Facet joint stabilization

An installed stabilization band assembly for use across a facet joint between two adjacent vertebrae, the installed stabilization band assembly comprising:

• a stabilization band having a first end and a second end;
• a first anchoring means for anchoring the first end of the stabilization band into a first vertebra on a first side of the facet joint;
• a crimp;
• and
• a second anchoring means anchored into an second vertebra on a second installed stabilization band assembly, the second anchoring means adapted to allow the stabilization band to be tensioned to impose tension on the stabilization band between the first anchoring means, the crimp abutting the second anchoring means, the crimp having been deformed so that the stabilization band that previously moved relative to the crimp and away from the first anchoring means is prevented from moving relative to the crimp towards the first anchoring means.

A facet joint spacer delivery device for delivery of a facet joint spacer, the facet joint spacer delivery device comprising:

• an elongated shaft with a distal end for use at a facet joint and a proximal end that is manipulated by the user of the facet joint spacer delivery device;
• a first arm extending from the distal end of the elongated shaft with a substantially concave face;
• and
• a second arm extending from the distal end of the elongated shaft with a substantially concave face;
• the facet joint spacer delivery device adapted to be pre-loaded with a facet joint spacer with a portion of the facet joint spacer located between the two arms, with a portion of the facet joint spacer within the concave face of the first arm and a portion of the facet joint spacer within the concave face of the second arm with a curved leading edge of the facet joint spacer extending beyond the first and second arms and away from the elongated shaft, and a tail section of the facet joint spacer extending beyond the first and second arms away from the curved leading edge of the facet joint spacer.

A facet joint augmentation assembly comprising:

• a facet joint spacer inserted into a first facet joint between an superior articular process of one vertebra and a corresponding inferior articular process of an adjacent more cephalad vertebra;
• a facet stabilization band with a first end;
• a first anchoring means engaged with the first end of the facet stabilization band to anchor the first end of the facet stabilization band to a first vertebra;
• a second anchoring means anchored to a vertebra the second anchoring means having an opening substantially surrounding a portion of the facet stabilization band;
• and
• a retaining means engaged with a portion of the facet stabilization band to prevent movement of the facet stabilization band relative to the second anchoring means.

A facet joint augmentation assembly comprising:

• a facet joint spacer inserted into a first facet joint between an superior articular process of one vertebra and a corresponding inferior articular process of an adjacent more cephalad vertebra, the facet joint spacer having a tail that extends beyond the facet joint, the tail having a pre-formed opening running transverse to the long axis of the facet joint spacer;
• a facet stabilization band with a first end having a pre-formed opening running transverse to the long axis of the facet stabilization band;
• a first anchoring means with at least a portion of the first anchoring means passing through the pre-formed opening in the facet stabilization band and the pre-formed opening in the tail of the facet joint spacer to anchor both to a first vertebra;
• a second anchoring means anchored to a vertebra the second anchoring means having an opening surrounding a portion of the facet stabilization band;
• and
• a retaining means located adjacent to the second anchoring means with a portion of the facet stabilization band passing through the retaining means;
• the retaining means adapted so that the facet stabilization band cannot move relative to the retaining means through the opening in the second anchoring means towards the first anchoring means;
• the retaining means sized relative to the opening in the second anchoring means so that the retaining means cannot move through the opening in the second anchoring means.

A method of deploying a facet joint augmentation assembly to augment a facet joint between a superior articular process of one vertebra and a corresponding inferior articular process on an adjacent more cephalad vertebra, the method comprising the steps of:

• accessing the spine through a posterior approach;
• inserting a portion of facet joint dilator into the facet joint to increase the distance between the superior articular process and the inferior articular process;
• removing the portion of the facet joint dilator from the facet joint to leave a created void;
• inserting a facet joint spacer into the created void to maintain at a portion of the increased distance between the superior articular process and the inferior articular process;
• using a first anchoring means to anchor a first end of a facet stabilization band to a first vertebra;
• using a second anchoring means that surrounds a portion of the facet stabilization band to anchor the facet stabilization band to a vertebra;
• moving a portion of the facet stabilization band relative to the second anchoring means;
• and
• preventing the facet stabilization band from returning to the position of the facet stabilization band before it was moved relative to the second anchoring means.

A method of deploying a facet joint stabilization assembly to stabilize a facet joint between a superior articular process of one vertebra and a corresponding inferior articular process on an adjacent more cephalad vertebra, the method comprising the steps of:

• accessing the spine through a posterior approach;
• using a first anchoring means to anchor a first end of a facet stabilization band to a first vertebra;
• using a second anchoring means that surrounds a portion of the facet stabilization band to anchor the facet stabilization band to a vertebra;
• moving a portion of the facet stabilization band relative to the second anchoring means;
• and
• preventing the facet stabilization band from moving relevant to the second anchoring means to prevent the facet stabilization band from returning to the position of the facet stabilization band before it was moved relative to the second anchoring means.

A method of rigid fixation of a facet joint to fixate a facet joint between a superior articular process of one vertebra and a corresponding inferior articular process on an adjacent more cephalad vertebra, the method comprising the steps of:

• accessing the spine through a posterior approach;
• drilling through the inferior articular process and into the corresponding superior articular process to create a channel;
• inserting a cannulated base into the channel so one end of the cannulated base is placed in the superior articular process;
• and
• inserting an expander into the cannulated base to expand the base within the channel in the superior articular process.