Tri-joint implant
AssigneeDePuy Spine, Inc.
InventorMatthew Parsons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for replacing damaged, injured, diseased, or otherwise unhealthy elements of the spinal three-joint complex, such as the facet joints and discs. In one exemplary embodiment, a joint replacement system includes a facet replacement component that is adapted to replace and/or augment the facet joints, and a disc replacement component that is adapted to replace a spinal disc. The facet replacement component and the disc replacement component can couple to one another to allow and/or control flexion, extension, and/or lateral bending of the spine, preferably while substantially restricting posterior-anterior shear and axial rotation of the spine.
Claims21
An implantable device for dynamically stabilizing the spine, comprising:
- a first facet replacement member adapted to couple to a first vertebra and having at least one protrusion formed thereon;
- a second facet replacement member adapted to couple to a second vertebra adjacent to the first vertebra, the second facet replacement member having at least one protrusion formed thereon that bears against the at least one protrusion on the first facet replacement member such that the first and second facet replacement members articulate with one another to control movement of the first and second vertebrae relative to one another;
- and
- at least one connector adapted to directly couple at least one of the first and second facet replacement members to a disc replacement member disposed between the first and second vertebrae;
- wherein the first and second facet replacement members are in the form of plates that are adapted to be positioned on a posterior surface of the first and second vertebrae.
A joint replacement system, comprising:
- a disc replacement member adapted to be disposed between a superior vertebra and an adjacent inferior vertebra;
- and
- superior and inferior facet replacement components adapted to couple to a posterior portion of the superior and inferior vertebrae, at least one of the superior and inferior facet replacement components being coupled to the disc replacement member, and the superior and inferior facet replacement components having bearing surfaces that slide relative to one another;
- wherein the superior facet replacement component comprises a superior plate adapted to mate to a posterior surface of the superior vertebra, and the inferior facet replacement component comprises an inferior plate adapted to mate to a posterior surface of the inferior vertebra.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.