Granted Patent B2

US 12,622,730 · App. 18/052,361 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Jason Blain (Encinitas, CA); Gregory Martin (Encinitas, CA); Charles C. Newton (San Diego, CA); Hyun Bae (Santa Monica, CA)

Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.

A61B17/7064A61B17/1642A61B17/1671A61B17/7053A61B17/82A61B17/1604

Abstract

Claims (36)

1 . A method comprising:

inserting a trial implant between articular processes of a facet joint;

forming a lumen through the articular processes of the facet joint;

inserting a portion of a flexible member through the lumen and the trial implant;

withdrawing the trial implant and the flexible member from between the articular processes of the facet joint;

coupling an implant with the flexible member, wherein the implant comprises an allograft; and

advancing the implant between the articular processes of the facet joint.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing the articular processes of the facet joint.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the lumen comprises forming a curved lumen.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the lumen comprises utilizing a curved drill.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the implant with the flexible member comprises passing the flexible member through a slot extending from an edge of the implant.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the implant between the articular processes comprises applying tension to ends of the flexible member.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the lumen comprises extending a lumen-forming arm through an aperture in the trial implant.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a portion of a fastening band through the lumen and the implant.

9 . A method comprising:

inserting a trial implant of a trial member into a facet joint space of a facet joint;

forming a lumen through a portion of the facet joint;

inserting a portion of a flexible member through the lumen and the trial implant;

withdrawing the trial implant and the flexible member from the facet joint space; and

disassembling the trial member to disengage the trial implant from the flexible member.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising preparing the facet joint.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the lumen comprises utilizing a curved drill.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising coupling an implant with the flexible member.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising advancing the implant into the facet joint space.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising inserting a fastening band through the lumen and the implant.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein advancing the implant into the facet joint space comprises pulling ends of the flexible member.

16 . A method comprising:

inserting a trial implant between a first bone portion and a second bone portion;

forming a first lumen with a drill bit through the first bone portion;

extending the drill bit through an aperture of the trial implant;

forming a second lumen with the drill bit through the second bone portion; and

inserting a flexible member through the first lumen in the first bone portion, through the trial implant, and through the second lumen in the second bone portion, wherein the flexible member is removed after insertion of a band through the first lumen in the first bone portion and through the second lumen in the second bone portion.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising preparing the first bone portion and the second bone portion.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the first lumen comprises forming a curved lumen.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising withdrawing the trial implant and the flexible member from between the first bone portion and the second bone portion.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising advancing an implant between the first bone portion and the second bone portion.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)