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US 7,087,084 B2Granted
Method for replacing a natural facet joint with a prosthesis having an artificial facet joint structure
AssigneeArchus Orthopedics, Inc.
InventorMark A Reiley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A prosthesis replaces all or a portion of a natural facet joint on a vertebral body. The prosthesis has a prosthesis body that accommodates fixation to the vertebral body at or near a pedicle and without support by a lamina. The prosthesis also has an artificial facet joint structure carried by the prosthesis body. The artificial facet joint structure is adapted and configured to replace all or a portion of a natural facet joint.
Claims28
A method of replacing, on a vertebral body, all or a portion of a natural facet joint using a prosthesis to provide improved support for the spinal column, the method comprising the steps of:
- (i) removing all or a portion of a natural articular process from the vertebral body, and
- (ii) fixing the prosthesis to the vertebral body to replace the removed portion of the natural articular process with the artificial facet joint structure, the prosthesis comprising a prosthesis body accommodating fixation to the vertebral body at or near a pedicle and without support by a lamina, and an artificial facet joint structure carried by the prosthesis body adapted and configured to replace all or a portion of a natural facet joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.