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

1. An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising:

a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces, the first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, and the second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending transversely through the first and second spaced apart major surfaces;

a first aperture extending from within the body and opening at one of the first and second major surfaces;

a first anchoring element disposed within the first aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the first anchoring element includes a first ball; and

a drive mechanism having: (i) a threaded shaft defining a longitudinal axis thereof and a head at a proximal end of the threaded shaft, (ii) a translator element having a threaded bore in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft, and a coupling element having a first socket within which the first ball is engaged, 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: (i) move along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, (ii) translate the proximal end of the first anchoring element parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, and (iii) push the first anchoring element out through the first aperture, and

the first ball is captive within the first socket such that the translator is in engagement with and permits articulation of the first anchoring element in more than one plane as the translator moves along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

2. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second aperture extending from within the body and opening at one of the first and second major surfaces; and

a second anchoring element disposed within the second aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the second anchoring element includes a second ball,

wherein the coupling element includes a second socket within which the second ball is engaged such that the translator is in engagement with and permits articulation of the second anchoring element in more than one plane as the translator moves along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and pushes the second anchoring element out through the second aperture.

3. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 2 , further comprising:

a third aperture extending from within the body and opening at one of the first and second major surfaces;

a third anchoring element disposed within the third aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the third anchoring element includes a third ball,

wherein the coupling element includes a third socket within which the third ball is captive such that the translator is in engagement with and permits articulation of the third anchoring element in more than one plane as the translator moves along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and pushes the third anchoring element out through the third aperture.

4. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 3 , further comprising:

a fourth aperture extending from within the body and opening at one of the first and second major surfaces;

a fourth anchoring element disposed within the fourth aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the fourth anchoring element includes a fourth ball,

wherein the coupling element includes a fourth socket within which the fourth ball is captive such that the translator is in engagement with and permits articulation of the fourth anchoring element in more than one plane as the translator moves along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and pushes the fourth anchoring element out through the fourth aperture.

5. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein:

a first deployment direction of the first anchoring element 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

a second deployment direction of the second anchoring element 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.

6. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 5 , wherein:

the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element further includes: (iii) a third substantial directional component in a lateral direction with respect to the anterior-posterior direction of the body; and

the second deployment direction of the second anchoring element further includes: (iii) a third substantial directional component in a lateral direction with respect to the anterior-posterior direction of the body and parallel to the third substantial directional component of the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element.

7. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 6 , wherein:

a third deployment direction of the third anchoring element 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; and

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

8. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 7 , wherein:

a fourth deployment direction of the fourth anchoring element 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; and

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

9. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein at least one of:

a first deployment direction of the first anchoring element 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; and

a second deployment direction of the second anchoring element 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.

10. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 9 , wherein:

a third deployment direction of the third anchoring element 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.

11. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein:

a fourth deployment direction of the fourth anchoring element 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.

12. An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising:

a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces, the first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, and the second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending transversely through the first and second spaced apart major surfaces;

at least three apertures extending from within the body and each aperture opening at one of the first and second major surfaces;

at least three anchoring elements, each anchoring element being disposed within a respective one of the at least three apertures and each anchoring element including a shaft having proximal and distal ends; and

a drive mechanism operating to simultaneously push the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through the respective at least three apertures, wherein a longest dimension of the drive mechanism extends in an anterior and posterior direction of the body, wherein:

a first deployment direction of a first of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of the 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 the 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 drive mechanism operates to move the first anchoring element at least some distance in the first deployment direction and to move the second anchoring element at least some distance in the second deployment direction.

13. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 12 , wherein:

a third deployment direction of a third of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of the 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 drive mechanism operates to move the third anchoring element at least some distance in the third deployment direction.

14. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 13 , wherein:

a fourth deployment direction of a fourth of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first 1 substantial directional component in one of the 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 drive mechanism operates to move the fourth anchoring element at least some distance in the fourth deployment direction.

15. An intervertebral prosthesis, comprising:

a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces, the first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, and the second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending transversely through the first and second spaced apart major surfaces;

at least three apertures extending from within the body and each aperture opening at one of the first and second major surfaces;

at least three anchoring elements, each anchoring element being disposed within a respective one of the at least three apertures and each anchoring element including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of each anchoring element includes a ball; and

a drive mechanism operating to simultaneously push the at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through the respective at least three apertures, where the drive mechanism includes a translator element having a coupling element and respective sockets within which each ball is engaged, such that each ball is captive within the respective socket such that the translator is in engagement with and permits articulation of the anchoring elements in more than one plane, wherein:

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; and

the drive mechanism operates to move the first anchoring element at least some distance in the first deployment direction and to move the second anchoring element at least some distance in the second deployment direction.

16. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 15 , 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;

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; and

the drive mechanism operates to move the third anchoring element at least some distance in the third deployment direction.

17. The intervertebral prosthesis of claim 16 , 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;

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; and

the drive mechanism operates to move the fourth anchoring element at least some distance in the fourth deployment direction.