System for securing joints together

• US 6,540,747 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Marino, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reip, David O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, D Jacob
• Application Number:
  US09/549,807
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/72, 606/73, 606/79, 606/80
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• 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 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• 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 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A system for securing first and second opposing facet joints together, comprising: a cannulated drill having a side opening; and an extendible member received within the cannula of the cannulated drill, the extendible member having a distal end which passes out of the side opening in a direction radially outwards from the axis of the cannulated drill as the extendible member is advanced distally through the cannula of the drill. The drill can be rotated such that the extendible member ablates opposite contacting surfaces of first and second facet joints, promoting fusion between the first and second facet joints. A facet screw passing through a hole drilled by the cannulated drill through the first facet joint and into the second facet joint is tightened into position to immobilize the first and second facet joints together.

Claims

1. A method of immobilizing a patient'"'"'s facet joint, comprising:

drilling a hole through at least one of a first and second articulating surface of said facet joint;

ablating said first and second articulating surfaces of said facet joint by applying an ablation member between said first and second articulating surfaces, said ablation member extending from a drill; and

promoting fusion between said first and second articulating surfaces to immobilize said facet joint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of ablating is performed by:

extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill at a location between said first and second articulating surfaces; and

rotating the drill such that the extendible ablation member moves in a circular path across portions of said articulating surfaces.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill involves distally advancing an ablation wire received within a cannulated passageway in the drill such that a distal end of the ablation wire extends outwardly through a side hole in said drill.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the hole is drilled in a posterolateral approach through the first articulating surface of said facet joint.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

positioning an operating cannula in a posterolateral approach with respect to the patient; and

advancing a drill through the operating cannula such that a distal end of the drill commences drilling at a posterium of said first articulating surface of said facet joint.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a surgical guideframe is used to position said operating cannula in the posterolateral approach.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the step of drilling a countersink into sand first articulating surface of said facet joint.

8. The method of claim 1 and further, wherein the step of promoting fusion is performed by introducing an elongate element into said hole for the purposes of maintaining said first and second articulating surfaces in contact with one another.

9. The method of claim 8 and further, wherein the step of introducing an elongate member involves introducing a facet screw into said hole.

10. A method of immobilizing a patient'"'"'s facet joint, comprising:

drilling a hole through at least one of a first and second articulating surface of said facet joint;

ablating said first and second articulating surfaces of said facet joint by (i) extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill at a location between said first and second articulating surfaces and (ii) rotating the drill such that the extendible ablation member moves in a circular path across portions of said articulating surfaces; and

promoting fusion between said first and second articulating surfaces to immobilize said facet joint.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill involves distally advancing an ablation wire received within a cannulated passageway in the drill such that a distal end of the ablation wire extends outwardly through a side hole in said drill.