Patent · US Active

Systems and methods for facet joint treatment

US8394125B2 · kind B2 · utility

70Cited by
88References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2009
Grant dateMar 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2250/0098
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for treating a facet joint of a patient including superior and inferior resurfacing devices. The superior device includes a resurfacing body configured to conform to a shape of a superior facet articular face, and the inferior device includes a resurfacing body configured to conform to a shape of an inferior facet articular face. Each resurfacing body exhibits sufficient flexibility to transition from a relatively flat state to an inserted state in which the resurfacing body substantially matches any multi-planar concavities of the corresponding facet articular face in the presence of compressive forces. With this construction, the system is capable of establishing a new sliding interface within the facet joint, and can be inserted on a minimally-invasive basis. The resurfacing bodies can be formed of PEEK, and can include teeth that engage the corresponding facet articular face.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.