Facet spacers

• US 20060241758A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Justis, Jeff R., Peterman, Marc M., Molz, Fred J. IV, Williams, Courtney S.
• Application Number:
  US11/110,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/562 Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion, e.g. to reduce arthritic pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4405 for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00203 containing alumina or aluminium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2

Abstract

A method of decompressing a facet joint comprises forming an opening in a facet capsule of the facet joint and inserting a spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule.

Claims

1. A method of decompressing a facet joint, the method comprising:

forming an opening in a facet capsule of the facet joint and

inserting a spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting a minimally invasive dilation instrument into the facet joint.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of forming comprises inserting the minimally invasive dilation instrument into the facet capsule.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting a lens shaped spacer device into the facet capsule.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting a spherical shaped spacer device into the facet capsule.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting an elastically deformable spacer device into the facet capsule.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting a rigid spacer device into the facet capsule.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises injecting a material into the facet capsule.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

distracting the facet joint as the material is injected and

distracting the facet joint as the material becomes at least partially cured.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

deforming the spacer device while inserting the spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a closure device to the opening.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting further comprises inserting the spacer device into synovial fluid.

13. A system for decompressing a joint, the system comprising:

means for insertion into a facet capsule between adjacent articular processes, wherein said means increases a distance between the adjacent articular processes.

14. A device for separating a pair of articular processes, the device comprising:

an implantable member adapted for insertion into a facet capsule between first and second articular processes.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member comprises a biconvex disc.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member is elastically deformable.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member is adapted to take a first shape during insertion between the first and second articular processes and take a second shape after insertion between the first and second articular processes.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member has a generally spherical shape.

19. The device of claim 18 further comprising a pocket for receiving the load-bearing member.

20. The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member comprises an injectable and curable material.

21. The device of claim 20 further comprising a deformable pocket adapted for insertion into the facet capsule and further adapted for receiving the injectable and curable material.

22. The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member is load bearing.

23. A system for decompressing an intervertebral joint, the system comprising:

a first spacer device adapted for insertion into a first facet capsule between a first pair of articular processes.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a second spacer device adapted for insertion into a second facet capsule between a second pair of articular processes.

25. A method of decompressing a facet joint, the method comprising:

locating a facet joint comprising a pair of articular processes; and

inserting a spacer device between the articular processes, wherein the articular processes are unresected.