Method and apparatus for spine joint replacement

• US 7,090,698 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc., Medicinelodge, Inc (Nelso Antolotti)
• Original Assignee: Facet Solutions, Inc. (Globus Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoy, Robert W., Fallin, T. Wade, Goble, E. Marlowe
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US10/090,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.11, 623/17.12, 623/17.13, 623/17.14, 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/61, 606/60, 606/62, 606/72, 606/73
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• 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 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 2002/30168 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30177 W-shaped, M-shaped or sigma shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30708 Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices, Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/449 comprising multiple spinal implants located in different intervertebral spaces or in different vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0043 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0056 W-shaped, e.g. M-shaped, sigma-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0084 Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices; Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• 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 2310/00604 Coating made of aluminium oxide or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00634 Coating made of zirconium oxide or hydroxides

Abstract

A prosthesis for the replacement of the cartilaginous structures of a spine motion segment is described. The prosthesis comprises an intervertebral disc prosthesis in combination with a facet joint prosthesis.

Claims

1. A method for replacing a spine joint, comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc adjacent to a vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

resecting at least a portion of a bone of a facet of the vertebra;

attaching a prosthetic facet to the remaining bone of the vertebra such that no portion of the prosthetic facet contacts a posterior arch of the vertebra;

wherein said prosthetic facet is adapted to articulate with another facet;

with the artificial disc and the prosthetic facet cooperating so as to restore the natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the vertebra, the prosthetic facet, and the artificial disc.

2. A method for replacing a spine joint, comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc between a first vertebra and a second vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

resecting at least a portion of a bone of a first facet on the first vertebra;

attaching a first prosthetic facet to the remaining bone of the first vertebra such that no portion of the prosthetic facet contacts a posterior arch of the first vertebra;

resecting at least a portion of the bone of a second facet on the second vertebra; and

attaching a second prosthetic facet to the remaining bone of the second vertebra such that no portion of the prosthetic facet contacts the posterior arch of the vertebra;

wherein the first prosthetic facet is adapted to articulate with the second prosthetic facet;

with the artificial disc and the prosthetic facet cooperating so as to restore the natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the first vertebra, the second vertebra, the artificial disc, the first prosthetic facet, and the second prosthetic facet.

3. A method for replacing a spine joint, comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc adjacent to a vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

resecting a pair of facets on the vertebra; and

attaching a prosthesis to the vertebra so that a pair of bearing surfaces on the prosthesis are positioned in place of the resected facets, wherein the prosthesis is configured so that no portion of the prosthesis is supported by the lamina of the vertebra;

with the artificial disc and the prosthesis cooperating so as to restore natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the vertebra, the artificial disc, and the prosthesis.

4. A method for replacing a mammalian spine joint, comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

resecting at least a bony portion of the inferior facets of the superior vertebra;

attaching a first prosthesis that replaces the inferior facets of the superior vertebra;

resecting at least a bony portion of the superior facets of the inferior vertebra; and

attaching a second prosthesis that replaces the superior facets of the inferior vertebra;

wherein no portion of the first prosthesis is supported by the lamina of the superior vertebra, and further wherein no portion of the second prosthesis is supported by the lamina of the inferior vertebra;

with the artificial disc and the first prosthesis and the second prosthesis cooperating so as to restore the natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the superior vertebra, the inferior vertebra, the artificial disc, the first prosthesis, and the second prosthesis.

5. A method for replacing a mammalian spine joint, comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc adjacent to an intermediate vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

resecting at least a bony portion of the inferior facets of a most superior vertebra;

attaching a first prosthesis that replaces the inferior facets of the most superior vertebra;

resecting at least a bony portion of the superior facets of a most inferior vertebra;

attaching a second prosthesis that replaces the superior facets of the most inferior vertebra;

resecting at least a bony portion of all of the facets of at least one intermediate vertebra located between the most superior vertebra and the most inferior vertebra;

wherein, for each of the at least one intermediate vertebra, a prosthesis is attached to replace all facets of the intermediate vertebra;

with the artificial disc and the prostheses cooperating so as to restore the natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the intermediate vertebra, the artificial disc, and the prosthesis attached to replace all facets of the intermediate vertebra.

6. A method for replacing a spine joint, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the two natural pedicles, said method comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc adjacent to the natural vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

making a resection at the most dorsal aspect of the two natural pedicles; and

attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, the prosthesis comprising two prosthetic mounts, a prosthetic lamina extending from the two prosthetic mounts, a pair of prosthetic superior facets extending from said two prosthetic mounts and the prosthetic lamina, and a pair of prosthetic inferior facets extending from the prosthetic lamina;

with the artificial disc and the prosthesis cooperating so as to restore the natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the natural vertebra, the artificial disc, and the prosthesis.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from the prosthetic lamina.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the prosthesis further comprises a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from the two prosthetic mounts.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from the prosthetic lamina and a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from the two prosthetic mounts and the prosthetic lamina.

10. A method for replacing a spine joint, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the natural pedicles, said method comprising the steps of:

replacing an intervertebral disc adjacent to the natural vertebra with an artificial disc comprising opposing end plates and articulating structure therebetween;

making a resection at the junction of the natural vertebral body and the two natural pedicles; and

attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, the prosthesis comprising two prosthetic pedicles, a prosthetic lamina extending from the prosthetic pedicles, a pair of prosthetic superior facets extending from the two prosthetic pedicles and the prosthetic lamina, and a pair of prosthetic inferior facets extending from the prosthetic lamina;

with the artificial disc and the prosthesis cooperating so as to restore the natural biomechanics of a spinal motion segment comprising the natural vertebra, the artificial disc, and the prosthesis.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from the prosthetic lamina.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the prosthesis further comprises a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from the two prosthetic pedicles.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from the prosthetic lamina and two prosthetic transverse processes extending from the two prosthetic pedicles and the prosthetic lamina.