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 surgical method comprising:
drilling a hole in a vertebral body;
inserting a component selection instrument in the hole, wherein the component selection instrument includes at least one radiopaque marker;
taking an image of the component selection instrument;
analyzing image to determine location of the at least one radiopaque marker; and
selecting an implant based on the image analysis.
2. The surgical method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the implant into the revised hole, the implant is an artificial joint.
3. The surgical method of claim 2 , wherein the artificial joint comprises a facet joint implant.
4. The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the component selection instrument comprises a stem and a head.
5. The surgical method of claim 4 , wherein the stem and the head are formed of radiolucent materials.
6. The surgical method of claim 4 , wherein the stem comprises a distal section, a central section and a proximal section, wherein the distal section has a diameter less than the central section, and the central section has a diameter less than the proximal section.
7. The surgical method of claim 4 , wherein the head comprises one or more radiopaque markers.
8. The surgical method of claim 7 , wherein the head comprises at least two radiopaque markers parallel to one another.
9. The surgical method of claim 8 , further comprises at least two additional radiopaque markers that are transverse to the at least two radiopaque markers in parallel.
10. A surgical method comprising:
drilling a hole in a vertebral body;
inserting a component selection instrument in the hole, wherein the component selection instrument includes at least one radiopaque marker;
taking an image of the component selection instrument;
revising the size of the hole to have a larger diameter;
analyzing image to determine location of the at least one radiopaque markers; and
selecting an implant based on the image analysis.
11. The surgical method of claim 10 , further comprising providing the implant into the revised hole, the implant is an artificial joint.
12. The surgical method of claim 11 , wherein the artificial joint comprises a facet joint implant.
13. The surgical method of claim 10 , wherein the component selection instrument comprises a stem and a head.
14. The surgical method of claim 13 , wherein the stem and the head are formed of radiolucent materials.
15. The surgical method of claim 13 , wherein the stem comprises a distal section, a central section and a proximal section, wherein the distal section has a diameter less than the central section, and the central section has a diameter less than the proximal section.
16. The surgical method of claim 13 , wherein the head comprises one or more radiopaque markers.
17. The surgical method of claim 16 , wherein the head comprises at least two radiopaque markers parallel to one another.
18. The surgical method of claim 17 , further comprises at least two additional radiopaque markers that are transverse to the at least two radiopaque markers in parallel.
19. The surgical method of claim 13 , wherein the stem is formed of material having a different radiopacity from the head.
20. The surgical method of claim 13 , wherein the stem is formed of a radiolucent polymer.