US Patent 7025787 Implantable joint prosthesis and associated instrumentation

An implantable prosthesis is described having a pair of opposed shells and a central body disposed between the opposed shells wherein the central body and the shells cooperate to limit the motion of the central body with respect to the shells. An assembly for preparing a disc space for the implantation of a prosthesis is further described having a plurality of instruments cooperating to guide a tool associated with the assembly.