Bone fasteners and method for stabilizing vertebral bone facets using the bone fasteners

1. A fastener for stabilizing multiple bone fragments, comprising:

a first portion configured to extend through the multiple bone fragments, the first portion having a cylindrical body including a longitudinal axis, the cylindrical body being curved along its longitudinal axis, a proximal end of the cylindrical body of the first portion having an enlarged head configured to abut an outer surface of one of the bone fragments; and

a second portion, the second portion having a cylindrical body including a longitudinal axis, the cylindrical body being curved along its longitudinal axis, a distal end of the second portion being enlarged to abut a distal end of the cylindrical body of the first portion and wherein the second portion is displaceable relative to the first portion and detachably coupleable therewith in a locked position, in which the bone segments are secured;

wherein the curved cylindrical body of the second portion is slidingly disposed within and extending substantially throughout the curved cylindrical body of the first portion and wherein the distal end of the cylindrical body of the first portion is configured to be deformed from its longitudinal axis to abut an outer surface of another one of the multiple fragments in response to a tensile force applied to a proximal end of the second portion.

2. A method for operating a bone fastener used for stabilizing a plurality of bone fragments, comprising the steps of:

displacing a distal end of a first portion of the bone fastener through at least one of the plurality of bone fragments;

displacing a second portion of the bone fastener through and within the first portion such that an enlarged distal end of the second portion abuts the distal end of the first portion, so as to engage the first and second portions of the fastener; and

displacing the first and second engaged portions relative to one another to a locked position, wherein the bone fragments are secured by the locked in fastener between the enlarged distal end of the second portion and a proximal end of the first portion;

wherein each of the first and second portions have a cylindrical body including a longitudinal axis, each cylindrical body being curved along its longitudinal axis and wherein the curved cylindrical body of the second portion is slidingly disposed within and extending substantially throughout the curved cylindrical body of the first portion.

3. A method for operating a bone fastener used for stabilizing a plurality of bone fragments, comprising the steps of:

displacing a distal end of a first portion of the bone fastener through at least one of the plurality of bone fragments;

displacing a second portion of the bone fastener through and within the first portion such that an enlarged distal end of the second portion abuts the distal end of the first portion, so as to engage the first and second portions of the fastener; and

displacing the first and second engaged portions relative to one another to a locked position, wherein the bone fragments are secured by the locked in fastener between the enlarged distal end of the second portion and a proximal end of the first portion;

wherein the first portion comprises a sleeve including a longitudinal axis, the sleeve being curved along its longitudinal axis and wherein the second portion comprises a shaft including a longitudinal axis, the shaft being curved along its longitudinal axis, wherein the curved cylindrical body of the second portion is slidingly disposed within and extending through more than about 50% of the first portion.

4. A method for operating a bone fastener used for stabilizing a plurality of bone fragments, comprising the steps of:

displacing a distal end of a first portion of the bone fastener through at least one of the plurality of bone fragments;

displacing a second portion of the bone fastener through and within the first portion such that an enlarged distal end of the second portion abuts the distal end of the first portion, so as to engage the first and second portions of the fastener; and

displacing the first and second engaged portions relative to one another to a locked position, wherein the bone fragments are secured by the locked in fastener between the enlarged distal end of the second portion and a proximal end of the first portion;

wherein the first portion comprises a cylindrical rivet body including a longitudinal axis, the cylindrical rivet body being curved along its longitudinal axis and wherein the second portion comprises an elongated shaft including a longitudinal axis, the shaft being curved along its longitudinal axis, wherein the curved cylindrical body of the second portion is slidingly disposed within and extending substantially throughout the curved cylindrical body of the first portion; and wherein the second portion has a curvature along its longitudinal axis prior to disposal within the first portion.