Replacement facet joint and method

• US 20070055245A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Foley, Ricardo Sasso
• Original Assignee: Kevin Foley, Ricardo Sasso
• Inventors: Foley, Kevin, Sasso, Ricardo
• Granted Patent: US 8,491,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/278
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30756 Cartilage endoprostheses A61F2/3603 takes precedence
• 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 2002/30168 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30685 Means for reducing or preventing the generation of wear particulates
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0043 L-shaped

Abstract

Prostheses and methods for repair of cervical fact joints. In one aspect, the articulating surfaces of the natural facets of a facet joint are removed only a sufficient amount to allow the insertion of flat or slightly curvilinear portions of prostheses therebetween in an overlapping relationship. The portions are so inserted and the prostheses mounted by attachment to adjacent vertebrae. Also, a single natural facet may be similarly repaired with a single prosthesis. In another aspect, the invention provides a single prosthesis that is useful in repairing articulating surfaces in more than one cervical facet joint.

Claims

1. A prosthesis for the repair of a first cervical facet joint and a second cervical facet joint occurring on a first side of a spinal column, the first cervical facet joint having a superior facet articulating surface and an inferior facet articulating surface, the second cervical facet joint having a superior facet articulating surface and an inferior facet articulating surface, the prosthesis comprising:

a first prosthetic component, comprising;

a first prosthetic component superior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the first cervical facet joint superior facet;

a first prosthetic component inferior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the second cervical facet joint inferior facet; and

a first prosthetic component mounting portion adapted for connection to a vertebral portion occurring between the first cervical facet joint and the second cervical facet joint.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first prosthetic component superior portion is joined to the mounting portion at an angle of about 135°

.

3. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first prosthetic component inferior portion is joined to the mounting portion at an angle of about 45°

.

4. The prosthesis of claim 3, wherein the first prosthetic component superior portion is joined to the mounting portion at an angle of about 135°

.

5. The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a bone anchor member for attaching the first prosthetic component to a vertebral portion occurring between the first cervical facet joint and the second cervical facet joint.

6. The prosthesis of claim 5, wherein the bone anchor member is a screw.

7. The prosthesis of claim 5, wherein the bone anchor member can be selectively oriented in at least two positions relative to the first prosthetic component when attaching the first prosthetic component to the vertebral portion.

8. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first prosthetic component mounting portion comprises a mounting member extending between the first prosthetic component superior portion and the first prosthetic component inferior portion.

9. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first prosthetic component mounting portion comprises:

a first mounting member extending from the first prosthetic component superior portion; and

a second mounting member extending from the first prosthetic component inferior portion.

10. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein, the first mounting member is connected to the second mounting member.

11. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first mounting member overlaps the second mounting member.

12. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first mounting member has a portion received in the second mounting member.

13. The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first prosthetic component superior portion and the first prosthetic component inferior portion are translatable along the first prosthetic component mounting portion for adjusting the distance between a point on the superior portion and a point on the inferior portion.

14. The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising:

a second prosthetic component, comprising;

a second prosthetic component inferior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the first cervical facet joint inferior facet; and

a second prosthetic component mounting portion adapted for connection to a vertebral portion occurring above the first cervical facet joint.

15. The prosthesis of claim 14, wherein the second prosthetic component inferior portion is joined to the second prosthetic component mounting portion at an angle of about 45°

.

16. The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising:

a third prosthetic component, comprising;

a third prosthetic component superior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the second cervical facet joint superior facet; and

a third prosthetic component mounting portion adapted for connection to a vertebral portion occurring below the second cervical facet joint.

17. The prosthesis of claim 16, wherein the third prosthetic component superior portion is joined to the third prosthetic component mounting portion at an angle of about 135°

.

18. The prosthesis of claim 14, further comprising:

a third prosthetic component, comprising;

a third prosthetic component superior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the second cervical facet joint superior facet; and

a third prosthetic component mounting portion adapted for connection to a vertebral portion occurring below the second cervical facet joint.

19. The prosthesis of claim 18, further comprising:

a first bone anchor member for attaching the first prosthetic component to a vertebral portion occurring between the first cervical facet joint and the second cervical facet joint;

a second bone anchor member for attaching the second prosthetic component to a vertebral portion occurring above the first cervical facet joint;

a third bone anchor member for attaching the third prosthetic component to a vertebral portion occurring below the second cervical facet joint; and

a flexible tethering system connecting the first bone anchor member, the second bone anchor member, and the third bone anchor member.

20. The prosthesis of claim 19, wherein the flexible tethering system comprises a flexible elongated member secured to the first bone anchor member, the second bone anchor member, and the third bone anchor member.

21. A prosthesis for the repair of a first cervical facet joint and a second cervical facet joint occurring on a first side of a spinal column, the first cervical facet joint having a superior facet articulating surface and an inferior facet articulating surface, the second cervical facet joint having a superior facet articulating surface and an inferior facet articulating surface, the prosthesis comprising:

a prosthetic component, comprising;

a superior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the first cervical facet joint superior facet;

an inferior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the second cervical facet joint inferior facet; and

an adjustable mounting portion extending between the superior portion and the inferior portion and adapted for connection to a vertebral portion occurring between the first cervical facet joint and the second cervical facet joint,

wherein the mounting portion is configured for adjusting the distance between a point on the superior portion and a point on the inferior portion.

22. A prosthesis for the repair of a cervical facet joint comprising a component including:

a substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion adapted for replacing the articulating surface of one of the facets of the articulating facet joint between two adjacent cervical vertebrae;

a mounting portion; and

an adjustable joining portion joining the mounting portion to the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion,

wherein the joining portion is configured for adjusting the angle between the mounting portion and the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion.

23. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the angle between the mounting portion and the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion is adjustable between about 130°

and about 140°

.

24. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the angle between the mounting portion and the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion is adjustable between about 40°

and about 50°

.

25. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the adjustable joining portion comprises a bendable portion for adjusting the angle between the mounting portion and the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion.

26. The prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the adjustable joining portion comprises a hinged portion for adjusting the angle between the mounting portion and the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion.

27. The prosthesis of claim 26, wherein the hinged portion is fixable for fixing the angle between the mounting portion and the substantially flat or slightly curvilinear portion.

28. A prosthesis for the repair of a first cervical facet joint and a second cervical facet joint occurring on a first side of a spinal column, the first cervical facet joint having a superior facet articulating surface and an inferior facet articulating surface, the second cervical facet joint having a superior facet articulating surface and an inferior facet articulating surface, the prosthesis comprising:

a prosthetic component, comprising;

a superior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the first cervical facet joint superior facet;

an inferior portion adapted for replacing at least a portion of the articulating surface of the second cervical facet joint inferior facet;

a mounting portion adapted for connection to a vertebral portion occurring between the first cervical facet joint and the second cervical facet joint;

a first adjustable joining portion joining the superior portion to the mounting portion; and

a second adjustable joining portion joining the inferior portion to the mounting portion,

wherein the first joining portion is configured for adjusting the angle between the superior portion and the mounting portion,

wherein the second joining portion is configured for adjusting the angle between the inferior portion and the mounting portion.