US Patent 7905922 Surgical implant suitable for replacement of an intervertebral disc

An implant (10) is provided for replacement of an intervertebral disc (14). The implant 10 includes a core portion (20) extending into the disc space (16) and the ligament portion 20 extending longitudinal against the anterior side of the spine (12). The core portion (20) is configured to at least partially replicate the function of an intervertebral disc (14) and the ligament portion (22) is configured to at least partially replicate the function of an anterior longitudinal ligament (28). To this end, the core and ligament portions (20, 22) preferably have different mechanical properties from each other that are customized to provide the particular function desired for each portion (20, 22).