Method and device for treating ailments of the spine
This invention relates to a spinal facet cap for treating scoliosis, the facet cap comprising a shim portion for inserting into a facet joint of a spine, and an alignment portion for maintaining alignment of the shim portion within the facet joint. The invention also provides a method for treating scoliosis, comprising implanting at least one spinal facet cap into at least one facet joint of a subject in need thereof.
1 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat spinal ailments comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
an alignment portion extending from the shim portion;
said alignment portion including a tongue with an orifice; and
wherein said orifice is positionable relative to the shim portion.
2 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion has a shape that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour.
3 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 including at least one pin extending from the shim portion.
4 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion has a shape that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour, and said shim portion includes a pin extending from said facet contact surface.
5 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 including at least two pins extending from the shim portion.
6 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 including at least one hook extending from the shim portion.
7 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion has a shape that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour, and said shim portion includes at least one hook extending from a peripheral edge of the facet contact surface.
8 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 including a first hook extending from a first surface of said shim portion and a second hood extending from a second surface of said shim portion.
9 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion is at least one of concave and convex.
10 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion includes at least one boss extending therefrom.
11 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending therefrom.
12 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint, and said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending from a peripheral edge of the facet contact surface.
13 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said tongue is positionable relative to the shim portion.
14 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint, and said facet contact surface includes a peripheral edge, and said alignment portion extends from said peripheral edge and said alignment portion is positionable relative to said peripheral edge.
15 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint, and said orifice is positionable relative to said facet contact surface.
16 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said alignment portion and at least a part of said shim portion include separate elements and said alignment portion is mounted on said at least a part of said shim portion and said alignment portion is movable relative to said at least a part of said shim portion.
17 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein at least a part of said shim portion is a separate element from said alignment portion with said alignment portion mounted on said shim portion.
18 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat spinal ailments comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
said shim portion being substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;
an alignment portion which is a separate element from at least a part of said shim portion and said alignment portion mounted on at least said part of said shim portion; and
said alignment portion being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.
19 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said alignment portion is the only element extending from said shim portion
20 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 including at least one pin extending from the shim portion.
21 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion includes a pin extending from a facet contact surface of the shim portion.
22 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 including at least two pins extending from the shim portion.
23 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 including at least one hook extending from the shim portion.
24 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion includes at least one hook extending from a peripheral edge of a facet contact surface of the shim portion.
25 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion is at least one of concave and convex.
26 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion includes at least one boss extending therefrom.
27 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending therefrom.
28 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending from a peripheral edge of a facet contact surface of the shim portion.
29 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said alignment portion includes a tongue and said tongue is positionable relative to the shim portion.
30 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said shim portion includes a peripheral edge and said alignment portion extends from said peripheral edge and said alignment portion is positionable relative to said peripheral edge.
31 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said alignment portion includes an orifice and said orifice is positionable relative to said shim portion.
32 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein said alignment portion is the only element extending from said shim portion
33 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein said alignment portion includes an orifice, said orifice being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.
34 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein a shape of the shim portion is adjustable.
35 . The spinal facet cap of claim 1 wherein an angle of the shim portion relative to the remainder of the spinal facet cap can be adjusted.
36 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein a shape of the shim portion is adjustable.
37 . The spinal facet cap of claim 18 wherein an angle of the shim portion relative to the remainder of the spinal facet cap can be adjusted.
38 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
said shim portion at least partially complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;
a pin extending from the shim portion;
an alignment portion extending from said shim portion; and
said alignment portion being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.
39 . The spinal facet cap of claim 38 wherein said alignment portion is a separate element from at least a part of said shim portion and said alignment portion is mounted on at least said part of said shim portion.
40 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
said shim portion being at least partially complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;
a pin extending from the shim portion; and
an alignment portion extending from said shim portion.
41 . The spinal facet cap of claim 40 wherein said alignment portion is movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.
42 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
said shim portion being at least partially complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;
a pin extending from the shim portion;
an alignment portion extending from said shim portion;
said alignment portion including a tongue with an orifice; and
said orifice being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.
43 . The spinal facet cap of claim 40 wherein said tongue is movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.
44 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
said shim portion including a first surface adapted to be positioned in contact with a first facet of a facet joint and a second surface adapted to be positioned in contact with a second facet of facet joint;
at least one pin extending from said first surface with at least one pin extending from said second surface; and
an alignment portion extending from said shim portion.
45 . The spinal facet cap of claim 44 wherein said alignment portion is positionable relative to said shim portion.
46 . The spinal facet cap of claim 44 wherein said alignment portion is a separate element and mounted to at least a part of said shim portion.