Intervertebral disk prosthesis methods of use

1. A method of using an intervertebral disk prosthesis in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae of a patient, the method including:

a) ensuring the intervertebral space is sufficiently clear;

b) providing an egg-shaped intervertebral disk prosthesis that is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis thereof, the intervertebral disk prosthesis including:

a generally bluntly rounded proximal end and an opposing generally bluntly rounded distal end, the distal end being at least partially convexly tapered, a first side and a second side, each side being at least partially convexly shaped,

a first part with a convexly-shaped and rounded outer surface and an inner surface having a concavely-shaped socket, and

a second part including a convexly-shaped and rounded outer surface and an inner surface having a convexly-shaped portion at least partially directly and slideably engaging with the socket of the first part thereby allowing at least two-degrees of freedom of movement of the first part with respect to the second part,

wherein a length of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured from the distal end to the proximal end is greater than a width of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the first and second sides and is greater than a height of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the outer surface of the first part and the outer surface of the second part, and wherein the distal end has a lesser average radius of curvature than at the proximal end as measured on the outer surfaces of the first part that intersect the longitudinal axis;

c) impacting the disk prosthesis to drive the disk prosthesis entirely within a nuclear region of the intervertebral space by temporarily distracting the vertebrae with minimal removal of a vertebral rim, thereby reducing the chance of dislodging the disk prosthesis post-surgery; and

d) permitting a top of the first part to contact the first vertebra and a bottom of the second part to contact the second vertebra.

2. A method of installing an intervertebral disk prosthesis in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae of a patient using a working channel and a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

a) making an incision in the patient;

b) inserting through the incision a distal end of the working channel;

c) inserting a distal end of the surgical instrument into the working channel in order to access the intervertebral space;

d) removing nuclear disk material from the intervertebral space; and

e) inserting the intervertebral disk prosthesis into and within a nuclear region of the intervertebral space, the intervertebral disk prosthesis including an upper part with a convexly-shaped and rounded top, a bottom having an opening, an outer surface, an inner surface and a socket extending into an interior of the upper part from the opening and a lower part including a top, a convexly-shaped and rounded bottom and an outer surface, the outer surface of the lower part proximate the top of the lower part being cooperatively and movably overlapped by the inner surface of the upper part thereby allowing at least two-degrees of freedom of movement,

wherein the intervertebral disk prosthesis is inserted using an insertion tool that has a first finger configured to engage an ingrowth opening in the top of the upper part, a second finger configured to engage an ingrowth opening in the bottom of the lower part, and a driving member disposed between the first and second fingers.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the length of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured from the distal end to the proximal end is between about 10 mm and about 30 mm.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the width of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the first and second sides is between about 10 mm and about 25 mm.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the height of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the outer surface of the first part and the outer surface of the second part is between about 5 mm and about 25 mm.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the disk prosthesis is inserted into a gap between adjacent vertebrae during an outpatient surgical procedure.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disk prosthesis is inserted between the first and second vertebrae using a working channel.

8. A method of using an intervertebral disk prosthesis in an intervertebral space between first and second vertebrae of a patient, the method including:

a) ensuring the intervertebral space is sufficiently clear;

b) inserting the intervertebral disk prosthesis entirely within the intervertebral space using an insertion tool that has a first finger configured to engage an ingrowth opening in the outer surface of the first part, a second finger configured to engage an ingrowth opening in the outer surface of the second part, and a driving member disposed between the first and second fingers, the disk prosthesis including:

a first part with a convexly-shaped and rounded outer surface and an inner surface having a concavely-shaped socket, and

a second part including a convexly-shaped and rounded outer surface and an inner surface having a convexly-shaped portion at least partially directly and slideably engaging with the socket thereby allowing at least two-degrees of freedom of movement of the first part with respect to the second part; and

c) permitting a top of the first part to contact the first vertebra and a bottom of the second part to contact the second vertebra.

9. A method of using an intervertebral disk prosthesis in an intervertebral space between adjacent first and second vertebrae of a patient, the method including:

a) ensuring the intervertebral space is sufficiently clear;

b) providing an egg-shaped intervertebral disk prosthesis that is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis thereof, the intervertebral disk prosthesis having a generally bluntly rounded and convexly tapered distal end, an opposing generally bluntly rounded proximal end, a first side and a second side, the disk prosthesis further including:

a first part having an outer surface and a convexly-shaped and rounded top and a bottom having a convexly shaped portion, the outer surface proximate the top being configured to contact a concave portion of a first vertebra,

a second part including a top, a convexly-shaped and rounded bottom, and an outer surface, the outer surface proximate the bottom being configured to contact a concave portion of a second vertebra that is adjacent to the first vertebra, and the outer surface of the second part proximate the top of the second part having a concavely shaped socket, the convexly shaped portion of the first part being at least partially cooperatively and movably overlapped by the socket thereby allowing at least two-degrees of freedom of movement of the first part relative to the second part,

wherein the taper of the distal end diminishes more gradually than a taper of the proximal end as measured on the outer surfaces of the first part that intersect longitudinal axis, and the first and second sides are at least partially convexly shaped in order to allow installation of the disk prosthesis into a space defined by the concavities of the adjacent first and second vertebrae and wherein a length of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured from the distal end to the proximal end is greater than a width of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the first and second sides and is greater than a height of the intervertebral disk prosthesis as measured between the outer surface of the first part and the outer surface of the second part;

c) impacting the disk prosthesis to drive the disk prosthesis entirely between the adjacent first and second vertebrae by temporarily distracting the vertebrae with minimal removal of a vertebral rim, thereby reducing the chance of dislodging the disk prosthesis post-surgery; and

d) permitting the outer surface proximate the top of the first part to contact the first vertebra and the outer surface proximate the bottom of the second part to contact the second vertebra.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts each include an ingrowth opening that extends through the outer surface of the disk prosthesis and are configured to allow vertebral bone ingrowth into the first and second parts.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second parts each include an ingrowth opening that extends through the outer surface of the disk prosthesis and are configured to allow vertebral bone ingrowth into the first and second parts.