FACET ARTHROPLASTY DEVICES AND METHODS
Devices and surgical methods treat various types of adult spinal pathologies, such as degenerative spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and kypho-scoliosis. Various types of spinal joint replacement prostheses, surgical procedures for performing spinal joint replacements, and surgical instruments are used to perform the surgical procedures.
1 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,703, claim 23 ). A method for replacing a posterior element of a nat7ural vertebra, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the two natural pedicles, said method comprising:
the steps of making a resection at the most dorsal aspect the two natural pedicles; and
attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, said prosthesis comprising a pair of prosthetic mounts;
a prosthetic lamina extending from said two prosthetic mounts, a pair of prosthetic superior facets extending front said two prosthetic mounts and said prosthetic lamina; and
a pair of prosthetic inferior facets extending from said prosthetic lamina.
2 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 23 ). A method for replacing a posterior element of a natural vertebra, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the two natural pedicles, said method comprising the steps of:
making a resection at the most dorsal aspect the two natural pedicles; and
attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, said prosthesis comprising a pair of prosthetic mounts, a prosthetic lamina extending from said pair of prosthetic mounts.
3 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 24 ). A method according to claim 2 wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina.
4 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 25 ). A method according to claim 2 wherein said prosthesis further comprises a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic mounts.
5 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 26 ). A method according to claim 2 wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina and a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic mounts and said prosthetic lamina.
6 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 27 ). A method for replacing a posterior element of a natural vertebra, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the natural pedicles, said method comprising the steps of:
making a resection at the junction of the natural vertebral body and the two natural pedicles; and
attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, said prosthesis comprising a pair of prosthetic pedicles, and a prosthetic lamina extending from said prosthetic pedicles.
7 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 28 ). A method according to claim 6 wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina.
8 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 29 ). A method according to claim 6 wherein said prosthesis further comprises a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic pedicles.
9 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580, claim 30 ). A method according to claim 6 wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina and pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic pedicles and said prosthetic lamina.