Facet joint replacement

• US 7,041,136 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Facet Solutions, Inc. (Globus Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoy, Robert W., Fallin, T. Wade, Goble, E. Marlowe
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chattopadhyay, Urmi
• Application Number:
  US10/421,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20030191532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 623/16.11, 623 1711- 1716, 623/18.11, 606 60- 64, 606/72, 606/73
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• 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 2002/30574 with an integral complete or partial collar or flange
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• 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 2310/00395 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of metals or of alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00604 Coating made of aluminium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00634 Coating made of zirconium oxide or hydroxides
• 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 2310/00958 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of bone or of bony tissue
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 Composed of particular material or coated

Abstract

A prosthesis for the replacement of a diseased or traumatized facet of a mammalian vertebra includes a surface that articulates with another prosthetic facet or a natural facet, a portion that replaces at least a bony portion of the diseased or traumatized spine facet which is to be replaced, and an element to attach the prosthesis to the vertebra in a manner that does not require attachment to or abutment against the posterior arch. A method of installing the prosthesis includes the steps of resecting at least a portion of a facet and attaching the prosthesis in a manner that does not require attachment or abutment against the posterior arch.

Claims

1. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the system comprising:

a first prosthesis comprising;

a first facet articular surface shaped to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

an engagement member connected to the first facet articular surface, wherein the engagement member is shaped to engage the first vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to either of two pedicles of the first vertebra and independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to a spinous process of the first vertebra.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the engagement member is shaped to penetrate a lamina of the first vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface to the lamina.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first facet articular surface is shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second prosthesis comprising the second facet articular surface, wherein the second prosthesis cooperates with the first prosthesis to provide a first prosthetic facet joint to control relative motion between the first and second vertebrae.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a third prosthesis and a fourth prosthesis configured to cooperate with each other to provide a second prosthetic facet joint attachable to the first and second vertebrae to further control relative motion between the first and second vertebrae.

6. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the system comprising:

a first prosthesis comprising;

a first facet articular surface shaped to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

an engagement member connected to the first facet articular surface, wherein the engagement member is shaped to engage a lamina of the first vertebra to independently secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the engagement member comprises a fin extending from the facet articular surface.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the engagement member is shaped to leave the lamina substantially intact after penetration of the lamina by the engagement member.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the engagement member is shaped to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of contact between the first prosthesis and any portion of the first vertebra besides the lamina.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first facet articular surface is shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising a second prosthesis comprising the second facet articular surface, wherein the second prosthesis cooperates with the first prosthesis to provide a first prosthetic facet joint to control relative motion between the first and second vertebrae.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a third prosthesis and a fourth prosthesis configured to cooperate with each other to provide a second prosthetic facet joint attachable to the first and second vertebrae to further control relative motion between the first and second vertebrae.

13. A method for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the method comprising:

positioning a first facet articular surface of a first prosthesis to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

engaging the first vertebra with the first prosthesis to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to either of two pedicles of the vertebra and independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to a spinous process of the first vertebra.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein engaging the first vertebra with the first prosthesis comprises penetrating a lamina of the first vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface to the lamina.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein positioning the first facet articular surface to articulate with the second facet articular surface comprises positioning the first facet articular surface to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.

16. A method for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the method comprising:

positioning a first facet articular surface of a first prosthesis to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

engaging a lamina of the first vertebra with an engagement member of the first prosthesis to independently secure the first facet articular surface to the first vertebra, wherein the engagement member is connected to the first facet articular surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the engagement member comprises a fin extending from the facet articular surface, wherein penetrating the lamina with the engagement member comprises inserting the fin into an interior bone space of the lamina.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein penetrating the lamina with the engagement member comprises leaving the lamina substantially intact.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein penetrating the lamina with the engagement member comprises securing the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of contact between the first prosthesis and any portion of the first vertebra besides the lamina.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning the first facet articular surface to articulate with the second facet articular surface comprises positioning the first facet articular surface to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.

21. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the system comprising:

a first prosthesis comprising;

a first facet articular surface shaped to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

an engagement member connected to the first facet articular surface, wherein the engagement member is shaped to penetrate a portion of a lamina of the vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra such that the first prosthesis does not cover a majority of a posterior aspect of the lamina.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the engagement member comprises a fin extending from the facet articular surface.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the engagement member is shaped to leave the lamina substantially intact after penetration of the lamina by the engagement member.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the engagement member is shaped to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of contact between the first prosthesis and any portion of the first vertebra besides the lamina.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the first facet articular surface is shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.

26. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the system comprising:

a first prosthesis comprising;

a first facet articular surface shaped to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

an engagement member connected to the first facet articular surface, wherein the engagement member is shaped to engage the first vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to either of two pedicles of the first vertebra and independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to either of two transverse processes of the first vertebra.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the engagement member is shaped to penetrate a lamina of the first vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface to the lamina.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the first facet articular surface is shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising a second prosthesis comprising the second facet articular surface, wherein the second prosthesis cooperates with the first prosthesis to provide a first prosthetic facet joint to control relative motion between the first and second vertebrae.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising a third prosthesis and a fourth prosthesis configured to cooperate with each other to provide a second prosthetic facet joint attachable to the first and second vertebrae to further control relative motion between the first and second vertebrae.

31. A method for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the method comprising:

positioning a first facet articular surface of a first prosthesis to articulate with a second facet articular surface on a second vertebra; and

engaging the first vertebra with the first prosthesis to secure the first facet articular surface with respect to the first vertebra independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to either of two pedicles of the vertebra and independently of attachment of the first facet articular surface to either of two transverse processes of the first vertebra.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein engaging the first vertebra with the first prosthesis comprises penetrating a lamina of the first vertebra to secure the first facet articular surface to the lamina.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein positioning the first facet articular surface to articulate with the second facet articular surface comprises positioning the first facet articular surface to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the first vertebra.