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 kypho-scoliosis. 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 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,703,  claim 23 ). A method for replacing a posterior element of a nat7ural vertebra, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the two natural pedicles, said method comprising:
 the steps of making a resection at the most dorsal aspect the two natural pedicles; and   attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, said prosthesis comprising a pair of prosthetic mounts;   a prosthetic lamina extending from said two prosthetic mounts, a pair of prosthetic superior facets extending front said two prosthetic mounts and said prosthetic lamina; and   a pair of prosthetic inferior facets extending from said prosthetic lamina.   
     
     
         2 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 23 ). A method for replacing a posterior element of a natural vertebra, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the two natural pedicles, said method comprising the steps of:
 making a resection at the most dorsal aspect the two natural pedicles; and   attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, said prosthesis comprising a pair of prosthetic mounts, a prosthetic lamina extending from said pair of prosthetic mounts.   
     
     
         3 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 24 ). A method according to  claim 2  wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina. 
     
     
         4 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 25 ). A method according to  claim 2  wherein said prosthesis further comprises a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic mounts. 
     
     
         5 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 26 ). A method according to  claim 2  wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina and a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic mounts and said prosthetic lamina. 
     
     
         6 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 27 ). A method for replacing a posterior element of a natural vertebra, wherein the natural vertebra comprises a natural vertebral body, a pair of natural pedicles extending from the natural vertebral body, a natural lamina extending from the two natural pedicles, a pair of natural superior facets extending from the two natural pedicles and the natural lamina, a pair of natural inferior facets extending from the natural lamina, a natural spinous process extending from the natural lamina, and a pair of natural transverse processes extending from the natural pedicles, said method comprising the steps of:
 making a resection at the junction of the natural vertebral body and the two natural pedicles; and   attaching a prosthesis to the resected vertebra, said prosthesis comprising a pair of prosthetic pedicles, and a prosthetic lamina extending from said prosthetic pedicles.   
     
     
         7 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 28 ). A method according to  claim 6  wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina. 
     
     
         8 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 29 ). A method according to  claim 6  wherein said prosthesis further comprises a pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic pedicles. 
     
     
         9 . (Copied from U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,580,  claim 30 ). A method according to  claim 6  wherein said prosthesis further comprises a prosthetic spinous process extending from said prosthetic lamina and pair of prosthetic transverse processes extending from said pair of prosthetic pedicles and said prosthetic lamina.