Facet arthroplasty devices and methods

Abstract

Devices and surgical methods treat various types of adult spinal pathologies, such as degenerative spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and kyphoscoliosis. Various types of spinal joint replacement prostheses, surgical procedures for performing spinal joint replacements, and surgical instruments are used to perform the surgical procedures.

1 . A facet surface replacement system comprising: a superior seating device; 
 the superior seating device having a superior seating surface and a superior protrusion extending from the superior seating device opposite the superior seating surface;    the superior protrusion to couple to a superior vertebral body;    an inferior seating device; the inferior seating device having an inferior seating surface and an inferior protrusion extending from the inferior seating device opposite the inferior seating surface;    and the inferior protrusion to couple to an inferior vertebral body, wherein the superior seating surface and the inferior seating surface abut and form a joint.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the superior protrusion is threaded to thread into the superior vertebral body and the inferior protrusion is threaded to thread into the inferior vertebral body.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the superior protrusion is self tapping and the inferior protrusion is self tapping.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the superior protrusion is a pin and the inferior protrusion is a pin.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the pin has a leading edge.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pin has flanged sidewalls.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the superior seating device is a biocompatible metal and the inferior seating device is a biocompatible metal to provide a surface to surface joint.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the biocompatible metal is a titanium alloy.  
     
     
         9 . A facet replacement device, comprising: 
 a superior anchor to couple to a superior pedicle; a first extension having a first end coupled to the superior anchor and a second end opposite the first end;    an inferior anchor to couple to an inferior pedicle;    a second extension having a third end coupled to the inferior anchor and a fourth end opposite the third end; and the second end and the fourth end coupled to form a movable joint.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second end is a ball and the fourth end is a socket forming a ball and socket joint.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second end is a socket and the fourth end is a ball forming a ball and socket joint.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second end comprises a flat surface and the fourth end comprises a flat surface such that a surface to surface joint is formed.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the superior protrusion comprises a rod extending through the vertebral body and the superior seating device is coupled to the rod and the inferior protrusion comprises a rod extending through the vertebral body and the inferior seating surface is coupled to the rod.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the rod is a bone screw.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the superior seating device and the inferior seating device form an articulating joint.