US6540747B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for securing joints together
Assignee: Nuvasive Inc
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Filing: 2000-04-14
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Granted: 2003-04-01
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Expires: 2020-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A system for securing first and second opposing facet joints together, comprising: a cannulated drill having a side opening; and an extendible member received within the cannula of the cannulated drill, the extendible member having a distal end which passes out of the side opening in a direction radially outwards from the axis of the cannulated drill as the extendible member is advanced distally through the cannula of the drill. The drill can be rotated such that the extendible member ablates opposite contacting surfaces of first and second facet joints, promoting fusion between the first and second facet joints. A facet screw passing through a hole drilled by the cannulated drill through the first facet joint and into the second facet joint is tightened into position to immobilize the first and second facet joints together.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Marino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1604; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/4455; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B10/0283; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B2017/32004; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2217/007; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30112; A61F2002/30131; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30462; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30604; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0013; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of immobilizing a patient's facet joint, comprising: drilling a hole through at least one of a first and second articulating surface of said facet joint; ablating said first and second articulating surfaces of said facet joint by applying an ablation member between said first and second articulating surfaces, said ablation member extending from a drill; and promoting fusion between said first and second articulating surfaces to immobilize said facet joint.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of immobilizing a patient's facet joint, comprising: drilling a hole through at least one of a first and second articulating surface of said facet joint; ablating said first and second articulating surfaces of said facet joint by applying an ablation member between said first and second articulating surfaces, said ablation member extending from a drill; and promoting fusion between said first and second articulating surfaces to immobilize said facet joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of ablating is performed by: extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill at a location between said first and second articulating surfaces; and rotating the drill such that the extendible ablation member moves in a circular path across portions of said articulating surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill involves distally advancing an ablation wire received within a cannulated passageway in the drill such that a distal end of the ablation wire extends outwardly through a side hole in said drill.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein, the hole is drilled in a posterolateral approach through the first articulating surface of said facet joint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising: positioning an operating cannula in a posterolateral approach with respect to the patient; and advancing a drill through the operating cannula such that a distal end of the drill commences drilling at a posterium of said first articulating surface of said facet joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein a surgical guideframe is used to position said operating cannula in the posterolateral approach.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , further including the step of drilling a countersink into sand first articulating surface of said facet joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 and further, wherein the step of promoting fusion is performed by introducing an elongate element into said hole for the purposes of maintaining said first and second articulating surfaces in contact with one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 and further, wherein the step of introducing an elongate member involves introducing a facet screw into said hole.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of immobilizing a patient's facet joint, comprising: drilling a hole through at least one of a first and second articulating surface of said facet joint; ablating said first and second articulating surfaces of said facet joint by (i) extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill at a location between said first and second articulating surfaces and (ii) rotating the drill such that the extendible ablation member moves in a circular path across portions of said articulating surfaces; and promoting fusion between said first and second articulating surfaces to immobilize said facet joint.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of immobilizing a patient's facet joint, comprising: drilling a hole through at least one of a first and second articulating surface of said facet joint; ablating said first and second articulating surfaces of said facet joint by (i) extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill at a location between said first and second articulating surfaces and (ii) rotating the drill such that the extendible ablation member moves in a circular path across portions of said articulating surfaces; and promoting fusion between said first and second articulating surfaces to immobilize said facet joint.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of extending an extendible ablation member radially outwards from a drill involves distally advancing an ablation wire received within a cannulated passageway in the drill such that a distal end of the ablation wire extends outwardly through a side hole in said drill.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-31 | 2006-09-30 | 2007-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-31 | 2010-09-30 | 2011-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-31 | 2014-09-30 | 2015-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |