Patent ID: 8114158
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A spine implant comprising: a facet joint capsule insert configured to be positioned within a joint capsule between a first facet and a second facet forming a zygapophyseal joint, wherein the insert comprises a first facet interfacing portion, a second facet interfacing portion, and a rod, the first facet interfacing portion being sized to fit entirety within the joint capsule and having an articulating surface and an engagement surface configured to engage with the joint surface of the first facet and the second facet interfacing portion being sized to fit entirely within the joint capsule and having an articulating surface and an engagement surface configured to engage with the joint surface of the second facet, the first facet interfacing portion being configured to be opposed to the second facet interfacing portion with the articulating surfaces of the first and second facet interfacing portions facing toward one another, the facet joint capsule insert being configured to exert a distraction force between the first and second facets, the first facet interfacing portion including a first magnet and the second facet interfacing portion including a second magnet, the first magnet and second magnet being oriented with like poles facing each other so as to provide a distracting force away from each other, and the rod being disposed between the first and second magnets and configured to limit movement of the first and second magnets relative to one another.