Linked bilateral spinal facet implants and methods of use
First Claim
1. A bilateral facet prosthesis system for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the system comprising:
- a first prosthesis having a first bone engaging surface shaped to seat directly against the vertebra, the first prosthesis having a first articulating surface for articulating against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra;
a second prosthesis having a second bone engaging surface shaped to seat directly against the vertebra, the second prosthesis having a second articulating surface for articulating against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra; and
a crosslink adjustably attachable to extend between the first and second prostheses to fix a displacement between the first and second prostheses at any of a plurality of displacement values.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Superior and/or inferior facets of one or more facet joints may be replaced by superior and/or inferior facet joint prostheses. In one embodiment, a kit of superior or inferior prostheses is provided, in which the prostheses have at least two dimensions that vary among members of the kit independently of each other. Each prosthesis may have a bone engaging surface having a surface that is polyaxially rotatable against a corresponding resection of a vertebra. Each prosthesis may also have an articulating surface shaped such that, after attachment to the spine, the replaced or partially replaced facet joints provide a larger medial-lateral range of motion when the spine is flexed than when the spine is extended. Crosslinks may be used to connect left and right prosthesis together in such a manner that they are stabilized in a position in which they are seated directly against the vertebra.
-
Citations
73 Claims
-
1. A bilateral facet prosthesis system for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the system comprising:
-
a first prosthesis having a first bone engaging surface shaped to seat directly against the vertebra, the first prosthesis having a first articulating surface for articulating against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra;
a second prosthesis having a second bone engaging surface shaped to seat directly against the vertebra, the second prosthesis having a second articulating surface for articulating against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra; and
a crosslink adjustably attachable to extend between the first and second prostheses to fix a displacement between the first and second prostheses at any of a plurality of displacement values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A bilateral facet prosthesis system for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the system comprising:
-
a first inferior prosthesis shaped to be coupled to the vertebra, the first inferior prosthesis having a first articulating surface for articulating against a first superior facet of an adjacent vertebra;
a second inferior prosthesis shaped to be coupled to the vertebra, the second inferior prosthesis having a second articulating surface for articulating against a second superior facet of the adjacent vertebra; and
a crosslink adjustably attachable to extend between the first and second inferior prostheses to fix a displacement between the first and second prostheses at any of a plurality of displacement values. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A bilateral facet prosthesis system for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the system comprising:
-
a first prosthesis shaped to be coupled to the vertebra, the first prosthesis having a first articulating surface for articulating against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra;
a second prosthesis shaped to be coupled to the vertebra, the second prosthesis having a second articulating surface for articulating against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra;
a crosslink adjustably attachable to extend between the first and second prostheses to fix an angular displacement between the prostheses about a first axis at any of a plurality of angular displacement values. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A bilateral facet prosthesis system for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the system comprising:
-
a first prosthesis shaped to be coupled to the vertebra, the first prosthesis having a first articulating surface for articulating against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra;
a second prosthesis shaped to be coupled to the vertebra, the second prosthesis having a second articulating surface for articulating against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra;
a crosslink adjustably attachable to extend between the first and second inferior prostheses; and
a first coupling coupled to the first prosthesis, the first coupling having a first gripping mechanism configured to grip the crosslink to couple the first prosthesis to the crosslink. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A method for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the method comprising:
-
resecting the vertebra to provide first and second resected portions of the vertebra;
attaching a first prosthesis to the first resected portion such that a first articulating surface of the first prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra;
attaching a second prosthesis to the second resected portion such that a second articulating surface of the second prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra;
selecting any one of a plurality of displacement values between the first and second prostheses; and
attaching a crosslink to the prostheses after attachment of at least one of the prostheses to the vertebra such that the crosslink extends between the prostheses to provide the selected displacement value between the prostheses. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
-
-
56. A method for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the method comprising:
-
resecting the vertebra to provide first and second resected portions of the vertebra;
attaching a first inferior prosthesis to the first resected portion such that a first articulating surface of the first inferior prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a first superior facet of an adjacent vertebra;
attaching a second inferior prosthesis to the second resected portion such that a second articulating surface of the second inferior prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a second superior facet of the adjacent vertebra;
selecting any one of a plurality of displacement values between the first and second inferior prostheses; and
attaching a crosslink to the inferior prostheses such that the crosslink extends between the inferior prostheses to provide the selected displacement value between the inferior prostheses. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
-
-
65. A method for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the method comprising:
-
resecting the vertebra to provide first and second resected portions of the vertebra;
attaching a first prosthesis to the first resected portion such that a first articulating surface of the first prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra;
attaching a second prosthesis to the second resected portion such that a second articulating surface of the second prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra;
selecting any one of a plurality of angular displacement values between the first and second prostheses about a first axis; and
attaching a crosslink to the prostheses such that the crosslink extends between the prostheses to fix an orientation of the first prosthesis with respect to the second prosthesis to provide the selected angular displacement value. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
-
Specification