Spinal Arthroplasty Device and Method
An artificial spinal joint and methods for replacing at least a portion of a natural intervertebral disc are provided. In some embodiments, at least portions of facet joints are replaced along with the intervertebral disc.
1 - 79 . (canceled)
80 . A method of implanting an artificial spinal joint comprising:
making an incision in a patient's back;
removing at least a portion of spinal disc material from a spinal disc, the removing comprising accessing the disc material through the incision; and
inserting an implant through the incision,
wherein the step of inserting an implant includes inserting an implant that includes a unitary structure that replaces both at least a portion of a disc and at least a portion of a facet joint.
81 . The method of claim 80 further comprising trimming at least a portion of a facet joint to provide space in which to place at least a part of the implant.
82 . The method of claim 80 wherein the act of inserting the implant comprises sequentially: implanting a first upper portion of the implant; and implanting a first lower portion of the implant.
83 . The method of claim 80 wherein the act of inserting the implant comprises implanting a unit comprising at least a first upper portion of the implant and a first lower portion of the implant.
84 . The method of claim 83 wherein the act of inserting the implant comprises implanting the unit that is unitized by a tie between the first upper portion and the first lower portion.
85 . The method of claim 83 wherein the act of inserting the implant comprises implanting the unit that is unitized by packaging material.
86 . The method of claim 83 wherein the act of inserting the implant comprises implanting the unit that is unitized by a surgical instrument.
87 . The method of claim 80 wherein the act of inserting the implant comprises implanting a unit that is integrally formed but that remains deformable by application of a force to the upper portion and the lower portion.
88 . The method of claim 80 wherein the act of inserting is accomplished through a transforaminal spinal opening.
89 . The method of claim 88 wherein the transforaminal opening is the left transforaminal opening.
90 . The method of claim 88 wherein the transforaminal opening is the right transforaminal opening.
91 . The method of claim 80 further comprising inserting an additional implant component into at least a portion of the disc space through an opening on the side opposite from the previously inserted implant.
92 . The method of claim 91 wherein the act of inserting an additional implant component includes inserting an implant that performs substantially the same function as the previously inserted implant.
93 . A method of implanting an artificial spinal joint comprising:
making an incision in a patient's back;
removing at least a portion of spinal disc material from a spinal disc to form an anterior intervertebral space between a pair of vertebrae, the removing comprising accessing the disc material through the incision;
inserting an implant through the incision, wherein the implant comprises a first articulation face, a second articulation face, and a posterior component;
positioning the first and second articulation faces in slidable engagement within the anterior intervertebral space;
positioning the posterior component to extend posteriorly outside of the anterior intervertebral space; and
attaching the posterior component to at least one of the vertebrae.
94 . The method of claim 93 wherein the first articulation face and the posterior portion are connected by a rigid and integrally formed bridge component.
95 . The method of claim 93 wherein the posterior component includes at least one connection for accepting a fastener and the step of attaching includes fastening the posterior component to the inferior one of the pair of vertebrae.
96 . The method of claim 93 wherein the posterior component includes at least one connection for accepting a fastener and the step of attaching includes fastening the posterior component to the superior one of the pair of vertebrae.
97 . The method of claim 93 wherein the posterior component includes an upper facet face and a lower facet face and the step of positioning the posterior component comprises placing the upper facet face into slidable engagement with the lower facet face.
98 . The method of claim 93 wherein the implant further comprises a spacer component and upper and lower retaining components, the spacer component comprising the first articulation face and the upper retaining component comprising the second articulation face.
99 . The method of claim 98 wherein the spacer component is integrally formed with the lower retaining component.