Split spinal device and method
First Claim
1. An artificial spinal joint for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra comprising:
- a first arthroplasty half comprising a first articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a first posterior joint replacement component spaced from the first articulating joint replacement component such that when the first articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the first posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a first bridge component coupled between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component, wherein the first bridge component has a length between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; and
a second arthroplasty half comprising a second articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a second posterior joint replacement component spaced from the second articulating joint replacement component such that when the second articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the second posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a second bridge component coupled between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component, wherein the second bridge component has a length between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length;
wherein the first articulating joint replacement component is sized and shaped to engage the second articulating joint replacement component within the intervertebral disc space while the first and second posterior joint replacement components are disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra;
wherein the first articulating joint replacement component includes a first rostral component in movable engagement with a first caudal component;
wherein the second articulating joint replacement component includes a second rostral component in movable engagement with a second caudal component; and
wherein at least one of;
the first caudal component is connected with the second caudal component, andthe first rostral component is connected with the second rostral component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial spinal joint for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra is disclosed. The artificial spinal joint comprises a first arthroplasty half comprising a first articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a first posterior joint replacement component, and a first bridge component coupled between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component. The artificial spinal joint further comprises a second arthroplasty half comprising a second articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a second posterior joint replacement component, and a second bridge component coupled between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component. The first articulating joint replacement component is engaged with the second articulating joint replacement component.
220 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An artificial spinal joint for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra comprising:
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a first arthroplasty half comprising a first articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a first posterior joint replacement component spaced from the first articulating joint replacement component such that when the first articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the first posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a first bridge component coupled between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component, wherein the first bridge component has a length between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; and a second arthroplasty half comprising a second articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a second posterior joint replacement component spaced from the second articulating joint replacement component such that when the second articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the second posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a second bridge component coupled between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component, wherein the second bridge component has a length between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; wherein the first articulating joint replacement component is sized and shaped to engage the second articulating joint replacement component within the intervertebral disc space while the first and second posterior joint replacement components are disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra; wherein the first articulating joint replacement component includes a first rostral component in movable engagement with a first caudal component; wherein the second articulating joint replacement component includes a second rostral component in movable engagement with a second caudal component; and wherein at least one of; the first caudal component is connected with the second caudal component, and the first rostral component is connected with the second rostral component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of implanting an artificial spinal joint, the method comprising:
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creating a first exposure through a patient'"'"'s back to access an intervertebral space; creating a second exposure through the patient'"'"'s back to access the intervertebral space; delivering a first articulating assembly portion of the artificial spinal joint to the intervertebral space along a first path through the first exposure, wherein the first articulating assembly portion includes a first articulating joint replacement component and a first posterior joint portion with a first bridge having a length between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint portion, and two or more sides along the length; delivering a second articulating assembly portion of the artificial spinal joint to the intervertebral space along a second path through the second exposure, wherein the second articulating assembly portion includes a second articulating joint replacement component and a second posterior joint portion with a second bridge having a length between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint portion, and two or more sides along the length; and matingly connecting the first and second articulating assembly portions to form a unitized intervertebral joint centered about an anterior-posterior axis defined through the center of the intervertebral disc space. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A system for creating a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the system comprising:
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a first anterior articulating assembly for implantation through a first approach into an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae; and a first posterior articulating assembly connected to the first anterior articulating assembly by a rigid bridge assembly between the first articulating assembly and the first posterior articulating assembly and spaced from the first anterior articulating assembly such that when the first articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the first posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space, and spaced apart from vertebral bodies of the superior and inferior vertebrae; wherein the rigid bridge assembly includes one or more components, each with a solid, non-cannulated structure from the first articulating assembly to the first posterior articulating assembly; wherein the first anterior articulating assembly comprises a caudal articulating surface engaged with a rostral articulating surface wherein the engagement of the caudal and rostral articulating surfaces defines a lateral half of a ball and socket type joint; and further wherein the lateral half of a ball and socket type joint abuts a central anterior-posterior axis through the intervertebral disc space, the ball of the lateral half of the ball and socket type joint having a ball surface shaped such that a line tangent to the ball surface and at a location adjacent the central anterior-posterior axis lies substantially in an axial plane, the socket of the ball and socket type joint having a socket surface with a radius that closely matches a radius of curvature of the ball surface when the socket articulates about the ball. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A system for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra comprising:
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a first means for articulating in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae; a second means for articulating in the intervertebral disc space; a third means for articulating posteriorly of the intervertebral disc space; a fourth means for articulating posteriorly of the intervertebral disc space; a fifth means for coupling between the first means and the third means including at least a first bridge component having a length between the first means and the third means with two or more sides along the length; a sixth means for coupling between the second means and the fourth means including at least a second bridge component having a length between the second means and the fourth means with two or more sides along the length; an interlocking means for interlocking the first means and the second means, wherein the first means is coupled to the second means by the interlocking means.
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46. An artificial spinal joint for creating at least a portion of a coupling between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra comprising:
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a first arthroplasty half comprising a first articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a first posterior joint replacement component spaced from the first articulating joint replacement component such that when the first articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the first posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a first bridge component coupled between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component, the first bridge component being an artificial pedicle configured to supplement or replace a first natural pedicle, wherein the artificial pedicle includes a length between the first articulating joint replacement component and the first posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; and a second arthroplasty half comprising a second articulating joint replacement component for placement in an intervertebral disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, a second posterior joint replacement component spaced from the second articulating joint replacement component such that when the second articulating joint replacement component is configured to be disposed in the intervertebral disc space, the second posterior joint replacement component is configured to be disposed outside the intervertebral disc space and spaced apart from the vertebral bodies of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, and a second bridge component coupled between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component, the second bridge component being a second artificial pedicle configured to supplement or replace a second natural pedicle, wherein the second artificial pedicle includes a length between the second articulating joint replacement component and the second posterior joint replacement component with two or more sides along the length; wherein the first articulating joint replacement abuts against the second articulating joint replacement component to form a unitary, substantially U-shaped implant.
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Specification