Inter-cervical facet implant with locking screw and method
AssigneeSt. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsCharles Winslow, James Zucherman, Steven Mitchell, Scott Yerby, John Flynn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The implant can be inserted laterally or posteriorly.
Claims17
A facet joint implant that addresses spinal stenosis and other ailments of the spine while maintaining mobility of the facet joint, the implant comprising:
- an artificial facet joint flexibly connected to an anchoring plate;
- a bone screw;
- a locking screw;
- the anchoring plate receives the bone screw and the locking screw;
- and
- wherein the locking screw is adapted to self-cut into a vertebra and to block the bone screw, the locking screw and the bone screw adapted to anchor the anchoring plate to the vertebra.
A facet joint implant that addresses spinal stenosis and other ailments of the spine while maintaining mobility of the facet joint, the implant comprising:
- an artificial facet joint flexibly connected to an anchoring plate;
- the anchoring plate having a first bore and a second bore;
- a bone screw;
- a locking screw;
- the first bore receives and guides the bone screw into a vertebra to anchor the implant;
- the second bore receives the locking screw;
- and
- the locking screw includes a head that prevents displacement of the bone screw, and a chisel end adapted to self-cut the locking screw into the vertebra;
- wherein the locking screw is positioned medially relative to the bone screw in a patient.
A method for implanting a facet joint implant into a facet joint, the method comprising the steps of:
- accessing a facet joint;
- urging an artificial facet joint into the facet joint;
- anchoring an anchoring plate to a vertebra with a bone screw;
- and
- blocking the bone screw with a locking screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.