Implantable orthopedic device component selection instrument and methods
View Patent ↗The present invention provides tools and methods designed to aid in the placement of artificial facet joints at virtually all spinal levels. One aspect of the present invention is a measurement tool for installing an artificial cephalad facet joint including a fixation measurement element and a support arm element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of an artificial cephalad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Another aspect is a measurement tool for installing a caudad facet joint including a stem element and a trial caudad bearing surface element. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of a caudad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Yet another aspect is a measurement tool holder including a measurement surface connected to a holder element. This tool holder assists in determining the measurements obtained with the caudad facet joint measurement tool.
1. A method of using a component selection tool comprising:
(a) accessing a target anatomy;
(b) creating a pilot hole within a portion of the target anatomy;
(c) inserting a distal end of a non-threaded telescoping stem of a component selection tool within the pilot hole, wherein the component selection tool includes a housing with a plurality of markers independently positioned;
(d) drilling a second pilot hole to enlarge the first pilot hole;
(e) retracting the distal end of the of the telescoping stem to enable a larger diametered distal end of the telescoping stem;
(f) inserting the larger diametered distal end of the telescoping stem into the second pilot hole;
(g) taking a first image of the target anatomy having the component selection tool;
(h) analyzing the image of the target anatomy with the component selection tool to determine position of a first marker and a second marker; and
(i) selecting a component for implantation into the target anatomy,
wherein the non-threaded stem is configured with hollow aperture for housing a distal end of the stem, thereby providing a telescoping effect and varying the lengths of the stem during operation,
wherein the plurality of markers comprises a first and second set of radiopaque markers, wherein the first set of radiopaque markers lie in a first plane and the second set line in a second plane, the first and second plane being perpendicular to each other.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a template in combination with the image to analyze the image of the target anatomy with the component selection tool.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising revising the pilot hole to achieve a larger diameter.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising inserting the component selection tool into the revised pilot hole and taking a second image of the target anatomy and the component selection tool.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising radiopaque markers on a distal tip of the stem.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the component for implantation comprises an artificial cephalad facet joint.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the component for implantation comprises an artificial caudal facet joint.
8. A method of using a component selection tool comprising:
(a) accessing a target anatomy;
(b) creating a pilot hole within a portion of the target anatomy;
(c) inserting a distal end of a non-threaded telescoping stem of a component selection tool within the pilot hole, wherein the component selection tool includes a housing with a plurality of markers independently positioned;
(d) drilling a second pilot hole to enlarge the first pilot hole;
(e) retracting the distal end of the of the telescoping stem to enable a larger diametered distal end of the telescoping stem;
(f) inserting the larger diametered distal end of the telescoping stem into the second pilot hole;
(g) taking a first image of the target anatomy having the component selection tool;
(h) analyzing the image of the target anatomy with the component selection tool to determine position of a first marker and a second marker; and
(i) selecting a component for implantation into the target anatomy,
wherein the non-threaded stem is configured with hollow aperture for housing a distal end of the stem, thereby providing a telescoping effect and varying the lengths of the stem during operation.