Allograft spinal facet fusion system

• US 7,901,439 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth L. Horton
• Original Assignee: Kenneth L. Horton
• Inventors: Horton, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEGRELLI, CHRISTINA L
• Application Number:
  US11/831,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606246-249, 606/279, 606/86.A, 606 96-100, 606/79, 606/80, 606/90, 606/104
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/90 Guides therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A method for fusing a spinal facet joint and a surgical kit for use therein. The kit preferably comprises an allograft implant, a facet finder, a drill, a drill guide, and an implant inserter. The method preferably comprises the steps of locating the facet joint with a facet finer, sliding a drill guide over the facet finder until the drill guide engages the facet joint, removing the facet finder from within the drill guide, inserting a drill through the drill guide and drilling a socket within the facet joint to a predetermined depth, removing the drill from within the drill guide, securing an allograft implant within an implant inserter, inserting the implant inserter through the drill guide until the implant engages the socket, tapping the implant inserter to push the implant completely within the socket, removing the implant inserter from within the drill guide, and removing the drill guide.

Claims

1. A method for fusing a spinal facet joint without distracting the facet joint, comprising the steps of:

a) locating the facet joint with a facet finder, wherein said facet finder does not distract the facet joint;

b) sliding a drill guide over said facet finder until a distal end of said drill guide engages the facet joint;

c) removing said facet finder from within said drill guide;

d) inserting a drill through said drill guide and drilling a socket within the facet joint to a predetermined depth;

e) removing said drill from within said drill guide;

f) securing an unthreaded proximal end of a surgical implant within an unthreaded distal end of an implant inserter, wherein said implant is an unthreaded, cylindrical-shaped allograft implant having a distal end, a plurality of anti-migration fins formed along the length of said implant to secure said implant within the socket, and a reduced diameter proximal end, and wherein said distal end of said implant inserter is operable to receive said reduced diameter proximal end of said implant within said distal end of said implant inserter and thereby reversibly secure said implant to said implant inserter such that the entire circumference of said implant is visible to a surgeon to facilitate insertion of said implant into the socket;

g) inserting said implant inserter through said drill guide until said distal end of said implant engages the socket;

h) tapping a proximal end of said implant inserter to push said implant into the socket;

i) removing said implant inserter from within said drill guide; and

j) removing said drill guide from the facet joint.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said facet finder comprises a radiolucent body having a radiopaque tip, wherein said radiolucent body has a radiopaque band to visually position said radiopaque tip within the center of said radiopaque band to target said radiopaque tip on the facet joint.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said implant has a diameter of about 0.1378 inch and said fins each have a diameter of about 0.1969 inch.

4. A surgical kit for use in a method for fusing a spinal facet joint without distracting the facet joint, comprising:

a) a surgical implant, wherein said implant is an unthreaded, cylindrical-shaped allograft implant having a distal end, a plurality of anti-migration fins formed along the length of said implant to secure said implant within a socket formed in the facet joint, and a reduced diameter proximal end;

b) a facet finder for locating the facet joint without distracting the facet joint;

c) a drill for creating the socket in the facet joint for receiving said implant;

d) a drill guide; and

e) an implant inserter for inserting said implant into the socket, wherein said implant inserter has an unthreaded distal end operable to receive said reduced diameter proximal end of said implant within said distal end of said implant inserter and thereby reversibly secure said implant to said implant inserter such that the entire circumference of said implant is visible to a surgeon to facilitate insertion of said implant into the socket.

5. A surgical kit according to claim 4, wherein said facet finder comprises a radiolucent body having a radiopaque tip, wherein said radiolucent body has a radiopaque band to visually position said radiopaque tip within the center of said radiopaque band to target said radiopaque tip on the facet joint.

6. A surgical kit according to claim 4, wherein said proximal end of said implant has a diameter of about 0.1378 inch and said fins each have a diameter of about 0.1969 inch.