Facet arthroplasty devices and methods
AssigneeArchus Orthopedics, Inc.
InventorMark A Reiley
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Abstract
Surgically installed prostheses replace either the caudal portion of a natural facet joint, the cephalad portion of a natural facet joint, or both. The prostheses are readily attached to the pedicles of a vertebral body and support at least one element that defines an artificial facet joint structure. The caudal facet joint structure is sized and located to articulate with the cephalad facet joint structure. Together, the prostheses form a total facet replacement system. The system is suitable for use in virtually all levels of the spine.
Claims5
A prosthesis system to replace a natural facet joint between adjoining inferior and superior vertebral bodies comprising
- a cephalad prosthesis including a fixation area sized and configured to fix the cephalad prosthesis to the superior vertebral body and an artificial cephalad facet joint structure including means for replacing a cephalad portion of the natural facet joint on the superior vertebral body after removal of at least a portion of the cephalad portion of the natural facet joint and at least a portion of a lamina from the superior vertebral body,
- a caudal prosthesis including a fixation area sized and configured to fix the caudal prosthesis to the inferior vertebral body and an artificial caudal facet joint structure including means for replacing the caudal portion of the natural facet joint of the inferior vertebral body after removal of at least a portion of the caudal portion of the natural facet joint from the inferior vertebral body,
- the artificial cephalad facet joint structure being adapted and configured to articulate with the artificial caudal facet joint structure to replace the cephalad and caudal portions of the natural facet joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.