Vertebral implants adapted for posterior insertion

1. A surgical method for replacing damaged fibrocartilage between facing superior and inferior vertebrae in a patient's spine, each vertebrae having a spinous process, comprising the steps of:

making a posterior incision into a patient's back in the vicinity of said damaged fibrocartilage;

through said posterior incision, removing damaged fibrocartilage between said superior and inferior vertebrae;

inserting posteriorly at least two permanently articulating vertebral implant devices between said superior and inferior vertebrae which, when implanted, permanently allows continued movement of said superior and inferior vertebrae with respect to one another wherein there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

2. The surgical method of claim 1 wherein said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices each comprise a cushioning member sandwiched between a superior and an inferior support wherein said superior support is placed into fixed contact with said superior vertebrae and said inferior support is placed into fixed contact with said inferior vertebrae.

3. A surgical method for replacing damaged fibrocartilage between facing superior and inferior vertebrae in a patient's spine, each vertebrae having a spinous process, comprising the steps of:

making a posterior incision into a patient's back in the vicinity of said damaged fibrocartilage;

through said posterior incision, removing damaged fibrocartilage between said superior and inferior vertebrae;

inserting posteriorly at least two permanently articulating vertebral implant devices between said superior and inferior vertebrae which, when implanted, permanently allows continued movement of said superior and inferior vertebrae with respect to one another;

wherein each permanently articulating vertebral implant device comprises a spring sandwiched between a superior and an inferior support wherein said superior support is placed in fixed contact with said superior vertebrae and said inferior support is placed into fixed contact with said inferior vertebrae; and,

there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

4. A surgical method for replacing damaged fibrocartilage between facing superior and inferior vertebrae in a patient's spine, each vertebrae having a spinous process, comprising the steps of:

making a posterior incision into a patient's back in the vicinity of said damaged fibrocartilage;

through said posterior incision, removing damaged fibrocartilage between said superior and inferior vertebrae;

inserting posteriorly at least two permanently articulating vertebral implant devices between said superior and inferior vertebrae which, when implanted, permanently allows continued movement of said superior and inferior vertebrae with respect to one another;

wherein each permanently articulating vertebral implant device comprises a dampening matrix including a hydrogel core sandwiched between a superior and an inferior support wherein said superior support is placed in fixed contact with said superior vertebrae and said inferior support is placed into fixed contact with said inferior vertebrae; and,

there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

5. A surgical method for replacing damaged fibrocartilage between facing superior and inferior vertebrae in a patient's spine, each vertebrae having a spinous process, comprising the steps of:

making a posterior incision into a patient's back in the vicinity of said damaged fibrocartilage;

through said posterior incision, removing damaged fibrocartilage between said superior and inferior vertebrae and removing the spinous process for each of said superior and inferior vertebrae;

inserting posteriorly at least two permanently articulating vertebral implant devices between said superior and inferior vertebrae which, when implanted, permanently allows continued movement of said superior and inferior vertebrae with respect to one another wherein there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

6. A surgical method for replacing damaged fibrocartilage between facing surfaces of superior and inferior vertebrae in a patient's spine, each vertebrae having a spinous process, comprising the steps of:

making a posterior incision into a patient's back in the vicinity of said damaged fibrocartilage;

through said posterior incision, removing said damaged fibrocartilage between said superior and inferior vertebral surfaces;

creating channels in said facing superior and inferior vertebral surfaces;

inserting posteriorly at least two permanently articulating vertebral implant devices between said superior and inferior vertebral surfaces which, when implanted, permanently allows continued movement of said superior and inferior vertebrae with respect to one another wherein portions of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices are received within said superior and inferior vertebral channels and further wherein there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

7. The surgical method of claim 6 wherein said channels are formed as troughs running approximately parallel to the said vertical medial plane defined by said spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

8. The surgical method of claim 6 wherein said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices each comprise a cushioning member sandwiched between a superior and an inferior support wherein said superior support is shaped to be received within a channel formed in said superior vertebrae and said inferior support is shaped to be received within a channel formed in said inferior vertebrae.

9. The surgical method of claim 8 wherein said cushioning member is a spring or a dampening matrix.

10. The surgical method of claim 8 wherein protrusions are formed into one or more of said supports which penetrate into vertebral tissue.

11. A surgical method for replacing damaged fibrocartilage between facing superior and inferior vertebrae in a patient's spine, each vertebrae having a spinous process, comprising the steps of:

making a posterior incision into a patient's back in the vicinity of said damaged fibrocartilage;

through said posterior incision, removing damaged fibrocartilage between said superior and inferior vertebrae and attaching two sets of supports to said superior and inferior vertebrae, wherein each support on said superior vertebrae faces a support on said inferior vertebrae;

forming two sets of permanently articulating vertebral implant devices between said superior and inferior vertebrae by affixing a cushioning member between each set of facing superior and inferior supports;

wherein there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

12. The surgical method of claim 11 wherein said cushioning member is a spring or dampening matrix.

13. The surgical method of claim 11 wherein there is at least one of said permanently articulating vertebral implant devices on each side of a vertical medial plane defined by the spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebrae.

14. The surgical method of claim 11 wherein, after removal of said damaged fibrocartilage, channels are formed in each of said superior and inferior vertebrae to allow said supports to be more securely attached to said superior and inferior vertebrae.