Interbody vertebral prosthetic and orthopedic fusion device with self-deploying anchors

1. A method of inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between respective endplates of adjacent first and second vertebral bones of a spine, comprising:

placing the intervertebral prosthesis into the intervertebral space, the intervertebral prosthesis including: a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one sidewall extending therebetween, the first major surface for engaging the endplate of the first vertebral bone, and the second major surface for engaging the endplate of the second vertebral bone, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces; and

simultaneously pushing at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures in the body and into at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, without rotating the at least three anchoring elements about respective axes thereof, wherein:

a first deployment direction of a first of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body;

a second deployment direction of a second of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and opposite to the second substantial directional component of the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element; and

the step of pushing the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures and into the at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, includes moving the first anchoring element at least some distance in the first deployment direction and moving the second anchoring element at least some distance in the second deployment direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein directions of deployment of the anchoring elements are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a third deployment direction of a third of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; and (iii) a third substantial directional component in a lateral direction with respect to the anterior-posterior direction of the body;

at least one of the first and second substantial directional components of the third deployment direction are substantially opposite to the respective first and second substantial directional components of at least one of the first and second deployment directions; and

the step of pushing the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures and into the at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, further includes moving the third anchoring element at least some distance in the third deployment direction.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

a fourth deployment direction of a fourth of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; and (iii) a third substantial directional component in a lateral direction with respect to the anterior-posterior direction of the body;

at least two of the first, second, and third substantial directional components of the fourth deployment direction are substantially opposite to at least one of: (i) the respective first and second substantial directional components of at least one of the first and second deployment directions, and (ii) the respective first, second, and third substantial directional components of the third deployment direction; and

the step of pushing the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures and into the at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, further includes moving the fourth anchoring element at least some distance in the fourth deployment direction.

5. A method of inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between respective endplates of adjacent first and second vertebral bones of a spine, comprising:

placing the intervertebral prosthesis into the intervertebral space, the intervertebral prosthesis including: (i) a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one sidewall extending therebetween, the first major surface for engaging the endplate of the first vertebral bone, and the second major surface for engaging the endplate of the second vertebral bone, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces, (ii) at least three apertures extending from within the body and each aperture opening at one of the first and second major surfaces, (iii) at least three anchoring elements, each anchoring element disposed within a respective one of the at least three apertures and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, and (iv) a drive mechanism engaging the proximal end of each anchoring element and the drive mechanism having a head at a proximal end of a single threaded shaft extending therefrom, thereby defining a longitudinal axis thereof; and a translator element having: (a) a threaded bore in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft of the drive shaft, (b) at least one coupling element in engagement with, and permitting articulation of, the proximal end of each anchoring element, wherein the drive shaft is fixed in a direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, but rotatable, within the body, such that a rotation force on the drive shaft causes the translator to: (a) move along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, (b) translate each of the proximal ends of the at least three anchoring elements parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, and (c) push the at least three anchoring elements out through the respective apertures; and

activating the drive mechanism in order to simultaneously push the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures in the body and into at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, without rotating any of the at least three anchoring elements about respective axes thereof.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of:

a first deployment direction of a first of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of a first lateral direction of the body and a second, opposing, lateral direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body;

a second deployment direction of a second of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of the first lateral direction of the body and the second, opposing, lateral direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and opposite to the second substantial directional component of the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

a third deployment direction of a third of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of the first lateral direction of the body and the second, opposing, lateral direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; and

at least one of the first and second substantial directional components of the third deployment direction is substantially opposite to the respective first and second substantial directional components of at least one of the first and second deployment directions.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

a fourth deployment direction of a fourth of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of the first lateral direction of the body and the second, opposing, lateral direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; and

at least one of the first and second substantial directional components of the fourth deployment direction is substantially opposite to the respective first and second substantial directional components of at least two of the first, second, and third deployment directions.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

a first deployment direction of a first of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body;

a second deployment direction of a second of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and opposite to the second substantial directional component of the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element; and

the step of pushing the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures and into the at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, includes moving the first anchoring element at least some distance in the first deployment direction and moving the second anchoring element at least some distance in the second deployment direction.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

a third deployment direction of a third of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; and (iii) a third substantial directional component in a lateral direction with respect to the anterior-posterior direction of the body;

at least one of the first and second substantial directional components of the third deployment direction are substantially opposite to the respective first and second substantial directional components of at least one of the first and second deployment directions; and

the step of pushing the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures and into the at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, further includes moving the third anchoring element at least some distance in the third deployment direction.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

a fourth deployment direction of a fourth of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; and (iii) a third substantial directional component in a lateral direction with respect to the anterior-posterior direction of the body;

at least two of the first, second, and third substantial directional components of the fourth deployment direction are substantially opposite to at least one of: (i) the respective first and second substantial directional components of at least one of the first and second deployment directions, and (ii) the respective first, second, and third substantial directional components of the third deployment direction; and

the step of pushing the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures and into the at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, further includes moving the fourth anchoring element at least some distance in the fourth deployment direction.