Facet fusion system
AssigneeZyga Technology, Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Assell, Brian P. Beaubien, Corinne Thomford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A facet fusion system including a first drill guide, a second drill guide and a facet fusion implant. The first drill guide has a first aperture formed therein. The second drill guide has a second aperture formed therein. A position of the first aperture on the first drill guide is offset from a position of the second aperture on the second drill guide. The facet fusion implant has at least one gripping region and at least one bone growth region. The at least one bone growth region has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the first aperture and the second aperture.
Claims38
A facet fusion system comprising:
- a first drill guide comprising:
- a first main body portion having a first aperture and a second aperture formed therein;
- and
- an alignment tab extending from the first main body portion;
- and
- a second drill guide comprising:
- a second main body portion having a third aperture formed therein;
- a first extension that extends from the second main body portion;
- and
- a second extension that extends from the second main body portion.
A facet fusion implant comprising:
- a first gripping region, a second gripping region and a third gripping region that each have a plurality of teeth formed thereon;
- and
- a bone growth region located between at least one of the first gripping region, the second gripping region and the third gripping region, wherein a thickness of the bone growth region is less than a thickness of the first gripping region.
A facet fusion system comprising:
- a first drill guide having a first aperture formed therein;
- a second drill guide having a second aperture formed therein, wherein a position of the first aperture on the first drill guide is offset from a position of the second aperture on the second drill guide;
- and
- a facet fusion implant having at least one bone growth region and at least one gripping region, wherein the at least one gripping region has a thickness that is larger than a diameter of the first aperture and the second aperture.
A method of fusing a joint comprising:
- providing a bony region having a first bony surface and a second bony surface that are positioned in an adjacent relationship so that a gap is defined therebetween;
- positioning a first drill guide proximate the gap, wherein the first drill guide has a first drill guide aperture formed therein;
- extending a first drill bit through the first drill guide aperture;
- rotating the first drill bit to cause a first aperture to be formed, wherein the first aperture partially extends into at least one of the first bony surface and the second bony surface;
- removing the first drill guide from the gap;
- positioning a second drill guide proximate the gap, wherein the second drill guide has a second drill guide aperture formed therein;
- extending a second drill bit through the second drill guide aperture;
- rotating the second drill bit to cause a second aperture to be formed, wherein the second aperture partially extends into at least one of the first bony surface and the second bony surface and wherein the first aperture is offset from the second aperture;
- and
- urging a fusion implant into the gap, wherein the fusion implant comprises a first gripping region, a second gripping region and a first bone growth region, wherein the first gripping region extends into the first aperture and the second gripping region extends into the second aperture to prevent the first bony surface from moving with respect to the second bony surface.
The method of claim 33, wherein the first joint aperture, the second joint aperture and the third joint aperture are generally aligned in a linear orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.