Facet joint implant crosslinking apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844399-B2
Application number	US-201414279996-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2014
Priority date	Mar 28, 2005
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A crosslink is provided for securing orthopedic implants, such as facet joint replacement implants, together. The crosslink has a pair of implant coupling components, a pair of rod coupling components, a rod, and a pair of fasteners. Each facet joint implant may include a semicylindrical interface received in a resilient member of the corresponding implant coupling component to permit relative cephalad/caudal adjustment between the crosslink and the implants. The resilient members grip the semicylindrical interface of the implant to enable at least temporary attachment of the implant coupling components to the implants independently of the rod. Clocking features on the semicylindrical interfaces and on the interfacing areas of the implant coupling components and rod coupling components may limit assembly of the crosslink to discrete relative orientations and prevent play after assembly. The fasteners secure the rod coupling components to the rod at the desired positions along the rod.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A facet joint implant apparatus comprising:
a first facet joint replacement having a first mounting portion configured to be attached to a first portion of a vertebra, a first articulation portion configured to articulate with an adjacent natural or artificial facet, and a first crosslink coupling feature;
a first implant coupling component comprising a first resilient member having a first coupling interface, wherein the first coupling interface snaps onto the first crosslink coupling feature to secure the first implant coupling component to the first facet joint replacement;
a first rod coupling component attachable directly to the first implant coupling component;
a second facet joint replacement having a second mounting portion configured to be attached to a second portion of the vertebra and a second articulation portion configured to articulate with an adjacent natural or artificial facet, and a second crosslink coupling feature;
a second implant coupling component comprising a second resilient member having a second coupling interface, wherein the second coupling interface snaps onto the second crosslink coupling feature to secure the second implant coupling component to the second facet joint replacement;
a second rod coupling component attachable directly to the second implant coupling component;
a rod extending from the first rod coupling component to the second rod coupling component to secure the first facet joint replacement to the second facet joint replacement;
and a first bolt, having a first head and a first shank, that secures the first implant coupling component to the first rod coupling component, wherein the first bolt includes a first gripping extension formed as part of the first head that extends asymmetrically from an axis of the first shank, wherein the first gripping extension is configured to press directly against the first crosslink coupling feature without interference from the first coupling interface.

2. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient members each have a linking extension shaped to grip the respective one of the first and second crosslink coupling features.

3. The facet joint implant of claim 2 , wherein each linking extension has a semicylindrical interface defining a cavity configured to receive the respective one of the first and second crosslink coupling features.

4. The facet joint implant of claim 3 , wherein each linking extension includes an arm that is bendable toward or away from a remainder of the respective linking extension, the arm being configured to receive and grip the respective one of the first and second crosslink coupling features.

5. The facet joint implant of claim 4 , wherein each arm has two prongs that curve outward slightly to facilitate sliding of the first and second crosslink coupling features into the respective cavity.

6. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second crosslink coupling features each include a first clocking feature including a plurality of ridges or grooves configured to provide friction and prevent relative rotation between the first and second crosslink coupling features and the respective one of the first and second implant coupling components.

7. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second implant coupling components each include a second clocking feature including a plurality of ridges or grooves in a radial arrangement configured to engage corresponding features on the respective one of the first and second rod coupling components.

8. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the rod includes a third clocking feature including a plurality of ridges or grooves in a radial arrangement configured to engage corresponding features on the respective one of the first and second rod coupling components.

9. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second facet joint replacements each include a stem coupling the mounting portion to the articulation portion.

10. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion for each of the first and second facet joint replacements is configured to be coupled to a saddle point on the respective one of the first and second portions of the vertebra.

11. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the articulation portion for each of the first and second facet joint replacements has an articular surface having a generally convex shape.

12. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , further comprising a second bolt, wherein the first and second implant coupling components each define a bore through which a respective one of the first and second bolts is inserted to attach the first and second implant coupling components to the respective one of the first and second rod coupling components.

13. The facet joint implant of claim 1 , wherein the first and second facet joint replacements are both inferior facet replacement implants.

14. A facet joint apparatus comprising:
a first facet joint replacement having a first crosslink coupling feature and a first articulation portion configured to articulate with an adjacent natural or artificial facet;
a first resilient member having a first coupling interface and a first linking extension shaped to grip the first crosslink coupling feature, wherein the first linking extension snaps onto the first crosslink coupling feature to secure the first resilient member to the first facet joint replacement;
a first rod coupling component affixed to the first resilient member;
a second facet joint replacement having a second crosslink coupling feature and a second articulation portion configured to articulate with an adjacent natural or artificial facet;
a second resilient member having a second coupling interface and a second linking extension shaped to grip the second crosslink coupling feature, wherein the second linking extension snaps onto the second crosslink coupling feature to secure the second resilient member to the second facet joint replacement;
a second rod coupling component affixed to the second resilient member;
a rod extending from the first rod coupling component to the second rod coupling component to secure the first facet joint replacement to the second facet joint replacement;
and a first bolt, having a first head and a first shank, that secures the first resilient member to the first rod coupling component, wherein the first bolt includes a first gripping extension formed as part of the first head that extends asymmetrically from an axis of the first shank, wherein the first gripping extension is configured to press directly against the first crosslink coupling feature without interference from the first coupling interface.

15. The facet joint apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first and second crosslink coupling features each include a first clocking feature configured to provide friction and prevent relative rotation between the first and second crosslink coupling features and the respective one of the first and second resilient members.

16. The facet joint apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first and second resilient members each include a second clocking feature including a plurality of ridges configured to engage corresponding features on the respective one of the first and second rod coupling components.

17. The facet joint apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the rod includes a third clocking feature including a plurality of ridges or grooves in a radial arrangement configured to engage corresponding features on the respective one of the first and second rod coupling com

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc
• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Chervitz Alan
• Triplett Daniel J

Classifications

• A61F2002/30367

  with additional means for preventing said rotation · CPC title

• A61F2002/30471

  connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type · CPC title

• A61F2002/30395

  with additional means for preventing or locking said rotation · CPC title

• A61F2220/0025

  Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements · CPC title

• A61F2002/30538

  for adjusting angular orientation · CPC title