Granted Patent B2

US 8,343,189 · App. 12/238,196 · Granted Jan 1, 2013

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A spinal facet implant system for treating a facet joint of a patient, the facet joint including opposing, superior and inferior faces, the spinal facet implant system comprising:

an elongated superior facet component defining a cylindrical-like anchoring surface, configured to engage bone at a superior face of the facet joint, and an opposing articulating surface; and

an elongated inferior facet component defining a cylindrical-like anchoring surface, configured to engage bone at an inferior face of the facet joint, and an opposing articulating surface;

wherein each of the articulating surfaces is planar across a width of the component;

wherein the width extends between opposing sides of the component;

wherein each of the anchoring surfaces comprises a thread;

wherein the superior and inferior components combine to define an exteriorly threaded cylindrical rod upon final assembly;

wherein the spinal facet implant system is configured for percutaneous insertion into the facet joint, with the articulating surfaces abutting one another in a sliding interface; and

wherein the spinal facet implant system is characterized by the absence of a mechanical connection between the superior and inferior components upon implantation into a facet joint.

2. The spinal facet implant system of claim 1 , wherein one of the articulating surfaces is convex and another of the articulating surfaces is concave.

3. The spinal facet implant system of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring surfaces each include at least one projection configured to self-embed into bone.

4. The spinal facet implant system of claim 1 , wherein the spinal facet implant system has a length greater than a height or width, and the length is not greater than 30 mm.

5. The spinal facet implant system of claim 4 , wherein each of the anchoring surfaces includes at least one fixation member projecting from a contact face, and further wherein the height is defined as a linear dimension between the opposing contact faces, and even further wherein the height is not greater than 4 mm.

6. The spinal facet implant system of claim 5 , wherein the width is not greater than 5 mm.

7. The spinal facet implant system of claim 1 , wherein the superior and inferior components are identical.

8. A kit for treating a facet joint of a patient, the facet joint including opposing, superior and inferior faces, the kit comprising:

a spinal facet implant system including:

an elongated superior facet component defining a cylindrical-like anchoring surface, configured to engage bone at a superior face of the facet joint, and an opposing articulating surface; and

an elongated inferior facet component defining a cylindrical-like anchoring surface, configured to engage bone at an inferior face of the facet joint, and an opposing articulating surface;

wherein each of the articulating surfaces is planar across a width of the component; wherein the width extends between opposing sides of the component;

wherein each of the anchoring surfaces comprises a thread;

wherein the superior and inferior components combine to define an exteriorly threaded cylindrical rod upon final assembly;

wherein the spinal facet implant system is configured for percutaneous insertion into the facet joint, with the articulating surfaces abutting one another in a sliding interface; and

wherein the spinal facet implant system is characterized by the absence of a mechanical connection between the superior and inferior components upon implantation into a facet joint; and

a dilator configured to percutaneously dilate the facet joint for percutaneous insertion of the implant spinal facet implant system therein.

9. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the spinal facet implant has a length greater than a height or width, and the length is not greater than 30 mm.

10. The kit of claim 9 , wherein each of the anchoring surfaces includes at least one fixation member projecting from a contact face, and further wherein the height is defined as a linear dimension between the opposing contact faces, and even further wherein the height is not greater than 4 mm.

11. The kit of claim 10 , wherein the width is not greater than 5 mm.

12. The kit of claim 8 , wherein the superior and inferior components are identical.

13. The kit of claim 8 , further comprising:

a cannula defining an inner diameter sized to slidably receive the dilator and configured to percutaneously access a facet joint.

14. The kit of claim 8 , further comprising:

a guide wire configured to percutaneously access a facet joint;

wherein the dilator forms a lumen sized to slidably receive the guide wire.

Assignments (8)