Method for locking an artificial facet between two vertebral bodies
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of inserting an intra-facet bone screw into a facet joint between a superior articular surface of an inferior vertebral body and an inferior articular surface of a superior vertebral body, said method comprising:
- inserting a threaded shaft of a bone screw into the facet joint between the superior articular surface of the inferior vertebral body and the inferior articular surface of the superior vertebra so that the threaded shaft of the bone screw partially engages the superior and inferior articular surfaces, a longitudinal axis of the bone screw being substantially aligned with and located between the superior articular surface of the inferior vertebral body and the inferior articular surface of the superior vertebral body; and
attaching an anti-rotation element on said bone screw such that a portion of said anti-rotation element projects radially outward from the periphery of said bone screw to prevent rotation of said bone screw.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bone screw (1) is used for locking an articular facet between the superior and inferior articular processes of two vertebral bodies and is provided with a threaded shaft (2), a screw head (3) and a central axis (4). The screw head (3) is further provided with a number of grooves (5) on the periphery of the screw head (3) which run essentially parallel to said central axis (4).
144 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of inserting an intra-facet bone screw into a facet joint between a superior articular surface of an inferior vertebral body and an inferior articular surface of a superior vertebral body, said method comprising:
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inserting a threaded shaft of a bone screw into the facet joint between the superior articular surface of the inferior vertebral body and the inferior articular surface of the superior vertebra so that the threaded shaft of the bone screw partially engages the superior and inferior articular surfaces, a longitudinal axis of the bone screw being substantially aligned with and located between the superior articular surface of the inferior vertebral body and the inferior articular surface of the superior vertebral body; and attaching an anti-rotation element on said bone screw such that a portion of said anti-rotation element projects radially outward from the periphery of said bone screw to prevent rotation of said bone screw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of inserting first and second intra-facet bone screws into first and second articular facet joint gaps between superior and inferior articular processes of two vertebral bodies of a patient'"'"'s spine, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) inserting a portion of a first aiming wire into the first articular facet joint gap and a portion of a second aiming wire into the second articular facet joint gap; b) simultaneously inserting the first intra-facet bone screw into the first facet joint gap and the second intra-facet bone screw into the second facet joint gap, the first bone screw being inserted into the first facet joint gap between the superior articular process of an inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of a superior vertebra such that an externally threaded shaft of the first bone screw partially engages the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra, a longitudinal axis of the first bone screw being substantially aligned with and located between the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra, the second bone screw being inserted into the second facet joint gap between the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra such that an externally threaded shaft of the second bone screw partially engages the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra, a longitudinal axis of the second bone screw being substantially aligned with and located between the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra; and c) removing the first and second aiming wires from the first and second facet joint gaps. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of inserting at least one intra-facet bone screw and an anti-rotation element into a facet joint gap between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae, the at least one bone screw including a longitudinal axis, an externally threaded shaft, a head and a cannulated bore and the anti-rotation element including two legs and a central portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) forming a skin incision; b) inserting an aiming wire at least partially into the facet joint gap; c) percutaneously inserting the at least one bone screw at least partially into the facet joint gap using the aiming wire, the at least one bone screw being inserted between the superior articular process of an inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of a superior vertebra, d) rotating the at least one bone screw into the facet joint gap such that the externally threaded shaft of the at least one bone screw partially engages the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra, the longitudinal axis of the at least one bone screw being substantially aligned with and located between the superior articular process of the inferior vertebra and the inferior articular process of the superior vertebra and the head touches bone adjacent the facet joint gap; e) removing the aiming wire; f) placing the anti-rotation element over the head such that the two legs are positioned in the facet joint gap, respectively, and the central portion is positioned in the cannulated bore; and f) closing the incision. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification