical techniques used for insertion of the prosthetic disc are similar to the techniques used universally by spine surgeons to insert paired implants for the purpose of fusing the spine , which include both : because these procedures are familiar to spine surgeons , their description shall not be repeated except to describe a few modifications that have been designed to accommodate the insertion of this artificial disc along with specially designed instruments to make the technique user friendly . fig6 shows the posterior of the human spine where the surgical procedure is performed . once the intervertebral disc 26 has been approached , a small incision is made on one side of the disc and then the other . the nervous structures 28 can be safely retracted as long as the two sides are approached one after another . the nervous structures should not be retracted over the midline . the disc material is then removed thoroughly through the two openings 30 using accepted techniques . in degenerative disc disease , the disc height is usually reduced when compared with normal values . using an algorithm that we have developed the ideal disc space height for the level involved is established . by using dilators specially designed for this purpose and inserting them in a sequential fashion from left to right , the disc space can be reestablished to its normal pre - diseased values before inserting the artificial disc . fig7 shows a specially designed dilator used to reestablish the disc space . it consists of a handle 32 , release mechanism 34 , and detachable tip 36 . the detachable tip 36 has an elliptical shape with large diameter a and small diameter b . the large diameter a and small diameter b differ by 1 mm . a quarter turn of the dilator provides an increase of 1 mm in the disc space height . a set of dilators allows for the progressive increase of the disc height until satisfactory pre - disease values are established . the two bean shaped lateral prostheses 10 are then inserted and the midline prosthesis 18 inflated to a satisfactory pressure , locking the components of the prosthesis in place . the closure may then proceed . the surgical techniques described above are only meant to provide an example of a technique that can be used to insert this artificial disc . other techniques that provide for a safe and adequate exposure of the intervertebral disc may be used including percutaneous approaches or endoscopic surgery . due to its design , the present invention allows for flexion , extension , lateral tilt , rotation , and also allows for axial loading ( shock absorber function ), contrary to the ball and socket designs presently available . because the invention has two bean shaped implants 10 of various heights , it allows for reestablishment or preservation of the lumbar lordosis contrary to existing devices that have parallel surfaces facing the endplates . in the normal human disc , the vertebral endplates are not parallel resulting in the fact that the anterior aspect of the disc is higher than the posterior aspect . fig8 a - c illustrates the amount of lordosis which uniquely varies among individual patients . these amounts are normal lordosis 38 , extreme lordosis 40 , and the loss of lordosis 42 which results in “ flat back ” syndrome . as illustrated by the normal lordosis 38 in fig8 and also by fig9 , the lumbar section of the spine has a natural curvature . this curvature is the reason why the verterbral endplates 44 are not parallel . existing artificial discs have anterior and posterior heights which are the same , not taking into consideration the normal anatomy of the human disc . this prosthesis addresses this issue . the loss of lordosis results in back pain and junctional degeneration ( this is precisely what the artificial disc is supposed to prevent ). therefore , the prosthesis and the surgical technique are designed in a manner in which to duplicate the pre - disease lordotic conditions . 90 % of patients with flat back complain of back pain . lack of lordosis results in detrimental stresses on the adjacent vertebral segment accelerating degenerative changes and creating back pain . increase in intradiscal pressure has been associated with hypolordotic conditions . spinal alignment should be preserved or restored , especially sagittal lordosis . because of the design of this artificial disc , the ease of insertion allows for a posterior surgical approach to the lumbar spine contrary to existing prosthesis which require an anterior approach . the anterior approach is plagued with a number of iatrogenic complications including retrograde ejaculation in males , severe bleeding requiring extensive transfusions , vessel injury , thrombosis with possible embolization , long term venous insufficiency , and urethral injury . deaths have been reported due to such complications . these iatrogenic problems have concerned surgeons to the extent that it limits the indications for surgery . low back pain is not a fatal condition and the surgeons have to consider the risk - benefit ratio of the anterior approach . it should be emphasized that the design of this invention allows for anterior as well as posterior insertion . another advantage of the design is that the surgical techniques used ( allowing for some modifications ) are familiar to spine surgeons , avoiding the “ learning curve ” inherent to new instrumentation . because the incisions in the annulus are minimal , a significant amount of the annulus is left intact , providing containment of the artificial disc . this will eliminate , or at least significantly decrease the risk of migration of the prosthesis . the anterior surgical approach used for insertion of the presently available total disc prostheses makes preservation of the anterior annulus and the anterior longitudinal ligament impossible or very unlikely . advantageously , with this design , the unique combination of two lateral bean shaped implants with an inflatable center results in a complete filling of the cavity left by the disc removal . this tight fit of the implants within the disc space argues favorably for a stable construct with little or no likelihood of migration . a further advantage of this invention is that the prosthesis can be “ custom made ” allowing for variable anterior and posterior thickness as well as for varying degrees of convexity thus allowing for a more physiologically correct outcome . a person &# 39 ; s disc area is modeled and then the prosthesis is formed to fit that individual &# 39 ; s disc area . the issue of prosthesis failure is commonly left unaddressed even though these prosthesis are destined to remain in place for many years and even decades . none of the prosthetic designs of total disc prosthesis have known specific considerations for replacement or revision . with this prosthesis design , a failure of the artificial disc to function can be addressed by deflating and removing the central prosthesis , then filling the cavity with bone to obtain an interbody lumbar fusion , an operation that is well accepted and has a satisfactory historical track record . this issue once again highlights the benefits of a posterior approach since the following risks associated with the reopening of an anterior approach are greater . reopening of an anterior , transabdominal approach carries significant risk of severe complications with possible intractable bleeding due to adhesions to the major blood vessels and is a life threatening operation . though this invention is designed to be applied to the treatment of the human lumbar spine , it may be applied to other vertebrates of the animal kingdom . in light of the foregoing , it will now be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure without departing from the inventive concept defined by the appended claims . non - limiting examples of such changes including using an endoscopic procedure in a variant of the technique , varying the number of fins on the implants , or using polymers , nitrous oxide or a hydro gel to inflate the central implant .
an artificial lumbar disc made of three components which are inserted individually . two bean shaped implants are a mirror image of each other and are designed to be inserted on each side of the disc cavity . the third component is designed to fill the disc cavity remaining after the first two components have been inserted . the unique design focuses on restoring the natural function of the disc , reestablishing a preferred disc space , and providing ease of insertion through both a posterior and anterior approach . moreover , the potential of prosthesis failure is fully addressed and feasible solutions to such an occurrence are proposed .