# US 8,540,773 B2 · Prosthetic facet joint ligament

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- Number: US 8,540,773 B2
- Document ID: US8540773B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/459,718
- Filed: 2006-07-25
- Published: 2006-11-16
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-31
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Andrew Dooris; Hassan Serhan; Mark Gracia
- Inventors: Andrew Dooris; Hassan Serhan; Mark Gracia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540773B2

## CPC

- 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 2/08: Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments
- A61F 2/30: Joints
- A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)}
- A61B 17/7011: {Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched (adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs)}
- A61B 17/7064: {Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor}
- A61F 2/30742: {Bellows or hose-like seals; Sealing membranes (A61B17/8808 takes precedence; sealing membranes for retaining bone substitute A61F2/2846)}
- A61F 2/30965: {Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping}
- A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)}
- A61F 2/4425: {made of articulated components}
- 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 2002/30014: {differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility}
- A61F 2002/30032: {differing in absorbability or resorbability, i.e. in absorption or resorption time}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30224: {cylindrical}
- A61F 2002/30242: {spherical}
- A61F 2002/30383: {made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove}
- A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30553: {for adjusting a position by translation along an axis}
- A61F 2002/30563: {having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers}
- A61F 2002/30565: {having spring elements}
- A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/30649: {Ball-and-socket joints}
- A61F 2002/30662: {with rotation-limiting means}
- A61F 2002/30673: {Lubricating means, e.g. synovial pocket}
- A61F 2002/30682: {Means for preventing migration of particles released by the joint, e.g. wear debris or cement particles}
- A61F 2002/30772: {Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section}
- A61F 2002/30774: {internally-threaded}
- A61F 2002/30777: {Oblong apertures}
- A61F 2002/30841: {Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes}
- A61F 2002/443: {having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2220/0025: Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
- A61F 2220/0075: sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
- A61F 2230/0069: cylindrical
- A61F 2230/0071: spherical
- A61F 2250/0008: for adjusting a position by translation along an axis or two perpendicular axes
- A61F 2250/0018: differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
- A61F 2250/003: differing in adsorbability or resorbability, i.e. in adsorption or resorption time
- A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00029: Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
- A61F 2310/00161: Carbon; Graphite
- A61F 2310/00179: Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
- A61F 2310/00365: Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
- A61F 2310/00796: Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite
- A61F 2310/00976: Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF
- 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)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A facet joint prosthesis for replacing a facet joint comprising superior and inferior facets, the prosthesis comprising: a) a superior facet joint component forming a superior endplate having a superior outer surface adapted to attach to the superior facet and an inner surface, b) an inferior facet joint component forming an inferior endplate having an inferior outer surface adapted to attach to the inferior facet and an inner surface, and c) a ligament adapted to constrain relative movement between the facets, wherein the ligament comprises an elastic core having a superior surface adapted to attach to the inner surface of the superior facet joint component and an inferior surface adapted to attach to the inner surface of the inferior facet joint component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising the steps of:
a) implanting in a natural facet joint comprising superior and inferior facets a prosthesis comprising:
i) a superior facet joint component forming a superior endplate having a convex superior outer surface adapted to attach to the superior facet and an inner surface,
ii) an inferior facet joint component forming an inferior endplate having an inferior outer surface adapted to attach to the inferior facet and an inner surface, and
iii) a ligament adapted to constrain relative movement between the facets by stabilizing the facets in both compression and tension,
wherein the ligament comprises an elastic core having a superior surface adapted to attach to the inner surface of the superior facet joint component and an inferior surface adapted to attach to the inner surface of the inferior facet joint component.