ALLOGRAFT SPINAL FACET FUSION SYSTEM

• US 20080255667A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth L. Horton
• Original Assignee: Kenneth L. Horton
• Inventors: Horton, Kenneth L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/90 Guides therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A method for fusing a spinal facet joint and a surgical kit for use therein. The kit preferably comprises an allograft implant, a facet finder, a drill, a drill guide, and an implant inserter. The method preferably comprises the steps of locating the facet joint with a facet finer, sliding a drill guide over the facet finder until the drill guide engages the facet joint, removing the facet finder from within the drill guide, inserting a drill through the drill guide and drilling a socket within the facet joint to a predetermined depth, removing the drill from within the drill guide, securing an allograft implant within an implant inserter, inserting the implant inserter through the drill guide until the implant engages the socket, tapping the implant inserter to push the implant completely within the socket, removing the implant inserter from within the drill guide, and removing the drill guide.

Claims

1. A method for fusing a spinal facet joint with an implant comprising the steps of:

a) locating the facet joint with a facet finder;

b) sliding a drill guide over said facet finder and until a distal end of said drill guide engages the facet joint;

c) tapping a proximal end of said drill guide to reversible secure said distal end of said drill guide to the facet joint;

d) removing said facet finder from within said drill guide;

e) inserting a drill through said drill guide and drilling a socket within the facet joint to a predetermined depth;

f) removing said drill from within said drill guide;

g) securing a proximal end of said implant within a distal end of an implant inserter;

h) inserting said implant inserter through said drill guide until a distal end of said implant engages the socket;

i) tapping a proximal end of said implant inserter to push said implant completely within the socket;

j) removing said implant inserter from within said drill guide; and

k) removing said drill guide.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said implant comprises a bullet-shaped allograft implant having a plurality of anti-migration fins.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein, said facet finder comprises a radiolucent body having a radiopaque tip.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said distal end of said drill guide comprises a plural by of teeth for penetrating the bone of the facet joint to reversibly secure said distal end of said drill guide to the facet joint.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said distal end of said implant inserter comprises a plurality of slits that allow said distal end of said implant inserter to flex open to receive said proximal end of said implant.

6. A method for fusing a spinal facet joint with an implant, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a distal end of a drill guide against the facet joint;

b) tapping a proximal end of said drill guide to reversible secure said distal end of said drill guide to the facet joint;

e) inserting a drill through said drill guide and drilling a socket within the facet joint to a predetermined depth;

d) removing said drill from within said drill guide;

e) securing a proximal end of said implant widen a distal end of an implant inserter;

f) inserting said implant inserter through said drill guide until a distal end of said implant engages the socket;

g) tapping a proximal end of said implant inserter push said implant completely within the socket;

h) removing said implant inserter from within said drill guide; and

i) removing said drill guide.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said implant comprises a bullet-shaped allograft implant having a plurality of anti-migration fins.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said distal end of said drill guide comprises a plurality of teeth for penetrating the bone of the facet joint to reversible secure said distal end of said drill guide to the facet joint.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein said distal end of said implant inserter comprises a plurality of slits that allow said distal end of said implant inserter to flex open to receive said proximal end of said implant.

10. A surgical kit for use in a method for fusing a spinal facet joint, comprising:

a) at least one allograft implant;

b) a facet finder;

c) a facet finder guide;

d) a drill;

e) a drill guide;

f) a mallet;

g) an implant loader; and

h) an implant inserter.

11. A surgical kit according to claim 10, wherein said at least one allograft implant comprises a bullet-shaped member having a plurality of anti-migration fins.

12. A surgical kit according to claim 10, wherein said facet finder comprises a radiolucent body with a radiopaque tip.

13. A surgical kit according to claim 10, wherein said drill guide comprises a distal end having a plurality of teeth for penetrating the bone of the facet joint to reversible secure said distal end of said drill guide to the facet joint.

14. A surgical kit according to claim 10, wherein said implant inserter comprises a distal end having a plurality of slits that allow said distal end of said implant inserter to flex open to receive a proximal end of said implant.

15. A surgical kit for use in a method for using a spinal facet joint comprising:

a) at least one allograft implant;

b) a facet finder;

c) a drill;

d) a drill guide; and

e) an implant inserter.

16. A surgical kit according to claim 15, wherein said allograft implant comprises a bullet-shaped member having a plurality of anti-migration fins.

17. A surgical kit according to claim 15, wherein said facet finder comprises a radiolucent body with a radiopaque tip.

18. A surgical kit according to claim 15, wherein said drill guide comprises a distal end having a plurality of teeth for penetrating the bone of the facet joint to reversibly secure said distal end of said drill guide to the facet joint.

19. A surgical kit according to claim 15, wherein said implant inserter comprises a distal end having a plurality of slits that allow said distal end of said implant inserter to flex open to receive a proximal end of said implant.