Method and device for treating ailments of the spine

Abstract

This invention relates to a spinal facet cap for treating scoliosis, the facet cap comprising a shim portion for inserting into a facet joint of a spine, and an alignment portion for maintaining alignment of the shim portion within the facet joint. The invention also provides a method for treating scoliosis, comprising implanting at least one spinal facet cap into at least one facet joint of a subject in need thereof.

1 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat spinal ailments comprising: 
 a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;    an alignment portion extending from the shim portion;    said alignment portion including a tongue with an orifice; and    wherein said orifice is positionable relative to the shim portion.    
     
     
         2 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion has a shape that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour.  
     
     
         3 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  including at least one pin extending from the shim portion.  
     
     
         4 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion has a shape that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour, and said shim portion includes a pin extending from said facet contact surface.  
     
     
         5 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  including at least two pins extending from the shim portion.  
     
     
         6 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  including at least one hook extending from the shim portion.  
     
     
         7 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion has a shape that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour, and said shim portion includes at least one hook extending from a peripheral edge of the facet contact surface.  
     
     
         8 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  including a first hook extending from a first surface of said shim portion and a second hood extending from a second surface of said shim portion.  
     
     
         9 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion is at least one of concave and convex.  
     
     
         10 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion includes at least one boss extending therefrom.  
     
     
         11 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending therefrom.  
     
     
         12 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint, and said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending from a peripheral edge of the facet contact surface.  
     
     
         13 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said tongue is positionable relative to the shim portion.  
     
     
         14 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint, and said facet contact surface includes a peripheral edge, and said alignment portion extends from said peripheral edge and said alignment portion is positionable relative to said peripheral edge.  
     
     
         15 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint, and said orifice is positionable relative to said facet contact surface.  
     
     
         16 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said alignment portion and at least a part of said shim portion include separate elements and said alignment portion is mounted on said at least a part of said shim portion and said alignment portion is movable relative to said at least a part of said shim portion.  
     
     
         17 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein at least a part of said shim portion is a separate element from said alignment portion with said alignment portion mounted on said shim portion.  
     
     
         18 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat spinal ailments comprising: 
 a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;    said shim portion being substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;    an alignment portion which is a separate element from at least a part of said shim portion and said alignment portion mounted on at least said part of said shim portion; and    said alignment portion being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.    
     
     
         19 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said alignment portion is the only element extending from said shim portion  
     
     
         20 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  including at least one pin extending from the shim portion.  
     
     
         21 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion includes a pin extending from a facet contact surface of the shim portion.  
     
     
         22 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  including at least two pins extending from the shim portion.  
     
     
         23 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  including at least one hook extending from the shim portion.  
     
     
         24 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion includes at least one hook extending from a peripheral edge of a facet contact surface of the shim portion.  
     
     
         25 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion is at least one of concave and convex.  
     
     
         26 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion includes at least one boss extending therefrom.  
     
     
         27 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending therefrom.  
     
     
         28 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending from a peripheral edge of a facet contact surface of the shim portion.  
     
     
         29 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said alignment portion includes a tongue and said tongue is positionable relative to the shim portion.  
     
     
         30 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said shim portion includes a peripheral edge and said alignment portion extends from said peripheral edge and said alignment portion is positionable relative to said peripheral edge.  
     
     
         31 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said alignment portion includes an orifice and said orifice is positionable relative to said shim portion.  
     
     
         32 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein said alignment portion is the only element extending from said shim portion  
     
     
         33 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein said alignment portion includes an orifice, said orifice being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.  
     
     
         34 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein a shape of the shim portion is adjustable.  
     
     
         35 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 1  wherein an angle of the shim portion relative to the remainder of the spinal facet cap can be adjusted.  
     
     
         36 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein a shape of the shim portion is adjustable.  
     
     
         37 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 18  wherein an angle of the shim portion relative to the remainder of the spinal facet cap can be adjusted.  
     
     
         38 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising: 
 a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;    said shim portion at least partially complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;    a pin extending from the shim portion;    an alignment portion extending from said shim portion; and    said alignment portion being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.    
     
     
         39 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 38  wherein said alignment portion is a separate element from at least a part of said shim portion and said alignment portion is mounted on at least said part of said shim portion.  
     
     
         40 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising: 
 a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;    said shim portion being at least partially complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;    a pin extending from the shim portion; and    an alignment portion extending from said shim portion.    
     
     
         41 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 40  wherein said alignment portion is movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.  
     
     
         42 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising: 
 a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;    said shim portion being at least partially complementary to an articulating surface of the facet joint;    a pin extending from the shim portion;    an alignment portion extending from said shim portion;    said alignment portion including a tongue with an orifice; and    said orifice being movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.    
     
     
         43 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 40  wherein said tongue is movable relative to said at least said part of said shim portion.  
     
     
         44 . A spinal facet cap adapted to treat ailments of the spine comprising: 
 a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;    said shim portion including a first surface adapted to be positioned in contact with a first facet of a facet joint and a second surface adapted to be positioned in contact with a second facet of facet joint;    at least one pin extending from said first surface with at least one pin extending from said second surface; and    an alignment portion extending from said shim portion.    
     
     
         45 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 44  wherein said alignment portion is positionable relative to said shim portion.  
     
     
         46 . The spinal facet cap of  claim 44  wherein said alignment portion is a separate element and mounted to at least a part of said shim portion.