Inter-cervical facet implant with multiple direction articulation joint and method for implanting

• US 20070123863A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hsu, Ken, Yerby, Scott, Flynn, John, Mitchell, Steven, Zucherman, James, Winslow, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• 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 17/7022 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 17/7046 the screws or hooks being mobile in use relative to the longitudinal element A61B17/702, A61B17/7035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• 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 17/8635 Tips of screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/8655 with special features for locking in the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30771 applied in original prostheses, e.g. holes or grooves
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30079 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3013 : figure-"8"- or hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30308 : banana-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 : Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 : made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 : retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30517 : using a locking plate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30528 : Means for limiting said movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 : having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30566 : Helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 : having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 : telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30639 : having rolling elements between both articulating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30708 : Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices, Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30769 : madreporic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4661 : for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 : Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 : Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0084 : Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices; Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

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 facet joint implant that addresses spinal stenosis and other ailments of the spine while maintaining mobility of the facet joint, the implant comprising:

an anchoring plate;

a facet joint spacer; and

a multiple direction articulation joint connecting the anchoring plate to the facet joint spacer.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the multiple direction articulation joint is a ball-and-socket joint.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the multiple direction articulation joint includes:

a cavity with the anchoring plate; and

a ball-shaped end extending from the facet joint spacer and positioned in the cavity of the anchoring plate.

4. The implant of claim 2, wherein the multiple direction articulation joint includes:

a cavity with the facet joint spacer; and

a ball-shaped end extending from the anchoring plate and positioned in the cavity of the facet joint spacer.

5. The implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking screw;

a bone screw;

wherein;

the anchoring plate further includes a first bore and a second bore;

the bone screw is receivable within the first bore; and

the locking screw is receivable within the second bore.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the locking screw has a head that blocks the bone screw from at least one of a backward displacement and a rotational displacement.

7. The implant of claim 5, wherein the locking screw further comprises a chisel-point end, wherein the chisel point end self-cuts the locking screw into the vertebra.

8. The implant of claim 5, wherein the locking screw is positioned medially, relative to the bone screw in the patient.

9. A facet joint implant that addresses spinal stenosis and other ailments of the spine while maintaining mobility of the facet joint, the implant comprising:

an anchoring plate having a cavity;

a facet joint spacer having a pivoting end adapted to be positioned within the cavity such that the facet joint spacer is pivotably connected with the anchoring plate;

said anchoring plate having a bore;

a bone screw insertable through said bore; and

said first bore receives and guides the bone screw into a vertebra to anchor said anchoring plate.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein:

said bore is a first bore; and

said anchoring plate has a second bore; and

further comprising a locking screw having a locking head and a chisel end, said locking screw being insertable through said second bore;

said second bore receives the locking screw so that said locking head prevents displacement of the bone screw.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the locking screw is positioned medially relative to the bone screw in a patient.

12. The implant of claim 9, wherein said pivoting end is a ball and said cavity is a socket adapted to receive the ball.

13. The implant of claim 10, wherein:

said anchoring plate includes a posterior face and an anterior face;

said posterior face has a first notch;

said anterior face has a second notch;

said pivot end is positionable within said cavity through said first notch.

14. The implant of claim 13, further comprising a plug adapted to lock the pivot end within the cavity;

wherein said plug is mated with said anchoring plate by press fitting said plug within said first notch.

15. The implant of claim 10, wherein when said facet joint spacer is movably connected with said anchoring plate said facet joint spacer is adapted to swivel and tilt.

16. A facet joint implant that addresses spinal stenosis and other ailments of the spine while maintaining mobility of the facet joint, the implant comprising:

an anchoring plate;

a facet joint spacer;

wherein one of the anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer includes a socket, and the other of the anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer includes an end having a ball receivable within the cavity;

said anchoring plate having a bore;

a bone screw insertable through said bore; and

said first bore receives and guides the bone screw into a vertebra to anchor said anchoring plate.

17. The implant of claim 16, wherein:

said bore is a first bore; and

said anchoring plate has a second bore; and

further comprising a locking screw having a locking head and a chisel end, said locking screw being insertable through said second bore;

said second bore receives the locking screw so that said locking head prevents displacement of the bone screw.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein the locking screw is positioned medially relative to the bone screw in a patient.