Method for implanting an intervertebral disk prosthesis

1. A method of implanting an intervertebral disk prosthesis comprising a first cover plate and a second cover plate, said first and second cover plates each having a dorsal edge, a ventral edge, and lateral edges defining a perimeter of a circumferential edge, and a connection surface extending at least partially between said edges of the circumferential perimeter, said first and second cover plates, at their dorsolateral corners, are configured with a set-back portion having an inclined transition surface that adjoins a plane of the circumferential edge having a height to a plane of the connection surface having a different height, the method comprising:

forming a recess between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body to receive said intervertebral disk prosthesis by shaping a first vertebral body bearing surface on the first vertebral body, shaping a second vertebral body bearing surface on the second vertebral body, and sparing a bone part of at least one of the first and second vertebral bodies to leave bone material adjacent to at least one of the first and second vertebral body bearing surfaces; and

implanting said intervertebral disk prosthesis into said recess in an anterior to posterior direction of implantation such that said connection surface of said first cover plate is positioned against said first vertebral body bearing surface of said recess, said connection surface of said second cover plate is positioned against said second vertebral body bearing surface of said recess, and said set-back portion is positioned against said spared bone material remaining in said recess.

2. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cover plate has a ratio of width to depth that ranges between 1.1:1 and 1.6:1 in a transverse plane relative to an implanted position of the prosthesis.

3. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the inclined transition surface has a difference in height of at least 1 mm from the plane of the circumferential edge to the plane of the connection surface of the first and second cover plates.

4. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the set-back portion extends into a dorsal third of an anteroposterior extent of the connection surface.

5. The method of implanting the intervertebral prosthesis disk according to claim 1 , wherein the inclined transition surface is at least one of convexly rounded, straight, and stepped.

6. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the connection surface is configured as a series of longitudinal ridges.

7. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the set-back portion is configured without ridges on the inclined transition surface.

8. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the connection surface is equipped with a biologically active coating.

9. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second cover plates are made of metal.

10. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 1 , wherein the intervertebral disk prosthesis further comprises a prosthesis core mounted on an inner face of one of the first and second cover plates, the prosthesis core forming a slide surface with an inner face of an other of the first and second cover plate.

11. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 10 , wherein the prosthesis core extends to the edges of the circumferential perimeter of at least one of the first cover plate and the second cover plate.

12. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 10 , wherein the prosthesis core is made of polyethylene.

13. A method of implanting an intervertebral disk prosthesis comprising a first cover plate and a second cover plate, said first and second cover plates each having a dorsal edge, a ventral edge, and lateral edges defining a perimeter of a circumferential edge, and a connection surface extending at least partially between said edges of the circumferential perimeter, said first and second cover plates, at their dorsolateral corners, are configured with a set-back portion having an inclined transition surface that adjoins that adjoins a plane of the circumferential edge having a height to a plane of the connection surface having a different height, the method comprising:

forming a recess between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body to receive said intervertebral disk prosthesis by shaping a first vertebral body bearing surface on the first vertebral body, shaping a second vertebral body bearing surface on the second vertebral body, and sparing a bone part of at least one of the first and second vertebral bodies to leave bone material adjacent to at least one of the first and second vertebral body bearing surfaces; and

implanting said intervertebral disk prosthesis into said recess such that said connection surface of said first cover plate is positioned against said first vertebral body bearing surface of said recess, said connection surface of said second cover plate is positioned against said second vertebral body bearing surface of said recess, and said set-back portion is positioned against said spared bone material remaining in said recess,

wherein the at least one cover plate has a ratio of width to depth that ranges between 1.1:1 and 1.6:1 in a transverse plane relative to an implanted position of the prosthesis.

14. The method of implanting the intervertebral disk prosthesis according to claim 13 , wherein the inclined transition surface has a difference in height of at least 1 mm from the plane of the circumferential edge to the plane of the connection surface of first and second cover plates.