Facet spacers
A method of decompressing a facet joint comprises forming an opening in a facet capsule of the facet joint and inserting a spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule.
1 . A method of decompressing a facet joint, the method comprising:
forming an opening in a facet capsule of the facet joint and
inserting a spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
inserting a minimally invasive dilation instrument into the facet joint.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the step of forming comprises inserting the minimally invasive dilation instrument into the facet capsule.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting a lens shaped spacer device into the facet capsule.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting a spherical shaped spacer device into the facet capsule.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting an elastically deformable spacer device into the facet capsule.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises inserting a rigid spacer device into the facet capsule.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a spacer device comprises injecting a material into the facet capsule.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
distracting the facet joint as the material is injected and
distracting the facet joint as the material becomes at least partially cured.
10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
deforming the spacer device while inserting the spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule.
11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a closure device to the opening.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting further comprises inserting the spacer device into synovial fluid.
13 . A system for decompressing a joint, the system comprising:
means for insertion into a facet capsule between adjacent articular processes, wherein said means increases a distance between the adjacent articular processes.
14 . A device for separating a pair of articular processes, the device comprising:
an implantable member adapted for insertion into a facet capsule between first and second articular processes.
15 . The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member comprises a biconvex disc.
16 . The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member is elastically deformable.
17 . The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member is adapted to take a first shape during insertion between the first and second articular processes and take a second shape after insertion between the first and second articular processes.
18 . The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member has a generally spherical shape.
19 . The device of claim 18 further comprising a pocket for receiving the load-bearing member.
20 . The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member comprises an injectable and curable material.
21 . The device of claim 20 further comprising a deformable pocket adapted for insertion into the facet capsule and further adapted for receiving the injectable and curable material.
22 . The device of claim 14 wherein the implantable member is load bearing.
23 . A system for decompressing an intervertebral joint, the system comprising:
a first spacer device adapted for insertion into a first facet capsule between a first pair of articular processes.
24 . The system of claim 23 further comprising:
a second spacer device adapted for insertion into a second facet capsule between a second pair of articular processes.
25 . A method of decompressing a facet joint, the method comprising:
locating a facet joint comprising a pair of articular processes; and
inserting a spacer device between the articular processes, wherein the articular processes are unresected.