Patent ID: 7862589
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A facet joint replacement device for implantation below a patient's skin completely within the patient's body adjacent a vertebral joint comprised of a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, each vertebra having facets projecting posteriorly from the vertebral body, a facet of the superior vertebra and a facet of the inferior vertebra defining an articulating joint between them, the facet joint replacement device, comprising: a superior joint component sized to replace an absent portion of a facet on a posterior portion of the superior vertebra, the superior joint component being sized to fit below the skin completely within the body adjacent the posterior portion of the superior vertebra, the superior joint component having a superior anchor, a first rod extension, and a first component of a joint connection, the first rod extension defining a first longitudinal axis between the superior anchor and the first component of the joint connection, the superior anchor configured to couple to the superior vertebra via an outwardly extending superior protrusion, the first rod extension having a first end coupled to the superior anchor and a second end having the first component of the joint connection opposite the first end, and the first rod extension having a distinct portion relative to the first component of the joint connection and extending a distance from the superior anchor to the first component of the joint connection; an inferior joint component sized to replace an absent portion of a facet on a posterior portion of the inferior vertebra, the inferior joint component being sized to fit below the skin completely within the body adjacent the posterior portion of the inferior vertebra, the inferior joint component having an inferior anchor, a second rod extension, and a second component of the joint connection, the second rod extension defining a second longitudinal axis between the inferior anchor and the first component of the joint connection, the inferior anchor configured to couple to the inferior vertebra via an outwardly extending inferior protrusion, the second rod extension having a third end coupled to the inferior anchor and a fourth end having the second component of the joint connection opposite the third end, and the second rod extension having a distinct portion relative to the second component of the joint connection and extending a distance from the inferior anchor to the second component of the joint connection; wherein the first component of the joint connection at the second end and the second component of the joint connection at the fourth end form a movable joint permitting articulation between the superior and inferior vertebrae; wherein, in at least one position, the first longitudinal axis of the superior joint component and the second longitudinal axis of the inferior joint component are selectively positionable to align coaxially with respect to one another; and wherein the first component of the joint connection at the second end is a ball and the second component of the joint connection at the fourth end is a socket forming a ball and socket joint.