Methods and devices for posterior stabilization
AssigneeDePuy Spine, Inc.
InventorsSeungKyu Daniel Kwak, Amie Borgstrom, John Riley Hawkins, William Dunbar
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Abstract
Various methods and devices for replacing damaged, injured, diseased, or otherwise unhealthy posterior elements, such as the facet joints, the lamina, the posterior ligaments, and/or other features of a patient's spinal column, are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, a four bar linkage mechanism can be used to construct spinal stabilization devices and methods for restoring function to adjacent vertebrae. In particular, spinal stabilization devices can be provided that kinematically form a four-bar linkage mechanism with adjacent vertebrae and a disc or other element disposed between the adjacent vertebrae.
Claims28
An implant for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- a rigid body having a first joint for movably coupling to a first vertebra and a second joint for movably coupling to a second adjacent vertebra such that the rigid body kinematically forms a four bar linkage mechanism in a sagittal plane with the first and second adjacent vertebrae and a disc disposed between the first and second adjacent vertebrae for restoring function to the first and second adjacent vertebrae, the first and second joints each having one degree of freedom in the sagittal plane.
An implant for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- a rigid body having a first joint for movably coupling to a first vertebra and a second joint for movably coupling to a second adjacent vertebra, the first and second joints each being adapted to provide one degree of freedom in a sagittal plane when coupled to adjacent vertebrae such that the rigid body is adapted to restore function to adjacent vertebrae coupled thereto in combination with a disc disposed between the adjacent vertebrae.
An implant for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae in a patient's spine, comprising:
- a first linkage adapted to rigidly couple to a first vertebra;
- a second linkage adapted to rigidly couple to a second adjacent vertebra;
- and
- a rigid body having a first joint for movably coupling to the first linkage, and a second joint for movably coupling to the second linkage, the first and second joints each having one degree of freedom in a sagittal plane when implanted;
- wherein the first and second linkages and the body are adapted to kinematically form a four bar linkage mechanism in a sagittal plane when implanted with a disc disposed between first and second adjacent vertebrae to restore function to the first and second adjacent vertebrae.
A method for restoring function to adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae, comprising:
- coupling adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae with a moving linkage to kinematically form a four bar linkage mechanism in a sagittal plane with the adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae and a disc disposed between the adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae, the moving linkage having first and second joints each with one degree of freedom in the sagittal plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.