Method and apparatus for spinal facet fusion
First Claim
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1. A spinal facet fusion implant comprising:
- an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the elongated body having a transverse cross-sectional profile characterized by a primary axis disposed perpendicular to a transverse axis of said elongated body and a secondary axis disposed perpendicular to the primary axis and perpendicular to the transverse axis;
at least one stabilizer formed integral with the elongated body and extending radially outwardly from the elongated body in the secondary axis, the at least one stabilizer extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body;
wherein the elongated body has a dimension along the primary axis which is less than a combined width of opposing spinal facets that collectively form a facet joint, and wherein the elongated body has a dimension along the primary axis which is greater than a gap located between said opposing spinal facets, such that, when appropriate recesses are formed in the opposing spinal facets, the elongated body can be inserted between opposing spinal facets so that segments of the elongated body disposed along the primary axis can span said gap and sit in corresponding recesses formed in the opposing spinal facets;
and further wherein the at least one stabilizer has a dimension in a direction extending parallel to the primary axis which is sized to make a press fit into said gap.
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Abstract
A spinal facet fusion implant comprising:
- an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the elongated body having a cross-sectional profile characterized by a primary axis and a secondary axis; and
- at least one stabilizer extending radially outwardly from the elongated body in the secondary axis;
- wherein the elongated body has a length along the primary axis which is less than the combined width of the spinal facets making up a facet joint;
- and further wherein the at least one stabilizer has a width which is sized to make a press fit into the gap between the spinal facets making up a facet joint.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A spinal facet fusion implant comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the elongated body having a transverse cross-sectional profile characterized by a primary axis disposed perpendicular to a transverse axis of said elongated body and a secondary axis disposed perpendicular to the primary axis and perpendicular to the transverse axis; at least one stabilizer formed integral with the elongated body and extending radially outwardly from the elongated body in the secondary axis, the at least one stabilizer extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body; wherein the elongated body has a dimension along the primary axis which is less than a combined width of opposing spinal facets that collectively form a facet joint, and wherein the elongated body has a dimension along the primary axis which is greater than a gap located between said opposing spinal facets, such that, when appropriate recesses are formed in the opposing spinal facets, the elongated body can be inserted between opposing spinal facets so that segments of the elongated body disposed along the primary axis can span said gap and sit in corresponding recesses formed in the opposing spinal facets; and further wherein the at least one stabilizer has a dimension in a direction extending parallel to the primary axis which is sized to make a press fit into said gap. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for fusing a spinal facet joint, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a spinal facet fusion implant comprising; an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the elongated body having a transverse cross-sectional profile characterized by a primary axis disposed perpendicular to said transverse axis and a secondary axis disposed perpendicular to the primary axis and disposed perpendicular to said transverse axis; and at least one stabilizer formed integral with the elongated body and extending radially outwardly from the elongated body in the secondary axis, the at least one stabilizer extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated body; wherein the elongated body has a dimension along the primary axis which is less than a combined width of opposing spinal facets collectively forming a facet joint, and wherein the elongated body has a dimension along the primary axis which is greater than a gap located between said opposing spinal facets, such that, when appropriate recesses are formed in said opposing spinal facets, the elongated body is inserted between opposing spinal facets so that segments of the elongated body disposed along the primary axis span the gap located between the opposing spinal facets and sit in corresponding recesses formed in said opposing spinal facets; and further wherein the at least one stabilizer has a dimension in a direction extending parallel to the primary axis which is sized to make a press fit into the gap between said opposing spinal facets; deploying the spinal facet fusion implant in the facet joint so that the elongated body is simultaneously positioned within both of said opposing facets and the at least one stabilizer is positioned within the gap between said opposing spinal facets; and maintaining the spinal facet fusion implant in said position while fusion occurs. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification