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US 7,922,766 B2Granted
Method for resurfacing a cervical articular facet
AssigneeGerraspine A.G.
InventorsDieter Grob, Horace Winston Hale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for treating spinal pathologies, and more specifically methods for treating articulating surfaces of facet joints of cervical vertebrae. The methods involve providing artificial articulating surfaces for facet joint articular facets. In addition, various types of rasps may be used to prepare the articulating surfaces prior to placement of the artificial articulating surfaces.
Claims23
A method for providing articulating surfaces for cervical vertebrae facet joint articular facets comprising:
- creating a space between a superior articular facet of a selected cervical vertebra and an inferior articular facet of a cervical vertebra immediately above the selected vertebra;
- fixing a generally flat inferior implant having a fixation surface and a generally flat articulating surface on the inferior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the inferior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the inferior articular facet;
- and
- fixing a generally flat superior implant having a fixation surface and a generally flat articulating surface on the superior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the superior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the superior articular facet;
- wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant forms the majority of the top surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant forms the majority of the bottom surface of the inferior implant;
- and
- wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant are positioned to directly contact and articulate with one another following the fixation of the superior implant to the superior articular facet and fixation of the inferior implant to the inferior articular facet.
4 more elements
A method for providing articulating surfaces for cervical vertebrae facet joint articular facets comprising:
- creating a space of from about 4 mm to about 15 mm between a superior articular facet of a selected cervical vertebra and an inferior articular facet of a cervical vertebra immediately above the selected vertebra;
- placing a generally flat disk-shaped inferior implant having a fixation surface and a generally flat articulating surface in the created space;
- fixing the inferior implant on the inferior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the inferior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the inferior articular facet;
- placing a generally flat disk-shaped superior implant having a fixation surface and a generally flat articulating surface in the created space;
- and
- fixing the superior implant on the superior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the superior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the superior articular facet;
- wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant forms the majority of the top surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant forms the majority of the bottom surface of the inferior implant;
- and
- wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant are positioned to directly contact and articulate with one another following the fixation of the superior implant to the superior articular facet and fixation of the inferior implant to the inferior articular facet.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.