Inter-cervical facet implant and method for preserving the tissues surrounding the facet joint

• US 8,100,944 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lauryssen, Carl, Winslow, Charles J., Zucherman, James F., Hsu, Ken Y., Mitchell, Steven T., Yerby, Scott A., Flynn, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana, Anu
• Application Number:
  US11/093,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,491 Days
• Field of Search: 606246-249
• US Class Current: 606/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/562 Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion, e.g. to reduce arthritic pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7007 Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit around the screw or hook heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/701 Longitudinal elements with a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, cross-section A61B17/7005, A61B17/7007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7022 Tethers, i.e. longitudinal elements capable of transmitting tension only, e.g. straps, sutures or cables A61B17/702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7028 the flexible part being a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8042 the additional component being a cover over the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 with special features for locking in the bone
• 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

Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The implant can be inserted laterally or posteriorly.

Claims

1. A method for implanting a facet joint implant into a facet joint, the method comprising the steps of:

assessing a facet joint;

making an incision in a facet capsule while leaving the remaining tissue of the facet capsule intact;

inserting along an insertion axis a leading edge of a spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint through the incision while leaving the remaining tissue of the facet capsule intact; and

pivoting a trailing end of the facet joint implant with respect to the spacer portion in a direction transverse to the insertion axis of the spacer portion such that the facet joint implant is positioned within the facet joint of a patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein pivoting the spacer portion of the facet joint implant occurs during inserting the leading edge of the facet joint.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein after the pivoting step, a locking plate of the implant is secured to the vertebra.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein after the inserting step, a locking plate of the implant is secured to the vertebra.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant has an initial insertion orientation wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant has a distal end, a base and first and second sides located between the distal end and the base, and the method further comprises initially inserting into the incision of the facet capsule one of said sides.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant has an initial insertion orientation wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant has a distal end, a base and first and second sides located between the distal end and the base, and one of said sides is initially inserted into the incision of the facet capsule and the spacer portion of the facet joint implant comes to a final insertion position with the base of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant located in the incision.

7. A method for implanting a facet joint implant into a facet joint, the method comprising the steps of:

assessing a facet joint;

making an incision in a facet capsule while leaving the remaining tissue of the facet capsule intact;

inserting along an insertion axis a tapered portion of a spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint;

using the tapered portion of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant to initially urge the spacer portion of the facet joint implant through the incision to the facet joint; and

pivoting the tapered end of the facet joint implant with respect to the spacer portion in a direction transverse to the insertion axis of the spacer portion such that the facet joint implant is positioned within the facet joint of a patient.

8. A method for implanting a facet joint implant into a facet joint, the method comprising the steps of:

assessing a facet joint;

making an incision in a facet capsule while leaving the remaining tissue of the facet capsule intact;

inserting along an insertion axis a spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint through the incision while leaving the remaining tissue of the facet capsule intact; and

pivoting a portion of the facet joint implant with respect to the spacer portion in a direction transverse to the insertion axis of the spacer portion such that the facet joint implant is positioned within the facet joint of a patient.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant is part of the facet joint implant, the facet joint implant further comprising:

an anchoring plate; and

a connection between the spacer portion of the facet joint implant and the anchoring plate, wherein the connection is configured to substantially align the spacer portion of the facet joint implant and the anchoring plate along a longitudinal axis during the step of inserting the spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant and the connection together are formed into a P-shape.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant tapers towards an edge of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant that is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein inserting along the insertion axis the spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint includes inserting the edge of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint prior to the remainder of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising pivoting the facet joint implant with the spacer portion of the facet joint implant inserted in the facet joint to align the anchoring plate with a lateral mass of a vertebra adjacent the facet joint.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein pivoting the facet joint implant includes pivoting about 90°

.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising bending the anchoring plate at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis to align the anchoring plate with the lateral mass of the vertebra adjacent the facet joint.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant is coupled via a connection to an anchoring plate, wherein the spacer portion of the facet joint implant has a distal end adjacent the connection an opposing proximal end and first and second lateral sides extending therebetween.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein inserting along the insertion axis the spacer portion of the facet joint implant into the facet joint includes inserting one of the first and second lateral sides into the facet joint prior to the remainder of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant.

18. The method of claim 17 further wherein the first and second lateral sides are tapered such that to assist in insertion of the spacer portion of the facet joint implant.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein pivoting the spacer portion of the facet joint implant within the facet joint includes pivoting the facet joint implant with the spacer portion of the facet joint implant inserted in the facet joint and at least a portion of the connection and anchoring plate remaining outside the facet joint.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising securing the anchoring plate to an adjacent vertebra while leaving the remaining tissue of the facet capsule intact.