Inter-cervical facet implant with surface enhancements
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.
1 . A facet joint implant that can treat ailments of the spine, the implant comprising:
a facet joint spacer adapted to be inserted into a facet joint;
an anchoring plate extending from the facet joint spacer and adapted to be attached to the spine; and
said facet joint spacer including an inferior shim and a superior shim, wherein said inferior shim is stiffer and less compliant that the superior shim.
2 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said facet joint spacer is secured to the anchoring plate with an articulation joint.
3 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said superior shim is molded onto said inferior shim.
4 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said inferior shim is comprised of a metal and said superior shim is comprised of a polymer.
5 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said inferior shim consists of one of titanium and stainless steel and the superior shim consists of polyaryletherketone.
6 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said inferior shim defines an inferior surface of the facet joint spacer and at last one protrusion extends from said inferior surface.
7 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said inferior shim defines an inferior surface of the facet joint spacer and at least one protrusion extends from said inferior surface which said protrusion is comprised of a metal.
8 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said artificial facet shim provides a continuum from a stiffer inferior shim to a more compliant superior shim.
9 . The implant of claim 5 wherein said inferior shim defines an inferior surface of the facet joint spacer and at least one protrusion extends from said inferior surface which said protrusion is comprised of the same material that the inferior shim is comprised of.
10 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said superior shim is secured to the inferior shim.
11 . A facet joint implant that can treat ailments of the spine, the implant comprising:
a facet joint spacer adapted to be inserted into a facet joint;
an anchoring plate extending from the facet joint spacer and adapted to be attached to the spine; and
said facet joint spacer including an inferior shim and a superior shim, wherein said inferior shim is comprised of a different material than the superior shim.
12 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said facet joint spacer is secured to the anchoring plate.
13 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said superior shim is molded onto said inferior shim.
14 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein said inferior shim is comprised of a metal and said superior shim is comprised of a polymer.
15 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein said inferior shim consists of one of titanium and stainless steel and the superior shim consists of polyaryletherketone.
16 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said inferior shim defines an inferior surface of the artificial facet joint and at least one protrusion extends from said inferior surface.
17 . The implant of claim 4 wherein said inferior shim defines an inferior surface of the facet joint spacer and at least one protrusion extends from said inferior surface which said protrusion is comprised of a metal.
18 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said artificial facet shim provides a continuum from a stiffer inferior shim to a more compliant superior shim.
19 . The implant of claim 5 wherein said inferior shim defines an inferior surface of the facet joint spacer and at least one protrusion extends from said inferior surface which said protrusion is comprised of the same material that the inferior shim is comprised of.
20 . The implant of claim 1 wherein said inferior shim is secured to the inferior shim.