Abstract: An upper plate includes a depending truncated cone member that supports a ball. A lower plate supports an upstanding truncated cone member that supports a cup socket that the ball is press fitted into. The cup socket embraces the ball to a line above the middle diameter of the ball to prevent the ball from coming free of the socket in normal use. A number of wires form a repeating X pattern between the upper and lower plates about their perimeters and serve to restrain rotational motion. The upper plate includes upwardly projecting spikes and the lower plate includes downwardly projecting spikes. The upper and lower plates each include two anchoring brackets that project outwardly to lie adjacent to an upper and lower spinal disc, and that are fastened to the discs by bone screws. The spikes further anchor the vertebral body prosthesis in the adjacent spinal discs.

Abstract: A catheter intended to be implanted in the epidural space of a patient for relief of pain, either temporarily or permanently, includes four circumferential ring electrodes connected to terminals by fine wires embedded in the side wall of the catheter for attachment to a conventional electric pulse generator and a hollow elongated body having a lumen therethrough with an injection portal at the proximal end and an aperture at the distal end for continuously administering a pain-relieving agent in a liquid form. The agent may be a narcotic or anesthesia. In the permanently implantable embodiment, the catheter includes an implantable pulse generator and an implantable drug reservoir, both of which can be repeatedly programmed while implanted. Methods for treating pain using the catheter include electrical stimulation, the use of narcotics, or anesthesia, which can be administered in any order, or simultaneously as empirically determined to provide the best pain relief for each patient.

Abstract: A catheter intended to be temporarily implanted in the epidural spaces of a person for relief of pain includes four circumferential ring electrodes connected to terminals by fine wires embedded in the side wall of the catheter for attachment to a conventional pulse generator and a hollow elongated body with an injection portal at the proximal end and an aperture at the distal end for continuously administering a pain-relieving agent in a liquid form. The agent may be a narcotic or anesthesia. Methods for treating pain using the catheter include electrical stimulation, the use of narcotics, or anesthesia, which can be administered in any order, or simultaneously as empirically determined to provide the best pain relief for each patient.