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US 8,986,355 B2Granted
Facet fusion implant
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsNicholas Angert, Benjamin Barrall, David Chow, Justin Coppes, Lauren Pietruszynski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Facet fusion implants with various body geometries are provided. The bodies of the facet fusion implants can be configured to minimize migration of the implants when the implants are inserted into facet joints. Surgical methods and accompanying surgical instrumentation for inserting the facet fusion implants into facet joints are provided.
Claims27
A facet fusion implant comprising:
- an implant body elongate along a central axis, the implant body including a head portion disposed at a proximal end of the implant body, and a shaft portion that extends from the head portion toward a distal end of the implant body in a distal direction along the central axis, the head portion defining a head cross-sectional dimension that is perpendicular to the central axis, the shaft portion defining a plurality of thread peaks and valleys, and a minimum cross-sectional dimension that is aligned with the respective valley and is perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the head cross-sectional dimension does not exceed the minimum cross-sectional dimension,
- the shaft portion further defining a thread proximal face that extends from a respective peak to the respective valley at a location on the shaft portion that defines the minimum-cross-sectional dimension is aligned with respective valley, and a thread distal face that is opposite the thread proximal face along the central axis such that the thread proximal face faces the proximal end, wherein the thread proximal face defines a first radius of curvature, and the thread distal face defines a second radius of curvature that is greater than the first radius of curvature;
- and
- an engaging element carried by the head portion, the engaging element configured to engage with a complementary insertion instrument configured to insert the facet fusion implant into the facet joint between the first and second vertebral articulation surfaces.
1 more element
A facet fusion implant configured to engage a facet joint defined by opposed first and second vertebral articulation surfaces, the first and second vertebral articulation surfaces being separated by a distance, the facet fusion implant comprising
- an implant body constructed of bone, the implant body being elongate along a central axis and including a head portion disposed at a proximal end of the implant body, and a shaft portion that extends from the head portion along a distal direction toward a distal end of the implant body, the head portion defining a head cross-sectional dimension along a direction perpendicular to the distal direction, the shaft portion of the implant body being threaded so as to include peaks and valleys, the shaft portion defining a major cross-sectional dimension at each peak along the direction perpendicular to the distal direction, and a minor cross-sectional dimension at each valley along the direction perpendicular to the distal direction, wherein 1) the head cross-sectional dimension does not exceed either of the major and minor cross-sectional dimensions 2)the minor cross-sectional dimension is less than the major cross-sectional dimension, the shaft portion further defining a thread proximal face that extends from a respective peak to a location of a respective valley that defines the minor cross-sectional dimension, and a thread distal face opposite the thread proximal face along the distal direction such that the thread proximal face faces the proximal end of the implant body, wherein the thread proximal face curves as it extends from the respective peak to the location of the respective valley toward the proximal end;
- and
- an engaging element carried by the head portion, the engaging element configured to engage with a complementary insertion instrument configured to insert the facet fusion implant between the first and second vertebral articulation surfaces such that the shaft portion of the implant body simultaneously engages the opposed first and second vertebral articulation surfaces so as to permit fusion with the first and second vertebral articulation surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.