Patent ID: 11890038
Assignee: PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  H | IPC A  H

Claim 0:
1. A method for implanting an intra-facet implant into a cervical facet joint comprising an inferior articulating surface of an upper facet and a superior articulating surface of a lower facet, the method comprising:
using a posterior approach, positioning a distal portion of a guide tool at said facet joint, said guide tool comprising an internal lumen;
with a proximal portion of said implant releasably coupled to a distal portion of a delivery tool, delivering said implant through said internal lumen of said guide tool into said cervical facet joint, between said inferior articulating surface of said upper facet and said superior articulating surface of said lower facet,
wherein said implant further comprises an external thread extending along said implant from said proximal portion to said distal portion, wherein said external thread comprises a plurality of interruptions in the thread, along a length of the implant; and
detaching said implant from said delivery tool, wherein when the implant has been advanced into the cervical facet joint and then detached from said delivery tool, at least a first portion of said external thread engages with the inferior articulating surface of the upper facet and a second portion of said external thread engages with the superior articulating surface of the lower facet.