Method for stabilizing a facet joint

• US 8,052,728 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hestad, Hugh D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEGRELLI, CHRISTINA L
• Application Number:
  US11/831,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 606/246, 606/247, 606/249, 606/279, 623 1711- 1716, 128/898
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and spinal implant devices for stabilizing a facet joint. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a hole through a facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra which, respectively, include superior articular process and inferior articular process openings. A spinal implant device, such as elongated member, is inserted lengthwise into the hole. The first end portion of the elongated member defines a closed end and the second end portion defines an open end permitting entry into an interior of the member. The interior of the elongated member is filled with a desired material to expand the first and second end portions of the member beyond respective superior articular process and inferior articular process openings of the hole to greater than a desired size of the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings to stabilize the facet joint.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a facet joint comprising:

forming a hole through a facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra which, respectively, include superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, the hole extending lengthwise between the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings;

inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole to position opposing first and second end portions of the member proximate either the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, or the inferior and superior articular process openings, respectively, wherein the first end portion defines a closed end and the second end portion defines an open end permitting entry into an interior of the member; and

filling the interior of the member with a desired material to expand the first and second end portions of the member beyond respective superior articular process and inferior articular process openings of the hole to greater than a desired size of the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings to stabilize the facet joint.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming the hole through the facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra comprises drilling the hole posteriorly through the facet joint.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member lengthwise into the hole to position opposing first and second end portions of the member proximate the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, and wherein filling the member comprises filling the member with the desired material to expand the first and second end portions of the member, respectively, beyond superior articular process and inferior articular process openings.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after filling the interior of member, sealing the open end of the member.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole comprises via a delivery catheter, inserting the elongated lengthwise into the hole and wherein filling the member with a desired material comprises via the delivery catheter, filling the member with the desired material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired material is a flexible material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is a bag that contains the desired material.

8. A method for stabilizing a facet joint comprising:

forming a hole through a facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra which, respectively, include superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, the hole extending lengthwise between opposing inferior and superior openings of a desired size;

inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole, the member including opposing first and second end portions, the first and second end portions are positioned proximate either the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, or the inferior and superior articular process openings, respectively, wherein the first end portion defines a closed end and the second end portion defines an open end permitting entry into an interior of the member and a central portion of the member between opposing first and second end portions is configured to expand; and

filling the interior of the member with a desired material to expand the central portion beyond the hole within the facet joint thereby distracting the inferior and superior articular processes and to expand the opposing first and second end portions beyond respective superior articular process and inferior articular process openings of the hole to greater than a desired size of the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings to stabilize the facet joint.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of forming the hole through the facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra comprises drilling the hole posteriorly through the facet joint.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member lengthwise into the hole to position opposing first and second end portions of the member proximate the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, and wherein filling the member comprises filling the member with the desired material to expand the central portion beyond the hole within the facet joint and to expand the first and second end portions of the member, respectively, beyond superior articular process and inferior articular process openings.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising, after filling the interior of member, sealing the open end of the member.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole comprises via a delivery catheter, inserting the elongated lengthwise into the hole and wherein filling the interior of the member with a desired material comprises via the delivery catheter, filling the interior of the member with the desired material.