Facet joint implants and delivery tools
A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a driver assembly with a tubular shaft, a pair of implant holder arms, an implant distractor, an internal actuator, and a distractor knob, the system also including a delivery device with a tubular shaft, a receiving assembly, and a pair of forks, where the delivery device is adapted for slidable insertion of the driver assembly, the system also including an implant, a chisel, and an injector. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.
1 . A facet joint distraction system, comprising:
a facet joint delivery device comprising:
a shaft; and
a pair of tines extending from a portion of the shaft, each tine comprising a tapered end tip and serrations or teeth along at least a portion of a length of each tine and adapted to engage and anchor at a spinal facet joint; and
a driver assembly comprising:
an elongated shaft; and
opposing first and second implant engagement portions each extending from a distal portion of the elongated shaft, the implant engagement portions both adapted to engage a proximal end surface of a spinal facet joint implant,
wherein at least a portion of the driver assembly is adapted to be received by the shaft of the delivery device and the delivery device is adapted to deliver the spinal facet joint implant into the spinal facet joint to distract the spinal facet joint.
2 . The joint distraction system of claim 1 further comprising a chisel including a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, the distal portion including a tip.
3 . The joint distraction system of claim 2 wherein the tip of the chisel is a single or doubly chamfered tip.
4 . The joint distraction system of claim 2 wherein the shaft of the chisel is adapted to be received within the tubular shaft of the delivery device.
5 . The joint distraction system of claim 1 further comprising a decorticator comprising a shaft portion having a distal portion with an abrasive distal tip.
6 . The joint distraction system of claim 5 wherein the abrasive distal tip of the distal portion of the shaft portion of the decorticator includes a plurality of teeth.
7 . The joint distraction system of claim 5 wherein at least the shaft portion of the decorticator is adapted to be received by the delivery device.
8 . The joint distraction system of claim 1 further comprising the spinal facet joint implant.
9 . The joint distraction system of claim 8 , wherein the proximal end face of the implant is opposite a distal end face and the implant further comprises a first surface opposite a second surface, each of the first and second surfaces including teeth and each of the first and second surfaces extending between the proximal and distal end face.
10 . The joint distraction system of claim 1 , wherein the facet joint is a cervical facet joint.
11 . A method of using the system of claim 1 to distract a spinal facet joint.
12 . A kit comprising:
a facet joint delivery device comprising:
a shaft; and
a pair of tines extending from a portion of the shaft, each tine comprising a tapered end tip and serrations or teeth along at least a portion of a length of each tine and adapted to engage and anchor at a spinal facet joint; and
a driver assembly comprising:
an elongated shaft; and
opposing first and second implant engagement portions each extending from a distal portion of the elongated shaft, the implant engagement portions both adapted to engage a proximal end surface of a spinal facet joint implant,
wherein at least a portion of the driver assembly is adapted to be received by the shaft of the delivery device and the delivery device is adapted to deliver the spinal facet joint implant into the spinal facet joint to distract the spinal facet joint.
13 . The kit of claim 12 further comprising a chisel including a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, the distal portion including a tip.
14 . The kit of claim 13 wherein the tip of the chisel is a single or doubly chamfered tip.
15 . The kit of claim 13 wherein the shaft of the chisel is adapted to be received within the tubular shaft of the delivery device.
16 . The kit of claim 12 further comprising a decorticator comprising a shaft portion having a distal portion with an abrasive distal tip.
17 . The kit of claim 16 wherein the abrasive distal tip of the distal portion of the shaft portion of the decorticator includes a plurality of teeth.
18 . The kit of claim 16 wherein at least the shaft portion of the decorticator is adapted to be received by the delivery device.
19 . The kit of claim 12 further comprising the spinal facet joint implant.