System and method for facet joint replacement
First Claim
1. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet joint that controls motion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the system comprising:
- a first fixation member implantable in a pedicle of the second vertebra; and
an inferior facet joint implant comprising;
an inferior articular surface shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the second vertebra;
an inferior strut formed separately from the inferior articular surface, the inferior strut comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is securable to the first fixation member and the second end comprises a sphere having an uninterrupted hemispherical surface; and
an attachment mechanism comprising a capture feature shaped to receive the sphere, the attachment mechanism further comprising an adjustable configuration in which the inferior articular surface is connected to the second end in a manner that permits relative rotation between the inferior articular surface and the second end about three orthogonal axes, and a locked configuration in which the inferior articular surface is rigidly secured to the second end, wherein the capture feature for receiving the second end of the strut therein is formed monolithically with the inferior articular surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet joint includes a fixation member implantable in a vertebra, an inferior facet articular surface and an inferior strut which may be formed separately from the inferior articular surface. The inferior strut has a first end securable to the fixation member and a second end which may comprise a sphere with a hemispherical surface. An attachment mechanism may include a capture feature shaped to receive the second end of the inferior strut, and the mechanism may provide an adjustable configuration, allowing polyaxial adjustment between the inferior articular surface and the second end. A locking member may be actuated to exert force on the second end to provide a locked configuration. The system may further include a superior facet joint implant with a superior articular surface shaped to articulate with the inferior articular surface.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet joint that controls motion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the system comprising:
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a first fixation member implantable in a pedicle of the second vertebra; and an inferior facet joint implant comprising; an inferior articular surface shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the second vertebra; an inferior strut formed separately from the inferior articular surface, the inferior strut comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is securable to the first fixation member and the second end comprises a sphere having an uninterrupted hemispherical surface; and an attachment mechanism comprising a capture feature shaped to receive the sphere, the attachment mechanism further comprising an adjustable configuration in which the inferior articular surface is connected to the second end in a manner that permits relative rotation between the inferior articular surface and the second end about three orthogonal axes, and a locked configuration in which the inferior articular surface is rigidly secured to the second end, wherein the capture feature for receiving the second end of the strut therein is formed monolithically with the inferior articular surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet joint that controls motion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the system comprising:
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a first fixation member implantable in a pedicle of the second vertebra; and an inferior facet joint implant comprising; an inferior articular surface shaped to replace a natural inferior articular surface of the second vertebra; an inferior strut formed separately from the inferior articular surface, the inferior strut comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is securable to the fixation member; and an attachment mechanism comprising a capture feature shaped to receive the second end, the capture feature comprising a first opening having a first diameter greater than a diameter of the second end to allow passage of the second end through the first opening, and a second opening contiguous with the first opening, the second opening having a second diameter less than the diameter of the second end to block passage of the second end through the second opening, wherein the capture feature for receiving the second end of the strut therein is formed monolithically with the inferior articular surface and wherein the second end comprises a sphere with an uninterrupted hemispherical surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet joint that controls motion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the system comprising:
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a first fixation member implantable in a pedicle of the second vertebra; and an inferior facet joint implant comprising; an inferior articular surface shaped to replace a natural inferior facet articular surface of the second vertebra; an inferior strut formed separately from the inferior articular surface, the inferior strut comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is securable to the fixation member; and an attachment mechanism comprising a capture feature shaped to receive the second end, the attachment mechanism further comprising an adjustable configuration in which the inferior articular surface is connected to the second end in a manner that permits relative rotation between the inferior articular surface and the second end about three orthogonal axes, and a locked configuration in which the inferior articular surface is rigidly secured to the second end, wherein the inferior articular surface is lateral to the sagittal plane of the first and second vertebrae when the attachment mechanism is in the locked configuration, wherein the capture feature for receiving the second end of the strut therein is formed monolithically with the inferior articular surface. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification