US Patent 7771479 Dual articulating spinal device and method

An artificial spinal joint creates at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra. The artificial spinal joint comprises an anterior joint replacement component extending into an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae. The artificial spinal joint further comprises a bridge component coupled to the anterior joint replacement and extending posteriorly from the anterior joint replacement beyond the intervertebral disc space and a posterior joint replacement component coupled to the bridge, wherein the posterior joint replacement component includes a posterior protrusion engaged with a posterior socket.