Smart Disc, a Michigan-based medical technology company is focused on the development of a spinal replacement disc for the spine which mimics the functionality of the patient’s own intervertebral disc and can be put into place by the surgeon via a posterior application (thereby avoiding the need to go through the front of the patient, as is the current standard practice in disc replacement). The prosthesis is intended to maintain the normal movement between the vertebral bodies and prevent them from collapsing and thereby irritating or damaging the nerve root by maintaining the disc space height between the bones.