Method and device for treating scoliosis

• US 7,371,238 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Spine LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Queen's University At Kingston
• Inventors: Borschneck, Daniel P., Saunders, Gerald A. B., Soboleski, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana; Anuradha
• Application Number:
  US10/075,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,279 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/90, 606/105, 623/16.11, 623/17.11, 623/17.15, 623/17.16
• US Class Current: 606/246
• 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 2002/30522 releasable, e.g. using a releasable ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3055 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length

Abstract

This invention relates to a spinal facet cap for treating scoliosis, the facet cap comprising a shim portion for inserting into a facet joint of a spine, and an alignment portion for maintaining alignment of the shim portion within the facet joint. The invention also provides a method for treating scoliosis, comprising implanting at least one spinal facet cap into at least one facet joint of a subject in need thereof.

Claims

1. A method for treating scoliosis in a subject in need thereof comprising implanting in an intact facet joint of the subject a spinal facet cap, said spinal facet cap comprising a shim portion and an alignment portion, such that scoliosis in the subject is treated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a spinal facet cap is implanted in each of two or more intact facet joints of the subject, such that scoliosis in the subject is treated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the subject for the number, size, shape, location, and placement of spinal facet caps required to treat scoliosis in the subject.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an imaging system is used to evaluate the subject.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the imaging system is selected from computed tomography (CT), radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with at least one facet hook on the shim portion, said facet hook adapted to receive either one of the superior facet or the inferior facet of a vertebra.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with at least two facet hooks on the shim portion, one said facet hook adapted to receive the superior facet of a first vertebra, a second said facet hook adapted to receive the inferior facet of a second vertebra.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with said alignment portion including a tongue having an orifice.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with a wedge-shaped shim portion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein implanting said spinal facet cap in said intact facet joint comprises correcting asymmetry between left and right facet joints of a vertebra.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim is at least one of concave and convex.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one pin extending therefrom.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one boss extending therefrom.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one ridge extending therefrom.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim is substantially the shape of an articulating surface of the facet joint.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the shim adjacent to an articulation surface of a facet joint and positioning the alignment portion adjacent a vertebra outside of the articulation surface of a facet joint.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein implanting further comprises:

positioning the shim portion between adjacent spinal facets of the facet joint; and

fixedly connecting the alignment portion with a vertebral structure associated with one of the adjacent spinal facets.

18. A method for distracting adjacent spinal facets of an intact facet joint, comprising:

positioning a spinal facet cap having shim portion and an alignment portion such that the shim portion is disposed between the adjacent spinal facets of the intact facet joint; and

fixedly connecting the alignment portion with a vertebral structure associated with one of the adjacent spinal facets, but not the other of the adjacent spinal facets;

wherein mobility of the facet joint is preserved such that scoliosis is treated.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the one of the adjacent spinal facets is an anchoring facet;

the shim portion includes a pin; and

positioning the spinal facet cap includes inserting the pin into the anchoring facet so that the shim portion is fixedly associated with the anchoring facet.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with said alignment portion including a tongue having an orifice.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with a wedge-shaped shim portion.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim is at least one of concave and convex.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one pin extending therefrom.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one boss extending therefrom.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one ridge extending therefrom.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim is substantially the shape of an articulating surface of the facet joint.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning the shim adjacent to an articulation surface of a facet joint and positioning the alignment portion adjacent a vertebra outside of the articulation surface of a facet joint.

28. A method for treating an abnormality of curvature of the spine in a subject in need thereof while preserving mobility of a facet joint of the spine, comprising:

implanting in the facet joint, that is intact, a spinal facet cap, said spinal facet cap comprising a shim portion and an abnormality of curvature portion, such that the alignment of the spine is treated.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said spinal facet cap is implanted in each of two or more facet joints.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with at least one facet hook on the shim portion, said facet hook adapted to receive either one of a superior facet or an inferior facet of a vertebra.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with at least two facet hooks extending from the shim portion, one said facet hook adapted to receive a superior facet of a first vertebra, and a second said facet hook adapted to receive an inferior facet of a second vertebra.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap with said alignment portion including a tongue having an orifice.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim is at least one of concave and convex.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one pin extending therefrom.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one boss extending therefrom.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim has at least one ridge extending therefrom.

37. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting a spinal facet cap wherein said shim is substantially the shape of an articulating surface of the facet joint.

38. The method of claim 28, further comprising positioning the shim adjacent to an articulation surface of a facet joint and positioning the alignment portion adjacent a vertebra outside of the articulation surface of a facet joint.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein implanting further comprises:

positioning the shim portion between adjacent spinal facets of the facet joint; and

fixedly connecting the alignment portion with a vertebral structure associated with one of the adjacent spinal facets.