System and method for multiple level facet joint arthroplasty and fusion
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- connecting a fixation member to a first vertebra;
non-rigidly coupling at least one of a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface to the connected fixation member such that an orientation of a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface can be polyaxially adjusted relative to the connected fixation member,polyaxially adjusting the orientation of the at least one of a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface to provide a selected orientation with respect to a first vertebra;
rigidly attaching the superior articular surface to the first vertebra such that the superior articular surface is positioned to articulate with an adjacent inferior articular surface; and
rigidly attaching the inferior articular surface to the first vertebra, independently of attachment of the superior articular surface to the first vertebra, such that the inferior articular surface is positioned to articulate with an adjacent superior articular surface;
wherein the rigid attachment of the at least one of the superior and inferior articular surfaces substantially preserves the selected orientation, wherein the rigid attachment can independently lock out rotational and translation motion of the at least one of the superior and inferior articular surfaces relative to the fixation member.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Facet joint replacement implants may be designed for use on multiple adjacent vertebral levels. Each superior implant may have a substantially semispherical concave surface, and each inferior implant may have a cooperating semispherical convex surface that is deformable to enable it to be pressed into the superior implant concave surface to fix the relative orientations of the superior and inferior implants. Thus, the inferior implant may be attached to the same pedicle as the superior implant, but may also be oriented independently of the superior implant and then fixed in position. Similar mounting structures may be used to attach one or more fusion implants to a level adjacent to that of a facet joint replacement implant.
352 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
connecting a fixation member to a first vertebra; non-rigidly coupling at least one of a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface to the connected fixation member such that an orientation of a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface can be polyaxially adjusted relative to the connected fixation member, polyaxially adjusting the orientation of the at least one of a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface to provide a selected orientation with respect to a first vertebra; rigidly attaching the superior articular surface to the first vertebra such that the superior articular surface is positioned to articulate with an adjacent inferior articular surface; and rigidly attaching the inferior articular surface to the first vertebra, independently of attachment of the superior articular surface to the first vertebra, such that the inferior articular surface is positioned to articulate with an adjacent superior articular surface; wherein the rigid attachment of the at least one of the superior and inferior articular surfaces substantially preserves the selected orientation, wherein the rigid attachment can independently lock out rotational and translation motion of the at least one of the superior and inferior articular surfaces relative to the fixation member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification