# US 2025/0152182 A1 · Facet joint implants and delivery tools

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- Number: US 2025/0152182 A1
- Document ID: US20250152182A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/024,773
- Filed: 2025-01-16
- Published: 2025-05-15
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-06
- Assignees: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Bruce M. McCormack; Jeffrey D. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250152182A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/025: {Joint distractors}
- A61B 17/1604: {Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps}
- A61B 17/1659: {Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers}
- A61B 17/1671: {for the spine}
- A61B 17/1735: {for rasps or chisels}
- A61B 17/1757: {for the spine}
- A61B 17/7064: {Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor}
- A61B 17/7074: {Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling (A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39)}
- A61B 17/8004: {with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones}
- A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper}
- A61B 17/8811: {characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone}
- A61B 17/8819: {characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula (A61B17/8825 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/8822: {characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum}
- A61F 2/4405: {for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes (devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062)}
- A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- H04L 45/00: Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks (routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00)
- H04L 45/02: Topology update or discovery
- H04L 45/22: {Alternate routing}
- H04L 45/28: using route fault recovery
- A61B 17/0642: {for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone}
- A61B 17/7044: {also having plates, staples or washers bearing on the vertebrae}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/8625: {Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue}
- A61B 2017/00424: {ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist}
- A61B 2017/00429: {with a roughened portion}
- A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine}
- A61B 2017/320028: {with reciprocating movements}
- A61B 2090/031: {torque limiting}
- A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- A61F 2002/30131: {horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30168: {L-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30176: {V-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30266: {wedge-shaped parallelepipeds}
- A61F 2002/30289: {helically-coiled}
- A61F 2002/30378: {Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/30405: {made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves}
- A61F 2002/30451: {soldered or brazed or welded}
- A61F 2002/30471: {connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type}
- A61F 2002/30484: {Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/3052: {unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally}
- A61F 2002/30523: {by means of meshing gear teeth}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/30556: {for adjusting thickness}
- A61F 2002/30599: {stackable}
- A61F 2002/30733: {Inserts placed into an endoprosthetic cavity, e.g. for modifying a material property}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/3085: {with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface}
- A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed}
- A61F 2002/448: {comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants}
- A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument}
- H04W 28/04: Error control
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a delivery device, a driver assembly, and an internal actuator, where the driver assembly is adapted to be hold an implant and be sleevably inserted into the delivery device and the internal actuator is adapted to advance an implant distractor to distract the implant, the system also including an implant, a chisel, an injector, a gripping tool, and a dilator set. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well as a method of placing an implant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spinal implant comprising:
a first member and a second member each comprising a distal end, the distal end of the first member coupled to the distal end of the second member via an interlocking scissor feature positioned near the distal end of each member, the first member further comprising an inner surface, an outer surface and a threaded slot passing through the first member from the inner surface to the outer surface; and
an implant distractor comprising a thread feature, the implant distractor adapted to be advanced between the first and second members and separate the first and second members such that the upper and lower members hinge relative to one another about the interlocking scissor feature,
wherein the threaded slot is adapted to receive the thread feature, the threaded slot comprises a truncated threaded slot and the implant distractor comprises a cross-cut thread, and the cross-cut thread being engaged with the truncated threaded slot helps to resist the implant distractor from backing out from between the first and second members.