Spinal facet fixation device

• US 20050267480A1
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Loubert Suddaby
• Original Assignee: Loubert Suddaby
• Inventors: Suddaby, Loubert
• Application Number:
  US11/181,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267480A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor

Abstract

A spinal facet fixation device includes a pair of jaws hinged on a common base. A threaded actuator bears against a cam surface on the jaws to draw the points of the jaws together. A surgeon applies the opposed points to respective facets of vertebral elements, and then tightens the actuator to draw the facets together.

Claims

1. A method of fixing adjacent facets of a spine, comprising steps of

introducing into a space around said facets a tool having a pair of opposed hinged jaws and a mechanism for drawing the jaws together, and

closing the jaws around the facets.

2. A spinal facet fixation clamp for use in fusing adjacent vertebrae of a spine, said clamp comprising

a base,

a pair of opposed jaws having hinge connections to the base,

each said jaw comprising at least one finger terminating at a pointed tip, the fingers being curved toward one another, and

a mechanism for closing the jaws so that the tips grasp and fixate a pair of spinal facets.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein at least one of said jaws has at least two curved fingers, so that the clamp makes at least three point contact with the spine.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein each jaw has at least two curved fingers.

5. The invention of claim 2, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a cam.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein each jaw has a cam surface thereon, and the closing mechanism further comprises a threaded actuator having a bearing surface which bears against each cam surface and closes the jaws when turned in one direction.

7. The invention of claim 7, wherein said threaded actuator comprises a nut, and said bearing surface is on said nut.