Inter-cervical facet joint fusion implant

• US 20060247650A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Steven T., Zucherman, James F., Winslow, Charles J., Hsu, Ken Y., Yerby, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US11/304,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• 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 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7022 Tethers, i.e. longitudinal elements capable of transmitting tension only, e.g. straps, sutures or cables A61B17/702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7028 the flexible part being a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8042 the additional component being a cover over the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8635 Tips of screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 with special features for locking in the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 : of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 : Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 : Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30079 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3013 : figure-"8"- or hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30308 : banana-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 : Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 : made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 : retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 : using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30528 : Means for limiting said movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• 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 2002/30566 : Helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 : having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30639 : having rolling elements between both articulating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30708 : Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices, Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30769 : madreporic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4661 : for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 : Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 : Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0084 : Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices; Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

Abstract

Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The implant can be inserted laterally or posteriorly.

Claims

1. A facet joint implant that addresses ailments of the spine, the implant comprising:

a first anchoring plate adapted to be fixedly associated with a first vertebra;

a second anchoring plate adapted to be fixedly associated with a second vertebra;

a facet joint space connected with the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate, the facet joint spacer adapted to be positioned in a facet joint; and

wherein the facet joint spacer is pivotable relative to at least one of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein:

the facet joint spacer includes a superior surface and an inferior surface;

at least one of the superior surface and the inferior surface includes at least one of a protuberance and an indent;

whereas the protuberance restricts movement of the facet joint spacer relative to the first facet or the second facet; and

whereas the indent permits bone growth within the indent.

3. The implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge;

wherein the hinge is connected between the first anchoring plate, the second anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein the hinge includes:

a first pivot point pivotably associated with the first anchoring plate;

a second pivot point pivotably associated with the second anchoring plate; and

a third pivot point pivotably associated with the facet joint spacer.

5. The implant of claim 3, wherein the hinge is integrally formed with one of the first anchoring plate, the second anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the hinge includes:

a first pivot point pivotably associated with at least one of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate;

a second pivot point pivotably associated with the facet joint spacer or the other of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate.

7. The implant of claim 3, wherein the hinge includes a ball structure receivable within a socket thereby forming a ball-in-socket arrangement allowing a plurality of freedom of movement.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein:

the first anchoring plate includes a first bore;

the second anchoring plate includes a second bore; and

further comprising;

a first bone screw adapted to be arranged within the first bore; and

a second bone screw adapted to be arranged within the second bore.

9. The implant of claim 8, further comprising:

a first locking screw adapted to block the first bone screw from at least one of a backward displacement and a rotational displacement; and

a second locking screw adapted to block the first bone screw from at least one of a backward displacement and a rotational displacement.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein:

one or both of the first locking screw and the second locking screw includes a chisel-point end; and

the chisel point end self-cuts the locking screw into a vertebral structure.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate includes one or more protuberances;

the one or more protuberance restricts movement of the first anchoring plate relative to the first vertebra or the second anchoring plate relative to the second vertebra.

12. A facet joint implant that addresses ailments of the spine, the implant comprising:

a first anchoring plate adapted to be fixedly associated with a first vertebra;

a second anchoring plate adapted to be fixedly associated with a second vertebra;

a facet joint spacer adapted to be positioned in a facet joint; and

a hinge connected between the first anchoring plate, the second anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer;

wherein the facet joint spacer is pivotable relative to one or both of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate.

13. The implant of claim 12, wherein:

the facet joint spacer includes a superior surface and an inferior surface;

at least one of the superior surface and the inferior surface includes at least one of a protuberance and an indent.

14. The implant of claim 12, wherein the hinge includes:

a first pivot point pivotably associated with the first anchoring plate;

a second pivot point pivotably associated with the second anchoring plate; and

a third pivot point pivotably associated with the facet joint spacer.

15. The implant of claim 12, wherein the hinge is integrally formed with one of the first anchoring plate, the second anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer.

16. The implant of claim 15, wherein the hinge includes:

a first pivot point pivotably associated with one of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate;

a second pivot point pivotably associated with the facet joint spacer or the other of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate.

17. The implant of claim 12, wherein the hinge includes a ball structure receivable within a socket thereby forming a ball-in-socket arrangement allowing a plurality of freedom of movement.

18. The implant of claim 12, wherein:

the first anchoring plate includes a first bore;

the second anchoring plate includes a second bore; and

further comprising;

a first bone screw adapted to be arranged within the first bore; and

a second bone screw adapted to be arranged within the second bore.

19. The implant of claim 18, further comprising:

a first locking screw adapted to block the first bone screw from at least one of a backward displacement and a rotational displacement; and

a second locking screw adapted to block the first bone screw from at least one of a backward displacement and a rotational displacement.

20. The implant of claim 12, wherein:

one or both of the first anchoring plate and the second anchoring plate includes one or more protuberances;

the one or more protuberance restricts movement of the first anchoring plate relative to the first facet or the second anchoring plate relative to the second facet.