METHOD FOR RESURFACING A CERVICAL ARTICULAR FACET

• US 20070179619A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lanterna Medical Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Gerraspine AG
• Inventors: Grob, Dieter, Hale, Horace
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• 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 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30769 madreporic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4631 the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• 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 2310/00131 Tantalum or Ta-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00161 Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite

Abstract

Methods for treating spinal pathologies, and more specifically methods for treating articulating surfaces of facet joints of cervical vertebrae. The methods involve providing artificial articulating surfaces for facet joint articular facets. In addition, various types of rasps may be used to prepare the articulating surfaces prior to placement of the artificial articulating surfaces.

Claims

1. A method for providing articulating surfaces for cervical vertebrae facet joint articular facets comprising:

creating a space between a superior articular facet of a selected cervical vertebra and an inferior articular facet of a cervical vertebra immediately above the selected vertebra;

using an inferior facet rasp to prepare an articulating surface of the inferior articular facet for an inferior implant having an articulating surface and a fixation surface;

using a superior facet rasp to prepare an articulating surface of the superior articular facet for a superior implant having an articulating surface and a fixation surface;

fixing the inferior implant on the inferior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the inferior implant interacts with the articulating surface of the inferior articular facet; and

fixing the superior implant on the superior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the superior implant interacts with the articulating surface of the superior articular facet;

wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant are positioned to articulate with one another following the fixation of the superior implant to the superior articular facet and fixation of the inferior implant to the inferior articular facet.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing each of the steps of claim 1 on a contralateral side of the facet joint.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the inferior facet rasp and the superior facet rasp are the same rasp.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a curette is used to begin the step of creating the space.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the created space is sufficient for using at least one of the inferior facet rasp or the superior facet rasp on the articulating surface of an articular facet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the created space ranges from about 2 mm to about 15 mm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the inferior facet rasp and the superior facet rasp are the same rasp.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple rasps of increasing thickness are used to prepare the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein preparing the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets causes the created space to be increased to accommodate the superior implant and the inferior implant.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets are prepared such that the shape of the prepared articulating surface of the superior articular facet resembles the superior implant and the shape of the prepared articulating surface of the inferior articular facet resembles the inferior implant.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein preparing the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets creates a bleeding bone bed to facilitate bone ingrowth at the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the inferior facet rasp or the superior facet rasp is configured to cut when moving in a first direction, but not when moving in a direction opposite of the first direction.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of fixing the inferior implant on the inferior articular facet comprises using a trans-lateral mass fixation mechanism.

14. A method for providing articulating surfaces for cervical vertebrae facet joint articular facets comprising:

creating a space of from about 4 mm to about 15 mm between a superior articular facet of a selected cervical vertebra and an inferior articular facet of a cervical vertebra immediately above the selected vertebra;

placing a generally disk-shaped inferior implant having an articulating surface and a fixation surface in the created space;

fixing the inferior implant on the inferior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the inferior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the inferior articular facet;

placing a generally disk-shaped superior implant having an articulating surface and a fixation surface in the created space; and

fixing the superior implant on the superior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the superior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the superior articular facet;

wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant are positioned to articulate with one another following the fixation of the superior implant to the superior articular facet and fixation of the inferior implant to the inferior articular facet.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising performing each of the steps of claim 14 on a contralateral side of the facet joint.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein a curette is used to begin the step of creating the space.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising using an inferior facet rasp to prepare the articulating surface of the inferior articular facet for the inferior implant and using a superior facet rasp to prepare the articulating surface of the superior articular facet for the superior implant.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the inferior facet rasp and the superior facet rasp are the same rasp.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein multiple rasps of increasing thickness are used to prepare the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein preparing the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets causes the created space to be increased to accommodate the superior implant and the inferior implant.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein preparing the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets creates a bleeding bone bed to facilitate bone ingrowth at the articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior articular facets.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the inferior facet rasp or the superior facet rasp is configured to cut when moving in a first direction, but not when moving in a direction opposite of the first direction.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of fixing the inferior implant on the inferior articular facet comprises using a trans-lateral mass fixation mechanism.