FACET JOINT BROACHING INSTRUMENT, IMPLANT, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

1 . A facet joint broaching instrument and implant for stabilizing/immobilizing a facet joint of the spine via an open or minimally-invasive surgical procedure, comprising:

a broaching mechanism comprising a pair of opposed arms, wherein one of the pair of opposed arms is coupled to a broaching spike and the other of the pair of opposed arms defines a bore configured and positioned to receive the broaching spike; and

an actuation mechanism operable for selectively compressing the pair of opposed arms of the broaching mechanism together and retracting the pair of opposed arms of the broaching mechanism apart.

2 . The facet joint broaching instrument and implant of claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a pair of handles connected via a hinge and coupled to the broaching mechanism.

3 . The facet joint broaching instrument and implant of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of opposed plates coupled to the pair of opposed arms, wherein the pair of opposed plates are shaped and sized to securely engage a superior facet and an inferior facet of a facet joint of a spine.

4 . The facet joint broaching instrument and implant of claim 1 , further comprising a receiving chamber coupled to the other of the pair of opposed arms, wherein the receiving chamber is configured and positioned to collect bone material that is broached from a facet joint of a spine and pushed through the bore by the broaching spike when the broaching mechanism is actuated.

5 . The facet joint broaching instrument and implant of claim 1 , further comprising, with or without the broaching spike removed, a facet joint broaching implant comprising a facet joint broaching bolt selectively engaging the one of the pair of opposed arms and a facet joint broaching nut selectively engaging the other of the pair of opposed arms.

6 . The facet joint broaching instrument and implant of claim 5 , wherein the facet joint broaching bolt comprises a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the head portion of the facet joint broaching bolt is configured to selectively engage the one of the pair of opposed arms and the shaft portion of the facet joint broaching bolt comprises a plurality of raised structures that are configured to securely engage one or more raised structures disposed within a bore associated with the facet joint broaching nut, and wherein the facet joint broaching nut is configured to selectively engage the other of the pair of opposed arms.

7 . The facet joint broaching instrument and implant of claim 5 , wherein the facet joint broaching nut comprises a plurality of tooth structures configured to frictionally engage a surface of a facet joint of a spine.

8 . A facet joint broaching method for stabilizing/immobilizing a facet joint of the spine via an open or minimally-invasive surgical procedure, comprising:

providing a broaching mechanism comprising a pair of opposed arms, wherein one of the pair of opposed arms is coupled to a broaching spike and the other of the pair of opposed arms defines a bore configured and positioned to receive the broaching spike; and

providing an actuation mechanism operable for selectively compressing the pair of opposed arms of the broaching mechanism together and retracting the pair of opposed arms of the broaching mechanism apart.

9 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 8 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a pair of handles connected via a hinge and coupled to the broaching mechanism.

10 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a pair of opposed plates coupled to the pair of opposed arms, wherein the pair of opposed plates are shaped and sized to securely engage a superior facet and an inferior facet of a facet joint of a spine.

11 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a receiving chamber coupled to the other of the pair of opposed arms, wherein the receiving chamber is configured and positioned to collect bone material that is broached from a facet joint of a spine and pushed through the bore by the broaching spike when the broaching mechanism is actuated.

12 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 8 , further comprising, with or without the broaching spike removed, providing a facet joint broaching implant comprising a facet joint broaching bolt selectively engaging the one of the pair of opposed arms and a facet joint broaching nut selectively engaging the other of the pair of opposed arms.

13 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 12 , wherein the facet joint broaching bolt comprises a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the head portion of the facet joint broaching bolt is configured to selectively engage the one of the pair of opposed arms and the shaft portion of the facet joint broaching bolt comprises a plurality of raised structures that are configured to securely engage one or more raised structures disposed within a bore associated with the facet joint broaching nut, and wherein the facet joint broaching nut is configured to selectively engage the other of the pair of opposed arms.

14 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 12 , wherein the facet joint broaching nut comprises a plurality of tooth structures configured to frictionally engage a surface of a facet joint of a spine.

15 . The facet joint broaching method of claim 12 , wherein the broaching mechanism is selectively disposed about a facet joint of a spine through an access tube.

16 . A facet joint implantation method for stabilizing/immobilizing a facet joint of the spine via an open or minimally-invasive surgical procedure, comprising:

inserting an access tube normal to a facet joint of a patient;

positioning a broaching instrument through the access tube adjacent to a superior and inferior facet of the facet joint;

closing tongs on the broaching instrument to force a sharp pin to broach through the superior and inferior facet to create a hole;

releasing the tongs;

pulling the broaching instrument out of the tube;

positioning an implant instrument in the access tube with an implant attached;

closing tongs on the implant instrument to compress the implant through the hole previously broached; and

removing the implant instrument through the access tube with the implant left through the facet joint.

17 . The facet joint implantation method of claim 16 , further comprising:

pushing excess bone material through the hole while the sharp pin is broached through the superior and inferior facet; and

collecting the excess bone material in a receiving chamber of the broaching instrument.

18 . The facet joint implantation method of claim 16 , further comprising:

adjusting a nut of the implant to a desired position to lock the implant to the facet joint.

19 . The facet joint implantation method of claim 17 , wherein the broaching instrument and the implant instrument comprise a single instrument with the sharp pin, the receiving chamber, and the implant detachable from the single instrument.