U.S. patent application number 12/240412 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-22 for surgical measurement and resection framework.
This patent application is currently assigned to Facet Solutions, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alan Chervitz, Joel Dever, T. Wade Fallin, Robert W. Hoy, Daniel J Triplett.
Application Number | 20090024134 12/240412 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35450050 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090024134 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Triplett; Daniel J ; et
al. |
January 22, 2009 |
SURGICAL MEASUREMENT AND RESECTION FRAMEWORK
Abstract
A frame is attachable to first and second bone portions of a
patient to facilitate measurement and resection of one or more bony
landmarks. The frame has two anchoring features, each of which has
a semispherical surface that permits rotational adjustment of the
frame against the bone portions until the frame is secured. A
bridging structure couples the anchoring features together such
that the anchoring features are lockably movable with respect to
each other. The bridging structure may have three linear sliders
that provide the relative motion. A locking mechanism exerts
pressure on all three sliders to lock them in place. An external
anchoring feature enables attachment of the frame to a stationary
reference to stabilize the frame. The frame also has registration
features that permit attachment of measurement or resection tools
to the frame. The frame is particularly useful for measuring and
resecting spinal facets for facet replacement.
Inventors: |
Triplett; Daniel J;
(Providence, UT) ; Fallin; T. Wade; (Hyde Park,
UT) ; Hoy; Robert W.; (Columbus, OH) ;
Chervitz; Alan; (Palm Harbor, FL) ; Dever; Joel;
(Millville, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MEDICINELODGE INC.
180 SOUTH 600 WEST
LOGAN
UT
84321
US
|
Assignee: |
Facet Solutions, Inc.
Logan
UT
|
Family ID: |
35450050 |
Appl. No.: |
12/240412 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10990191 |
Nov 15, 2004 |
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12240412 |
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10860778 |
Jun 2, 2004 |
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10990191 |
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10860543 |
Jun 2, 2004 |
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10860778 |
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10860495 |
Jun 2, 2004 |
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10860543 |
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10860487 |
Jun 2, 2004 |
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10860495 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/102 ;
128/898 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/1764 20130101;
A61B 90/94 20160201; A61F 2/4611 20130101; A61F 2002/4622 20130101;
A61B 17/1671 20130101; A61F 2002/30616 20130101; A61B 17/8897
20130101; A61B 2090/061 20160201; A61B 17/1659 20130101; A61B
2090/3916 20160201; A61F 2/4405 20130101; A61B 2090/067 20160201;
A61B 17/1757 20130101; A61F 2002/4687 20130101; A61F 2002/4677
20130101; A61B 17/1742 20130101; A61F 2002/30649 20130101; A61F
2/4657 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/102 ;
128/898 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/58 20060101
A61B017/58; A61B 19/00 20060101 A61B019/00 |
Claims
1. A method for measuring a bony landmark on a spine of a patient,
the method comprising: attaching a frame to a first bone portion
and a second bone portion of the spine, wherein the first and
second bone portions are spaced apart from each other; registering
a measurement tool with respect to the frame; and guiding the
registered measurement tool with the frame to measure at least one
of a position of the bony landmark, and an orientation of the bony
landmark.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first
registration feature, wherein registering the measurement tool with
respect to the frame comprises coupling the measurement tool to the
first registration feature.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the frame further comprises a
second registration feature, wherein attaching the frame to the
first and second bone portions comprises positioning the first and
second registration features on opposite sides of a sagittal plane
of the patient to guide instrumentation to enable performance of
two distinct measurement functions substantially symmetrically
across the sagittal plane.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first
anchoring feature configured to be attached to the first bone
portion and a second anchoring feature configured to be attached to
the second bone portion, the frame further comprising a bridging
structure comprising two arms, each of which has a first end and a
second end, wherein the first ends are coupled to each other via
three sliding joints, and the second ends are coupled to the first
and second anchoring features, wherein attaching the frame to the
first and second bone portions comprises actuating the three
sliding joints to move the second end with respect to the first end
along three orthogonal axes.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises an external
anchoring feature, the method further comprising attaching the
frame to a stationary external support to stabilize the frame via
the external anchoring feature.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second bone
portions comprise first and second pedicles of a vertebra of the
spine, and each of the first and second anchoring features
comprises an opening, the method further comprising: driving first
and second guide wires into the first and second pedicles; and
receiving one of the guide wires through each opening to guide
positioning of the first and second anchoring features on the
pedicles via the guide wires.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing at least a
portion of a facet of a vertebra of a spine of the patient with at
least one prosthesis.
8. A method for resecting a vertebra of a spine of a patient, the
method comprising: attaching a frame to a first bone portion and a
second bone portion of the spine, wherein the first and second bone
portions are spaced apart from each other; registering a resection
tool with respect to the frame; and guiding the registered
resection tool with the frame to resect the vertebra.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises a first
registration feature, wherein registering the resection tool with
respect to the frame comprises coupling the resection tool to the
first registration feature.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame further comprises a
second registration feature, wherein attaching the frame to the
first and second bone portions comprises positioning the first and
second registration features on opposite sides of a sagittal plane
of the patient to guide instrumentation to enable performance of
two distinct resection functions substantially symmetrically across
the sagittal plane.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises a first
anchoring feature configured to be attached to the first bone
portion and a second anchoring feature configured to be attached to
the second bone portion, the frame further comprising a bridging
structure comprising two arms, each of which has a first end and a
second end, wherein the first ends are coupled to each other via
three sliding joints, and the second ends are coupled to the first
and second anchoring features, wherein attaching the frame to the
first and second bone portions comprises actuating the three
sliding joints to move the second end with respect to the first end
along three orthogonal axes.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises an external
anchoring feature, the method further comprising attaching the
frame to a stationary external support to stabilize the frame via
the external anchoring feature.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second bone
portions comprise first and second pedicles of a vertebra of the
spine, and each of the first and second anchoring features
comprises an opening, the method further comprising: driving first
and second guide wires into the first and second pedicles; and
receiving one of the guide wires through each opening to guide
positioning of the first and second anchoring features on the
pedicles via the guide wires.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein resecting the vertebra comprises
removing at least a portion of a facet of the vertebra, the method
further comprising replacing at least a portion of the facet with
at least one prosthesis.
15. A method for measuring a bony landmark on a spine of a patient
through the use of a system comprising a frame having an external
anchoring feature, and a stationary external support comprising a
fixed end and a grip, the method comprising: attaching the fixed
end to a stationary structure; positioning the frame at a desired
location with respect to the spine; attaching the grip to the
external anchoring feature to restrict motion of the frame;
registering a measurement tool with respect to the frame; and
guiding the registered measurement tool with the frame to measure
at least one of a position of the bony landmark, and an orientation
of the bony landmark.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the frame comprises a first
registration feature, wherein registering the measurement tool with
respect to the frame comprises coupling the measurement tool to the
first registration feature.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the frame further comprises a
second registration feature coupled to the first registration
feature and the external anchoring feature via a bridging
structure, wherein positioning the frame comprises positioning the
first and second registration features to enable performance of two
distinct measurement functions substantially symmetrically across a
sagittal plane of the patient.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein positioning the frame comprises
positioning the first and second registration features adjacent to
first and second pedicles of a vertebra of the spine.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the frame further comprises a
bridging structure that movably couples the first registration
feature to the external anchoring feature, the method further
comprising: manipulating the bridging structure to move the first
registration feature with respect to the external anchoring
feature; and locking the bridging structure to restrict further
motion of the first registration feature with respect to the
external anchoring feature.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein moving the first registration
feature with respect to the external anchoring feature comprises
translating the registration feature along three orthogonal axes
with respect to the external anchoring feature.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein the external anchoring feature
comprises a generally spherical surface, wherein attaching the grip
to the external anchoring feature comprises gripping the generally
spherical surface with the grip in any of a plurality of relative
orientations between the grip and the external anchoring
feature.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the stationary external support
further comprises at least one joint that couples the grip to the
fixed end, the method further comprising: manipulating the joint to
move the grip with respect to the fixed end; and locking the joint
to restrict further motion of the grip with respect to the fixed
end.
23. The method of claim 15, further comprising replacing at least a
portion of a facet of a vertebra of a spine of the patient with at
least one prosthesis.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of the following:
[0002] pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/990,191,
Applicants' Docket No. FSI-07, filed on Nov. 15, 2004 and entitled
SURGICAL MEASUREMENT AND RESECTION FRAMEWORK, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/860,778, Applicants' Docket No. FSI-02 NPROV, filed on Jun. 2,
2004 and entitled SPINAL FACET IMPLANT WITH SPHERICAL IMPLANT
APPOSITION SURFACE AND BONE BED AND METHODS OF USE, a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/860,543, Applicants' Docket No. FSI-03 NPROV, filed on Jun. 2,
2004 and entitled SPINAL FACET IMPLANTS WITH MATING ARTICULATING
BEARING SURFACE AND METHODS OF USE, a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/860,495, Applicants' Docket No.
FSI-04, filed on Jun. 2, 2004 and entitled LINKED BILATERAL SPINAL
FACET IMPLANTS AND METHODS OF USE, and a continuation-in-part of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/860,487, Applicants' Docket No.
FSI-05, filed on Jun. 2, 2004 and entitled SPINAL FACET JOINT
IMPLANT, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. The Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to systems and
methods for measuring and/or resecting bone, and more particularly,
to systems and methods for measuring and resecting spinal facets
for replacement with facet prostheses.
[0005] 2. The Relevant Technology
[0006] Many people experience back pain. Back pain is not only
uncomfortable, but can be particularly debilitating. Many people
who wish to participate in sports, manual labor, or even sedentary
employment are unable to do so because of pains that arise from
motion of or pressure on the spinal column. Such pains are often
caused by traumatic, inflammatory, metabolic, synovial, neoplastic
and degenerative disorders of the spine.
[0007] One of the most common surgical interventions today is
arthrodesis, or spine fusion, of one or more motion segments, with
approximately 300,000 procedures performed annually in the United
States. Clinical success varies considerably, depending upon
technique and indications, and consideration must be given to the
concomitant risks and complications. For example, spine fusion may
decrease function by limiting the range of motion for patients in
flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending. Furthermore,
spine fusion may create increased stresses and, therefore,
accelerated degeneration of adjacent non-fused motion segments.
Additionally, pseudoarthrosis, as a result of an incomplete or
ineffective fusion, may reduce or even eliminate pain relief for
the patient. Finally, the fusion device, whether artificial or
biological, may migrate out of the fusion site.
[0008] Recently, several attempts have been made to recreate the
natural biomechanics of the spine by use of an artificial disc.
Artificial discs provide for articulation between vertebral bodies
to recreate the full range of motion allowed by the elastic
properties of the natural intervertebral disc which directly
connects two opposed vertebral bodies. However, artificial discs do
not fully address the mechanics of motion of the spinal column.
[0009] In addition to the intervertebral disc, posterior elements
called the facet joints help to support axial, torsional and shear
loads that act on the spinal column. The facet joints are
diarthroidal joints that provide both sliding articulation and load
transmission features. The facet joints also help to maintain the
appropriate level of stiffness in the spinal column in all planes
of motion, including flexion and extension, lateral bending, and
rotation.
[0010] Recently, some procedures for replacing facet joints have
been proposed. Unfortunately, spinal anatomy is very complex and
highly variable from one person to another. Accordingly, making
accurate spinal measurements and resections can be very difficult.
Spinal resection is made even more difficult by the need to avoid
nerve roots positioned in close proximity to the bony features that
are to be resected. Facet joint replacement adds additional
difficulties because the facet joints articulate to provide three
distinct planes of motion. Accordingly, replacement of the facet
joints requires that each plane of motion be reproduced in order to
accurately preserve the natural biomechanics of the spine. Hence, a
need exists for systems and methods that facilitate accurate
measurement and resection of spinal bone tissue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be
discussed with reference to the appended drawings. It is
appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of
the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae of a
spinal column.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a primary reamer and a
secondary reamer usable to provide semispherical resections in the
spinal column of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the heads of the
primary and secondary reamers of FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of a frame
attachable to the L5 vertebra of FIG. 1 to guide measurement and
resection of bony landmarks of the spinal column.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the frame of FIG. 4, in a
fully assembled state.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stationary external
support attachable to the frame of FIG. 4 to stabilize the
frame.
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of a facet
measurement tool capable of registering on the frame of FIG. 4 to
measure the position of a most medial and anterior surface of a
superior facet of the spinal column.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the facet measurement tool
of FIG. 7, in a fully assembled state.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the facet measurement tool of FIG.
7, in a fully assembled state.
[0021] FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of a pedicle
measurement tool capable of registering on the frame of FIG. 4 to
measure the position of a saddle point of a pedicle of the spinal
column.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pedicle measurement
tool of FIG. 10, in a fully assembled state.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the pedicle measurement tool of
FIG. 10, in a fully assembled state.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a short cutting tool, a
long cutting tool, a curved cutting tool, and a seat cutting tool,
all of which are designed to resect a superior facet of the spinal
column.
[0025] FIG. 14 is an enlarged, perspective view of one end of the
resection feature of the short cutting tool of FIG. 13.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one end of the resection
feature of the curved cutting tool of FIG. 13.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cutting guide usable to
couple the cutting tools of FIG. 13 to the frame of FIG. 4.
[0028] FIG. 17 is an exploded, perspective view of an inferior
resection tool designed to guide resection of an inferior facet of
the spinal column, as well as a guide wire, pedicle screw, and
castle nut.
[0029] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the inferior resection tool
of FIG. 17, in a fully assembled state.
[0030] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a clamping tool that
facilitates attachment of inferior facet prostheses to the spinal
column.
[0031] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae of
the spinal column of FIG. 1 with an insertion plate of a joint flag
inserted between the facets of the facet joint.
[0032] FIG. 21 is an enlarged, perspective view of the vertebrae of
the spinal column of FIG. 1 with the joint flag in place.
[0033] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the joint flag in place, a guide wire inserted along the axis
of one pedicle of the L5 vertebra, and a guide wire inserter
aligned with the joint flag to facilitate insertion of a guide wire
into the other pedicle of the L5 vertebra.
[0034] FIG. 23 is a lateral view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae with
the joint flag and guide wire in place and the guide wire inserter
aligned with the joint flag.
[0035] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the joint flag in place, guide wires inserted along the axis
of each pedicle of the L5 vertebra, and the superior facets of the
L5 vertebrae preliminarily resected.
[0036] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the guide wires in place, with one pedicle of the L5 vertebra
partially reamed to provide a roughened semispherical surface, and
the primary reamer positioned to ream the other pedicle of the L5
vertebra.
[0037] FIG. 26 is an enlarged, perspective view of the L4 and L5
vertebrae with the guide wires and the primary reamer in place.
[0038] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the guide wires and the joint flag in place, with one pedicle
of the L5 vertebra fully reamed to provide a semispherical surface,
and with the secondary reamer positioned to ream the other pedicle
of the vertebra in alignment with the joint flag.
[0039] FIG. 28 is an enlarged, perspective view of the L4 and L5
vertebrae with the guide wires, joint flag, and secondary reamer in
place.
[0040] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the guide wires and the joint flag in place and the frame
attached to the stationary external support and to the reamed
surfaces of the pedicles of the L5 vertebra, in alignment with the
joint flag.
[0041] FIG. 30 is a lateral view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae with
the guide wires, joint flag, frame, and stationary external support
in place.
[0042] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the guide wires, frame, and stationary external support in
place, with the facet measurement tool registered to the frame to
measure the position of the most medial and anterior surface of a
superior facet of the L5 vertebra.
[0043] FIG. 32 is a cephalad section view of the L4 and L5
vertebrae with the guide wires, frame, stationary external support,
and facet measurement tool in place.
[0044] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the guide wires, frame, and stationary external support in
place, with the pedicle measurement tool registered to the frame to
measure the position of the pedicle of the L4 vertebra.
[0045] FIG. 34 is a cephalad section view of the L4 and L5
vertebrae with the guide wires, frame, stationary external support,
and pedicle measurement tool in place.
[0046] FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L5 guide wires, frame, and stationary external support in
place, with an additional guide wire inserted along the axis of one
pedicle of the L4 vertebra, and the guide wire inserter positioned
to facilitate insertion of another guide wire into the other
pedicle of the L4 vertebra.
[0047] FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L4 and L5 guide wires, frame, and stationary external
support in place, with one pedicle of the L4 vertebra partially
reamed to provide a roughened semispherical surface, and the
primary reamer positioned to ream the other pedicle of the L4
vertebra.
[0048] FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L4 and L5 guide wires, frame, and stationary external
support in place, with one pedicle of the L4 vertebra fully reamed
to provide a semispherical surface, and the secondary reamer
positioned to ream the other pedicle of the L4 vertebra.
[0049] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L5 guide wires, frame, and stationary external support in
place, with a pedicle tapping tool positioned to tap one pedicle of
the L4 vertebra, and a screw insertion tool positioned to insert a
pedicle screw in the other pedicle of the L4 vertebra.
[0050] FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L5 guide wires, L4 pedicle screws, frame, and stationary
external support in place, with one of the inferior facets of the
L4 vertebra resected, and with the inferior resection tool
registered to the frame and coupled to the L4 vertebra via the
castle nut to facilitate resection of the other inferior facet of
the L4 vertebra.
[0051] FIG. 40 is a lateral view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae with
the L5 guide wires, L4 pedicle screws, castle nut, frame,
stationary external support, and inferior resection tool in
place.
[0052] FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L5 guide wires, L4 pedicle screws, frame, and stationary
external support in place, with one superior facet of the L5
vertebra partially resected, and with the curved cutting tool
registered to the frame to facilitate resection of the other
superior facet of the L5 vertebra.
[0053] FIG. 42 is a cephalad view of the L5 vertebra with the L5
guide wires, frame, stationary external support, and curved cutting
tool in place.
[0054] FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L5 guide wires and L4 pedicle screws in place, with one
superior facet of the L5 vertebra fully resected, and with the seat
cutting tool registered to one of the guide wires to facilitate
further resection of the other superior facet of the L5
vertebra.
[0055] FIG. 44 is a cephalad view of the L5 vertebra with the L5
guide wires and the seat cutting tool in place.
[0056] FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L4 pedicle screws in place, with a pedicle tapping tool
positioned to tap one pedicle of the L5 vertebra, and the screw
insertion tool positioned to insert a pedicle screw in the other
pedicle of the L5 vertebra.
[0057] FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebrae
with the L4 and L5 pedicle screws in place, with superior facet
prostheses attached to replace the superior facets of the L5
vertebra via castle nuts, with inferior facet prostheses positioned
to replace the inferior facets of the L4 vertebra, with a nut
tightening tool positioned in cooperation with the screw insertion
tool to secure one of the inferior facet prostheses to the L4
vertebra via a castle nut, and with the clamping tool positioned to
retain the inferior facet prostheses.
[0058] FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the L4 and L5 vertebra with
the L4 and L5 pedicle screws, castle nuts, superior facet
prostheses, and inferior facet prostheses in place.
[0059] FIG. 48 is a posterior view of the L4 and L5 vertebra with
the L4 and L5 pedicle screws, castle nuts, superior facet
prostheses, and inferior facet prostheses in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] The present invention advances the state of the art by
providing systems and methods that can be used to more accurately
measure and resect structural tissue, and more particularly, spinal
bone tissue. The present invention can be used to facilitate facet
joint replacement, thereby alleviating back pain resulting from
traumatic, inflammatory, metabolic, synovial, neoplastic and
degenerative spinal disorders. The configuration and operation of
at least one embodiment of the invention will be shown and
described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 48,
as follows.
[0061] In this application, "registration" refers to a process by
which one object is coupled to another in such a manner that
translation and/or rotation of the second object is limited
relative to the first object, so that the first object serves as a
reference frame for motion or operation of the second object.
"Coupling" refers to direct contact between two objects or indirect
contact (i.e., contact via a third object) by which relative motion
between the first two objects is limited. Two objects that are
integrally formed with each other may also be said to be "coupled"
together (i.e., via integral formation).
[0062] A "registration feature" is any part of a first object that
can be used as a coupling point for registration of a second object
with respect to the first object. A "registration interface" is any
part of a second object that can be used to register the second
object to a first object. "Attachment" refers to a form of coupling
in which a first object is restricted from translating or rotating
away from a second object. "Connecting" does not require
restriction of relative motion between two objects; any form of
direct or indirect contact is sufficient.
[0063] "Semispherical" does not require a half sphere; rather, any
shape with a surface that replicates any portion of the surface of
a sphere may be termed "semispherical." A "bony landmark" is a
pre-established portion of a bone having a recognizable shape. A
"pivot feature" is any pivotable joint or rounded surface that
provides generally rotary motion with respect to an object such as
a bone. "Rotation" does not require full-circle motion; indeed,
oscillatory pivotal motion is one form of rotation. A
"displacement" refers to a linear or angular separation between two
objects, or mathematical entities. An "axis" of an object is
generally an axis of symmetry, or where the object is not
symmetrical, may be a direction along which the length of the
object is oriented.
[0064] A "cutting tool" is a tool designed to remove a portion of
an object, such as a bone. A "resection tool" need not actually
have an implement for cutting, but may simply be a guide for a
cutting tool. A "guide feature" is any feature capable of guiding
an object such as a cutting blade; accordingly, a guide feature may
be a slot, hole, surface having a shape that provides a
pre-established guide pattern, or the like.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrates a
portion of a spine 10. The spine 10 has a cephalad direction 12, a
caudal direction 14, an anterior direction 16, a posterior
direction 18, and a medial/lateral axis 20, all of which are
oriented as shown by the arrows bearing the same reference
numerals. The spine 10 has a sagittal plane 22, which defines the
plane of symmetry of the spine 10, and is thus positioned between
the left and right sides of the spine 10. The sagittal plane 22 is
perpendicular to the medial/lateral axis 20. In this context,
"symmetry" is used loosely because natural anatomical differences
will be present between the left and right sides of the spine 10.
"Left" and "right" are used with reference to a posterior view,
i.e., a view from behind the spine 10. "Medial" refers to a
position or orientation toward the sagittal plane 22, and "lateral"
refers to a position or orientation relatively further from the
sagittal plane 22.
[0066] As shown, the portion of the spine 10 illustrated in FIG. 1
includes a first vertebra 24, which may be the L5 (Fifth Lumbar)
vertebra of a patient, and a second vertebra 26, which may be the
L4 (Fourth Lumbar) vertebra of the patient. The systems and methods
may be applicable to any vertebra or vertebrae of the spine 10
and/or the sacrum (not shown); however, the embodiment shown the
Figures may be particularly applicable to the L4 and L5 vertebrae.
In this application, the term "vertebra" may be broadly interpreted
to include the sacrum.
[0067] As shown, the first vertebra 24 has two pedicles 30 and a
posterior arch, or lamina 32, that extends between the posterior
ends of the pedicles 30 to couple the pedicles 30 together. The
first vertebra 24 also has a pair of transverse processes 34 that
extend laterally from the pedicles 30 generally along the
medial/lateral axis 20, and a spinous process 36 that extends from
the lamina 32 along the posterior direction 18.
[0068] The first vertebra 24 also has a pair of superior facets 38,
which are positioned toward the top of the first vertebra 24 and
face generally medially. Additionally, the first vertebra 24 has
inferior facets 40, which are positioned toward the bottom of the
first vertebra 24 and face generally laterally. Each of the
pedicles 30 of the first vertebra 24 has a saddle point 42, which
is positioned generally at the center of the juncture of each
superior facet 38 with the adjacent transverse process 34.
[0069] Similarly, the second vertebra 26 has two pedicles 50 and a
posterior arch, or lamina 52, that extends between the posterior
ends of the pedicles 50 to couple the pedicles 50 together. The
second vertebra 26 also has a pair of transverse processes 54 that
extend from the pedicles 50 generally along the medial/lateral axis
20, and a spinous process 56 that extends from the lamina 52 along
the posterior direction 18.
[0070] The second vertebra 26 also has a pair of superior facets
58, which are positioned toward the top of the second vertebra 26
and face generally inward. Additionally, the second vertebra 26 has
inferior facets 60, which are positioned toward the bottom of the
second vertebra 26 and face generally outward. Each of the pedicles
60 of the second vertebra 26 has a saddle point 62, which is
positioned generally at the center of the juncture of each superior
facet 58 with the adjacent transverse process 54.
[0071] The superior facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 articulate
(i.e., slide and/or press) against the inferior facets 60 of the
second vertebra 26 to limit relative motion between the first and
second vertebrae 24, 26. Thus, the combination of each superior
facet 38 with the adjacent inferior facet 60 provides a facet joint
64. The first and second vertebrae 24, 26 thus define two facet
joints 64 that span the distance between the first and second
vertebrae 24, 26. The inferior facets 40 of the first vertebra 40
and the superior facets 58 of the second vertebra 26 are part of
other facet joints that control motion between the first and second
vertebrae 24, 26 and adjacent vertebrae (not shown) and/or the
sacrum (also not shown).
[0072] Each of the facet joints 64 may be covered by a capsule (not
shown) containing a fluid (not shown) that reduces wear of the
facets 38, 60 and facilitates articulation. Additionally, layers of
cartilage (not shown) may cover the facets 38, 60 to further reduce
wear and facilitate articulation. These anatomical structures, as
well as the various muscles, ligaments, and nerves of the spine,
will not be depicted in the Figures to enhance the clarity of the
disclosure.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view illustrates a
primary reamer 70 and a secondary reamer 72 that may be used to
form semispherical interfaces, or semispherical surfaces, on the
saddle points 42, 62 of the vertebrae 24, 26, as will be
illustrated subsequently. The primary reamer 70 has a shaft 74, a
torque interface 76, which may include a hexagonal cross-section
designed to facilitate receipt of torque from a source such as a
handle or a motor, and a head 78 designed to cut away bone tissue.
Similarly, the secondary reamer 72 has a shaft 80, a torque
interface 76, and a head 82.
[0074] Each of the reamers 70, 72 may have an indicator that
clearly specifies its identity and/or intended use. For example,
the shaft of the primary reamer 70 has an indicator 84 that
indicates that it is for primary reaming of a spherical seat, and
the secondary reamer 72 has an indicator 86 that indicates that it
may be used to clean or finish a previously reamed semispherical
seat.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged, perspective view
illustrates the heads 78, 82 of the reamers 70, 72 of FIG. 2. As
shown, the primary reamer 70 has a bore 88 that may pass through
the head 78 and into the shaft 74. The bore 88 is sized to receive
a guide wire or a similar structure to control the position of the
head 78. Furthermore, the head 78 has a flat surface 90 oriented
generally perpendicular to an axis (not shown) of the shaft 74. The
head 78 also has a plurality of cutting flanges 92 distributed
about the circumference of the head 78. Each of the cutting flanges
92 has a straight portion 94 and an arcuate portion 96 adjacent to
the flat surface 90.
[0076] In operation, the primary reamer 70 is registered on a guide
wire or the like, and advanced toward the bone surface to be
resected. The arcuate portions 96 then contact the bone and resect
away bone tissue to provide a generally semispherical indentation
in the bone. The primary reamer 70 continues to advance into the
bone until the flat surface 90 abuts the bone. The primary reamer
70 is then substantially unable to advance further. Thus, the flat
surface 90 controls the depth of reaming.
[0077] The secondary reamer 72 also has a bore 98 that passes
though the head 82 of the secondary reamer 72 and into the
corresponding shaft 80. The bore 98 may also receive a guide wire
or the like to help control positioning of the head 82. The head 82
has a pair of central teeth 100 that protrude inward on either side
of an (not shown) of the shaft 80. The head 82 also has a dome 102
with a straight portion 104 having a generally cylindrical shape,
and an arcuate portion 106 with a semispherical profile that caps
the cylindrical shape of the straight portion 104.
[0078] In operation, the secondary reamer 72 may be used to remove
bone tissue left by the primary reamer 70. More precisely, the
primary reamer 70 leaves the portion of bone abutting the flat
surface 90 intact, and thus forms a surface that is not entirely
semispherical. The secondary reamer 72 removes the excess bone left
by the primary reamer 70. The secondary reamer 72 may be registered
in the same manner as the primary reamer 70, and advanced into the
indentation formed by the primary reamer 70. The central teeth 82
remove the central bone portion that abutted the flat surface 90 to
leave an indentation that is more precisely semispherical. The dome
102 is unable to remove any additional bone tissue, so the
secondary reamer 72 is unable to significantly deepen the
indentation.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 4, an exploded, perspective view
illustrates a "sagittal bridge," or frame 110, that can be attached
to the spine 10 to serve as a base for measurement and resection.
The frame 110 includes a first anchor 112 and a second anchor 114
that may be generally symmetrically positioned on either side of
the sagittal plane 22 and attached, for example, to the saddle
points 42 of the pedicles 30 of the first vertebra 24. The frame
110 also has an external anchor 116 that facilitates attachment of
the frame 110 to an external structure such as an operating table
or the like. A bridging structure 118 couples the first anchor 112,
second anchor 114, and external anchor 116 together in a manner
that permits adjustment of the relative positions of the first and
second anchors 112, 114 to account for anatomical differentiation
in spinal anatomy.
[0080] As shown, each of the first and second anchors 112, 114 has
a main body 120, an anchoring feature 122, and a registration
feature in the form of a guide post 124. Each main body 120 has a
generally rectangular, tapered shape and is integrally formed with
the corresponding anchoring feature 122 and guide post 124. Each of
the anchoring features 122 has a semispherical surface 128 that may
be substantially half-spherical in shape. Each of the anchoring
features 122 also has a bore 130 that extends through the
corresponding semispherical surface 128.
[0081] Each of the guide posts 124 may have a generally rectangular
cross section. The generally rectangular cross section may have two
long sides and two short sides, so that a corresponding generally
rectangular bore of a surgical instrument may only slide into
engagement with the guide post 124 in two different orientations.
Of the two orientations, the wrong orientation may be made obvious
via interference of the frame 110 with the surgical instrument,
handle positioning, marking of the surgical instrument, or any
other method known in the art. In alternative embodiments, a
registration post may have a shape that is engageable with a
corresponding bore in only one orientation. For example, a circular
shaft with a single flat side, a trapezoidal shape, or the like may
be used to ensure that engagement is able to occur along only one
relative orientation.
[0082] The external anchor 116 has an attachment post that permits
attachment of the external anchor 116 to the bridging structure
118. Additionally, the external anchor 116 has an external
anchoring feature 134 that can easily be gripped by a stationary
external support. The external anchoring feature 134 has a
generally spherical surface 136 with a plurality of grooves 138
distributed about its surface. The generally spherical surface may
easily be gripped by a grip (not shown in FIG. 4) having a
corresponding concave semispherical surface.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 4, the bridging structure 118 has a first
arm 140 and a second arm 142 that cooperate to couple the first and
second anchors 112, 114 and the external anchor 116 together. The
first and second arms 140, 142 are movable with respect to each
other in such a manner that the relative positions of the first and
second anchors 112, 114 can be changed in three dimensions. A
locking mechanism 144 enables the relative positions of the anchors
112, 114 to be simultaneously locked in all three dimensions. The
manner in which the bridging structure 118 permits relative
movement and locking of the arms 140, 142 will be described in
greater detail subsequently.
[0084] The first arm 140 has a first end 154 coupled to the locking
mechanism 144 and to the external anchor 116. Additionally, the
first arm 140 has a second end 156 attached to the first anchor
112. The first end 156 has an alcove 158 with a generally
rectangular shape. A hole 160 passes through one wall of the alcove
158 such that a fastener such as a screw 162 may be inserted
through the hole 160 to engage the corresponding aperture 126 of
the first anchor 112. The screw 162 and the aperture 126 may each
be threaded so that the screw 162 threadably engages the aperture
126. The generally rectangular end of the main body 120 of the
first anchor 112 fits into the alcove 158 in such a manner that
relative rotation between the first anchor 112 and the second end
156 is unable to occur.
[0085] The first end 154 includes a first rod 164 along which
relative sliding motion between the arms 140, 142 can occur to
provide relative translation along one axis, or one dimension. The
first end 154 also has a stop feature 166 that limits motion along
the first rod 164. The stop feature 166 may include a flexible
flange 168 that extends away from, and then back toward, the first
rod 164 along a generally U-shaped path. The flange 168 terminates
in a stopper 170 that protrudes outward from the flange 168 and the
aligned surface of the first rod 164.
[0086] When a slider slides over the stop feature 166 and onto the
first rod 164, the relatively small thickness of the flexible
flange 168 enables it to bend inward to remove the stopper 170 from
the pathway of the slider. However, when the slider slides back
toward the stop feature 166, the flexible flange 168 is only able
to spring outward such that the stopper 170 further impedes removal
of the slider from the first rod 164. The stopper 170 may be ramped
on one side, and not on the other, to permit one-way passage of the
slider as outlined above.
[0087] Like the first arm 140, the second arm 142 has a first end
174 coupled to the locking mechanism 144 and to the external anchor
116. Additionally, the second arm 142 has a second end 176 attached
to the first anchor 112. The second end 176 has an alcove 178 that
is a substantial mirror image of the alcove 158 of the first arm
140. Thus, a second fastener such as a screw 162 may be inserted
through a hole 160 formed in one wall of the alcove 178 and
threaded into engagement with the aperture 126 of the second anchor
114. As with the alcove 158, the generally rectangular end of the
main body 120 of the second anchor 114 fits into the alcove 178 in
such a manner that relative rotation between the first anchor 114
and the second end 176 is unable to occur.
[0088] The first end 174 of the second arm 142 has a second rod 184
that permits relative sliding motion between the arms 140, 142
along a second axis perpendicular to the first rod 164. The first
end 174 also has a stop feature 166 that limits motion along the
second rod 164 in a manner similar to that of the stop feature 166
of the first end 154 of the first arm 140.
[0089] The locking mechanism 144 includes a variety of components
that permit tri-axial relative translation between the first ends
154, 174 of the arms 140, 142. More precisely, the locking
mechanism 144 includes a first retention member 190, a first slider
member 192, a second slider member 194, a compression member 196, a
second retention member 198, two fasteners such as screws 200, and
a handle 202. The interaction of these components to provide
relative motion and locking will be described in greater detail as
follows.
[0090] The first retention member 190 has a base plate 204 and a
pair of receiving posts 206 that extend from the base plate 204,
toward the handle 202. Each of the receiving posts 206 has a hole
208 that may be threaded to enable threadable engagement with the
screws 200.
[0091] The first slider member 192 may have a third rod 210 that
enables relative motion between the first and second arms 140, 142
along a third axis orthogonal to the first and second rods 164,
184. Additionally, the first slider member 192 has a first slider
212 that captures and slides along the first rod 164. The first
slider 212 has a bore 214 with a generally rectangular shape sized
to receive the first rod 164 with clearance so that the first rod
164 is able to slide through the bore 214.
[0092] The first slider member 192 also has a slot 216 that bisects
the third rod 210 and substantially bisects the first slider 212.
The slot 216 has a certain width that can be compressed by pressing
the two halves of the third rod 210 together, thereby deforming the
walls of the first slider 212 to bend the bore 214 from its
normally straight shape. Due to the close fit between the first
slider 212 and the first rod 164, bending of the bore 214 causes
frictional contact between the first slider 212 and the first rod
164. Thus, compression on the third rod 210 arrests motion of the
first slider 212 along the first rod 164.
[0093] The second slider member 194 has a second slider 220 and a
third slider 222, which are oriented orthogonally to each other and
to the first slider 212. The second slider 220 has a bore 224 with
a generally rectangular shape, with one unbounded side. Similarly,
the third slider 222 has a bore 226 with a generally rectangular
shape, with one unbounded side. The bores 224 and 226 of the second
and third sliders 220, 222 are generally sized and shaped to slide
along the corresponding second and third rods 184, 210,
respectively.
[0094] Thus, the first, second, and third rods 164, 184, 210
cooperate with the first, second, and third sliders 212, 220, 222
to provide three linear joints that enable relative motion between
the first and second arms 140, 142 along three orthogonal axes. In
alternative embodiments, motion along only one or two axes may be
desired. In other alternative embodiments, one or more joints with
non-translational motion, such as rotary joints, may be used in
place of any of the linear joints of the frame 110. However, use of
the linear joints is advantageous because the guide posts 124 can
be kept in a substantially fixed orientation relative to each other
when the joints are adjusted. Thus, the frame 110 accounts for
three-dimensional variation in the relative positions of the saddle
points 42 of the first vertebra 24, while still maintaining the
desired coordination between operations that are to be keyed to the
guide posts 124.
[0095] Returning to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the compression
member 196 may have a plate 230 with a generally rectangular shape.
A central plateau 232 protrudes from the center of one side of the
plate 230, toward the handle 202. The central plateau 232 has an
alcove 234 with a generally circular cross section. The compression
member 196 may be pressed toward the second slider 220 to cause
locking of all three linear joints in a manner that will be
described subsequently.
[0096] The second retention member 198 has a trough 236 within
which the compression member 196 may be generally positioned. The
second retention member 198 also has two holes 238 through which
the screws 200 may pass to anchor in the holes 208 of the receiving
posts 206 of the first retention member 190. Additionally, the
second retention member 198 has a central plateau 240 in which an
aperture 242 is formed. The aperture 242 may be threaded. The
second retention member 198 also has an attachment projection that
protrudes and has a bore (not shown) sized to receive the
attachment post 132 of the external anchor 116.
[0097] The handle 202 has a threaded stud 246 sized to threadably
engage the aperture 242 of the central plateau 240 of the second
retention member 198. Furthermore, the handle 202 has wings 248
that facilitate gripping and rotation of the handle 202 by hand.
The handle 202 may be used to move the locking mechanism 144
between a locked configuration, in which the three linear joints
are relatively freely movable to enable tri-axial relative
translation between the anchors 112, 114, and an unlocked
configuration in which the anchors 112, 114 are fixed with respect
to each other.
[0098] The first retention member 190, first slider member 192,
second slider member 194, compression member 196, second retention
member 198, screws 200, and handle 202 may be relatively easily
assembled to form the bridging structure 118. According to one
method of assembly, the compression member 196 may first be
positioned in the trough 236 of the second retention member 198.
The second slider member 194 may be positioned to rest on the base
plate 204 of the first retention member 190, between the receiving
posts 206 of the first retention member 190.
[0099] The screws 200 may be inserted through the holes 238 of the
second retention member 198 and rotated into threaded engagement
with the holes 208 of the receiving posts 206. The screws 200 may
be tightened such that the receiving posts 206 abut the second
retention member 198. The threaded stud 246 of the handle 202 may
be inserted through the aperture 242 of the central plateau 240 of
the second retention member 198 and rotated into threaded
engagement with the aperture until the end of the threaded stud 246
enters the alcove 234 of the central plateau 232 of the compression
member 196.
[0100] With the handle 202 positioned so as to allow the
compression member 196 to remain in a retracted position, the first
rod 164 may be inserted into the first slider 212, the second rod
184 may be inserted into the second slider 220, and the third rod
210 may be inserted into the third slider 222. The first and second
sliders 212, 220 may be translated to slide past the stop features
166 at the ends of the first and second rods 164, 184,
respectively. Assembly of the locking mechanism 144 is then
complete.
[0101] Next, the external anchor 116 may be attached to the locking
mechanism 144. More precisely, the attachment post 132 of the
external anchor 116 may be inserted into the attachment projection
244 of the second retention member 198 and retained via
interference fitting, welding, or the like. The anchors 112, 114
may be attached to the second ends 156, 176 of the first and second
arms 140, 142 via the screws 162 in the manner indicated previously
to complete assembly of the bridging structure 118.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view illustrates the
frame 110 in a fully assembled state. The anchoring features 122 of
the anchors 112, 114 are ready to be attached to the saddle points
42 of the first vertebra 24. With the locking mechanism 144 in the
unlocked configuration, the rods 164, 184, 210 are able to slide
relatively freely through the sliders 212, 220, 222, respectively
to permit tri-axial adjustment of the relative positions of the
first and second anchors 112, 114. This permits the frame 110 to be
easily adapted to a variety of spinal morphologies, including bone
structures that are asymmetrical across the sagittal plane 22.
[0103] After the anchors 112, 114 have been relatively positioned
as desired, the handle 202 may be rotated by hand to press the
compression member 196 against the adjacent side of the second rod
184. As a result, the opposite side of the second rod 184 is
pressed against the bore 224 of the second slider 220, thereby
pressing the bore 226 of the third slider 222 against the third rod
210 to sandwich the third rod 210 between the third slider 222 and
the base plate 204 of the first retention member 190. Consequently,
the second and third sliders 220, 222 are unable to slide along the
second and third rods 184, 210 due to transverse pressure acting
transversely to compress the sliders 220, 222 against the rods 184,
210, respectively.
[0104] Compression of the third rod 210 also compresses the slot
216 of the first slider member 192, thereby compressing the sides
of the first slider 212 against the first rod 164. Accordingly, the
first slider 212 is also unable to slide along the first rod 164.
Relative motion between the anchors 112, 114 is thus substantially
prevented along all three joints, or all three orthogonal axes.
This is accomplished by actuating only one user control, i.e., the
handle 202. Separate controls need not be actuated to lock each of
the joints of the bridging structure 118.
[0105] Referring to FIG. 6, a perspective view illustrates a
stationary external support 260 according to one embodiment of the
invention. The stationary external support 260 may be coupled to a
stationary object such as an operating table, wall, or the like,
and to the external anchor 116 of the frame 110 to keep the frame
110 substantially stationary.
[0106] As shown in FIG. 6, the stationary external support 260 may
have a fixed end 262 designed to be attached to the stationary
object via a clamp (not shown), permanent welded attachment, or the
like. The stationary external support 260 also has a grip 264 that
can be used to grip the external anchor 116 of the frame 110 in a
manner that will be described subsequently. The grip 264 and the
first end 262 are movably coupled together via an adjustment
structure 266.
[0107] The adjustment structure 266 may include a first rod 270, a
second rod 272, and a third rod 274 that are coupled together via
three joints, or more precisely, a first joint 276, a second joint
278, and a third joint 280. The rods 270, 272, 274 may be formed of
a sturdy material such as steel, aluminum, or the like, and may be
solid or hollow. Each of the joints 276, 278, 280 may provide at
least rotary motion, and possibly linear motion, and may be
securely lockable to enable the stationary external support 260 to
provide stiff support to the frame 110.
[0108] The first joint 276 may have a main body 282 and a rod
coupler 284 that is attached to the first rod 270 and is rotatably
attached to the main body 282. Additionally, the first joint 276
has a handle 286 that can be rotated to control locking of the
relative orientations of the main body 282 and the rod coupler 284.
The rod coupler 284 has a slot 288 with a large portion through
which the corresponding end of the first rod 270 passes.
[0109] The handle 286 has a plurality of ridges 290 that facilitate
rotation of the handle 286 by hand, or through the use of a
corresponding tool having an indentation that matches the shape of
the handle 286. Clockwise rotation, or tightening, of the handle
286 substantially prevents further relative rotation between the
rod coupler 284 and the main body 282 to keep the rod coupler 284
at a pre-established orientation with respect to the main body
282.
[0110] Additionally, if the first joint 276 also enables relative
translation, tightening of the handle 286 may compress the rod
coupler 284 to compress the slot 288 to grip the corresponding end
of the first rod 270 to restrict relative translation between the
rod coupler 284 and the first rod 270. Alternatively, the end of
the first rod 270 may have a groove or other feature that
cooperates with a corresponding feature within the rod coupler 284
to prevents relative translation. Gripping the end of the first rod
270 may also restrict rotation of the end of the first rod 270
within the rod coupler 284.
[0111] The second joint 278 may be configured somewhat similarly to
the first joint 276, and may thus have a main body 292, a rod
coupler 294, and a handle 296. The main body 292 is integrally
formed with the main body 282 of the first joint 278. The rod
coupler 294 is rotatably coupled to the main body 292 and retains
the second rod 272 in a manner that may permit relative translation
between the rod coupler 294 and the second rod 272. The handle 296
has wings 300 that facilitate gripping for manual rotation of the
handle 296.
[0112] Tightening of the handle 286 of the first joint 276
substantially prevents relative rotation between the main body 292
and the rod coupler 294. Accordingly, the handle 286 is able to
lock relative rotation between the first and second rods 270, 272
along three orthogonal axes. The handle 296 of the second joint 278
optionally also prevents relative translation and rotation between
the rod coupler 294 and the second rod 272. Thus, the handle 296 of
the second joint 278 may be capable of locking relative rotation
and translation between the first and second rods 270, 272 along or
about a single axis.
[0113] The third joint 280 is configured similarly to the first and
second joints 276, 278. Thus, the third joint 280 has a main body
302, a rod coupler 304, and a handle 296. The main body 302 is
rigidly attached to the end of the second rod 272. The main rod
coupler 304 is rotatably coupled to the main body 302 and retains
the third rod 274 in a manner that may permit relative translation
between the rod coupler 304 and the third rod 274. The handle 296
has the same configuration as the handle 296 of the second joint
278. Tightening of the handle 296 substantially prevents relative
rotation between the main body 302 and the rod coupler 304, and
optionally also prevents relative translation between the rod
coupler 304 and the third rod 274.
[0114] Furthermore, tightening the handle 296 prevents rotation of
the end of the third rod 274 within the rod coupler 304. Thus, the
handle 296 of the third joint 280 may be capable of locking
relative rotation between the second and third rods 272, 274 about
two orthogonal axes, and of locking relative translation between
the second and third rods 272, 274 along one of the axes of
rotation.
[0115] Each of the second and third rods 272, 274 has a stop 310 in
the form of an outwardly-extending flange. The stops 310 prevent
the second and third rods 272, 274 from being withdrawn from the
rod couplers 294, 304 of the second and third joints 278, 280,
respectively. Furthermore, each of the joints 276, 278, 280 may
have a plurality of clocking features, such as internal ridges (not
shown), which may restrict relative rotation of each of the joints
276, 278, 280 to a number of discrete positions, thereby enhancing
the stability of the joints 276, 278, 280.
[0116] The grip 264 has a first gripping member 312, a second
gripping member 314, and a handle 296. The first gripping member
312 may be integrally formed with the third rod 274, and the second
gripping member 314 may be separate from the first gripping member
312 so as to permit relative motion between the first and second
gripping members 312, 314. The handle 296 has the same
configuration as the handles 296 of the second joint 278 and the
third joint 280. The handle 296 has a threaded stud 316 that passes
through a hole (not shown) of the first gripping member 312 and
threadably engages a threaded hole 318 of the second gripping
member 314.
[0117] Clockwise rotation, or tightening, of the handle 296 of the
grip 264 may draw the first and second gripping members 312, 314
together. The first and second gripping members 312, 314 may
cooperate to define a semispherical surface 320 with a concave
configuration sized to receive the generally spherical surface 136
of the external anchor 116. The generally spherical surface 136 of
the external anchor 116 may be inserted into the semispherical
surface 320 of the grip 264 prior to tightening of the handle 296
so that the generally spherical surface 136 is unable to be drawn
free of the semispherical surface 320 without loosening of the
handle 296. The ridges 138 of the generally spherical surface 136
enhance locking and help to prevent relative rotation between the
external anchor 116 and the grip 264.
[0118] Referring to FIG. 7, an exploded, perspective view
illustrates a facet measurement tool 330 according to one
embodiment of the invention. The facet measurement tool 330 may be
designed to register on the frame 110 to measure a bony landmark
such as the most medial and anterior surface of a superior facet,
otherwise denoted "P1."
[0119] As shown, the facet measurement tool 330 may have a
registration member 332, a handle member 334, a fastener such as a
screw 336, a slider member 338, and a contact member 340. The
registration member 332 has a registration interface 342, a first
slider 344, and an arm 346 that couples the registration interface
342 and the first slider 344 together. The registration interface
342 has a bore 348 with a generally rectangular shape sized to
receive the guide post 124 of the first anchor 112 of the frame
110. The first slider 344 also has a bore 350 with a generally
rectangular cross sectional shape suitable for receiving a rod
having a corresponding rectangular cross section.
[0120] Additionally, the first slider 344 has an aperture 352 that
may be threaded to permit threaded engagement of the screw 336 with
the aperture 352. The first slider 344 also has an indicator 354
that indicates the identity and proper use of the registration
member 332 to help prevent improper assembly or use of the
registration member 332. As shown in FIG. 7, the indicator 354
indicates that the registration member 332 is to be used for
measurement of P1, or the most medial and anterior surface of a
superior facet, on the left-hand side of a vertebra.
[0121] The handle member 334 has a handle 358 shaped to be grasped
by a hand of a user, and an attachment end 360 attachable to the
first slider 344 of the registration member 332. The attachment end
360 has an alcove 362 designed to conform to the shape of the first
slider 344 to prevent relative rotation between the handle member
334 and the first slider 344. The alcove 362 has a hole (not shown)
that permits passage of the screw 336 therethrough to attach the
attachment end 360 to the first slider 344.
[0122] The slider member 338 has a first rod 364 slidable within
the first slider 344 and a second slider 366 shaped to slidably
receive the contact member 340. The first rod 364 is bounded by a
generally rectangular cross sectional shape, and has markings 368
arranged in two separate groupings along its length. The second
slider 366 has a bore 370 with a generally rectangular cross
sectional shape similar to the bore 350 of the first slider 344. A
stop feature 166 like those of the frame 110 is positioned on the
opposite end of the first rod 364 from the second slider 366 to
prevent unintended withdrawal the first rod 364 from the bore 350
of the first slider 344.
[0123] The contact member 340 has a second rod 374, a contact
extension 376 extending from the second rod 374, and a grip 378
that extends from the opposite end of the second rod 374. The
second rod 374 is bounded by a generally rectangular cross section
and has a plurality of markings 380 distributed along one end,
adjacent to the grip 378. The contact extension 376 has a contact
feature 382 shaped to contact P1 to permit measurement of the
position of P1 with the facet measurement tool 330.
[0124] According to one method of assembling the facet measurement
tool 330, the attachment end 360 of the handle member 334 may first
be attached to the first slider 344 by inserting the screw 336
through the hole (not shown) of the alcove 362 and then threadably
anchoring the screw 336 in the aperture 352 of the first slider
344. Then, the first rod 364 may be inserted into the bore 350 of
the first slider 344 until the first slider 344 has moved past the
stop feature 166. The contact member 340 may then be inserted into
the bore 370 of the second slider 366 so that the second rod 374 is
positioned within the bore 370 to complete assembly of the facet
measurement tool 330.
[0125] Referring to FIG. 8, a perspective view illustrates the
facet measurement tool 330 in a fully assembled state. Once
assembled, the registration member 332, slider member 338, and
contact member 340 all combine to form a displacement structure 384
capable of permitting bi-axial variation in the relative positions
of the registration interface 342 and the contact feature 382. More
precisely, the first slider 344 and the first rod 364 cooperate to
permit relative translation along one axis, and the second slider
366 and the second rod 374 cooperate to permit relative translation
along an axis perpendicular to that of the first slider 344 and the
first rod 364.
[0126] The registration member 332 is particular to the left-hand
side, and a mirror image of the registration member 332 would be
required for right-side measurement operations. However, the slider
member 338 and the contact member 340 may be used for either
left-hand side or right-hand side measurement, and simply be
rotated 180.degree. and assembled with a right-hand registration
member, handle member, and screw (not shown) to provide a facet
measurement tool for the right-hand side.
[0127] Referring to FIG. 9, a plan view illustrates the facet
measurement tool 330 in the fully assembled state. As shown, each
of the first and second sliders 344, 366 has a plurality of
recesses 386 positioned to facilitate reading of the markings 368,
380 of the first and second rods 364, 374, respectively. Each of
the sliders 344, 366 also has measurement edges 388 that align with
the tic marks adjacent to the numbers of the markings 368, 380 so
that a clear and unambiguous measurement reading may be
obtained.
[0128] As depicted in FIG. 9, the markings 368 are positioned on
either side of the first slider 344. Additionally, the recesses 386
and measurement edges 388 are positioned on either end of the first
slider 344 so that readings can be taken from either side. With
respect to the orientation of FIG. 9, the markings 368 above the
first slider 344 include numerals that fall in between the numerals
of the markings 368 below the first slider 344. The appropriate
measurement may be acquired from either set of the markings 368,
depending on which set of the markings 368 has a tic mark closest
to the corresponding measurement edge 388.
[0129] For example, in FIG. 9, the tic marks on either side of the
number "16" are aligned with the measurement edges 388 on the
adjacent end of the first slider 344. The markings 368 below the
first slider 344 do not have a tic mark aligned with the
corresponding measurement edges 388. Accordingly, "16" is the
appropriate measurement. By permitting measurement readings to be
taken on either side of the slider 344, the resolution of the facet
measurement tool 330 along the axis of the first rod 364 can be
effectively doubled.
[0130] The same principle is applied to the second slider 366.
However, the markings 380 are not read from either side of the
second slider 366. Rather, the markings 380 are offset on each pair
of adjacent surfaces of the generally square cross section of the
second rod 374, as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the appropriate
measurement for the second slider 366 and the second rod 374 is
"10." In alternative embodiments, different offsets between all
four sides may be used to further increase the resolution of the
measurement provided by the second slider 366 and the second rod
374.
[0131] Referring to FIG. 10, an exploded, perspective view
illustrates a pedicle measurement tool 430 according to one
embodiment of the invention. The pedicle measurement tool 430 may
be designed to register on the frame 110 to measure the
three-dimensional position of a bony landmark such as one of the
saddle points 62 of a pedicle 50 of the second vertebra 26.
[0132] As shown, the pedicle measurement tool 430 has a
registration member 432, a handle member 334, a slider member 434,
a screw 336, a pin 436, a rod member 438, and a contact member 440.
The registration member 432 may be similar or even identical to the
registration member 332 of the facet measurement tool 330, except
that the registration member 432 has a first slider 444 with an
indicator 454 that indicates that registration member 432 is for
saddle point, or pedicle, measurement rather than facet
measurement. The handle member 334 and the screw 336 may be
identical to those of the previous embodiment.
[0133] The rod member 438 has a first rod 464 and a second rod 466
integrally formed with the first rod 464 and separated from the
first rod 464 by a ninety-degree bend 468. The first rod 464 is
designed to slide within the first slider 444, and the second rod
466 is designed to slide within a second slider. The first rod 464
has a plurality of markings 470 used to indicate measurements, and
the second rod 466 has markings 472 that indicate measurements
along an axis orthogonal to that of the first rod 464.
[0134] A stop feature 166 like those of the frame 110 is positioned
at the end of the first rod 464 opposite to the bend 468 to prevent
withdrawal of the first rod 464 from within the first slider 444.
The second rod 466 has an aperture 474 positioned at the end of the
second rod 466 opposite to the bend 468 to receive the pin 436.
Once in place within the aperture 474, the pin 436 protrudes from
the aperture 474 to act as a stop feature to prevent withdrawal of
the second rod 466 from the second slider.
[0135] As shown, the slider member 434 has a second slider 476 and
a third slider 478. The second slider 434 has a bore 480 with a
generally rectangular cross section shaped to slidably receive the
second rod 466. Similarly, the third slider 478 has a bore 482 with
a generally rectangular cross section shaped to slidably receive
the contact member 440. The second slider 476 has an indicator 484
that indicates the identity and intended use of the slider member
434, i.e., use on the pedicle measurement tool 430 for the
left-hand side of the spine.
[0136] The contact member 440 has a third rod 494, a contact
extension 496 extending from one end of the third rod 494, and a
grip 378 extending from the opposite end of the third rod 494. The
third rod 494 has a series of markings 500 distributed along its
length. The third rod 494 is also bounded by a generally
rectangular cross section so that the third rod 494 is slidably
receivable within the bore 482 of the third slider 478. The contact
extension 496 has a contact feature 502 shaped to contact the
saddle point 62 of the left-hand side of the second vertebra 26 for
accurate positional measurement.
[0137] The registration member 432, handle member 334, slider
member 434, screw 336, pin 436, rod member 438, and contact member
440 may all be assembled in a variety of ways to provide the
pedicle measurement tool 430. According to one method, the
attachment end 360 of the handle member 334 is first attached to
the first slider 444 via the screw 336 by inserting the screw 336
through the hole (not shown) of the alcove 362 and threadably
anchoring the screw 336 in the aperture 352 of the first slider
444.
[0138] The first rod 464 is then inserted through the bore 350 of
the first slider 444 until the first slider 444 has passed beyond
the stop feature 166 at the end of the first rod 464. The second
rod 466 is then inserted through the bore 480 of the second slider
476 until the second slider 476 has passed beyond the aperture 474
at the end of the second rod 466. Then, the pin 436 is inserted
into the aperture 474 to prevent passage of the second slider 476
back over the aperture 474. The contact member 440 is then inserted
through the bore 482 of the third slider 478 until the third rod
494 is positioned within the bore 482 to complete assembly of the
pedicle measurement tool 430.
[0139] Referring to FIG. 11, a perspective view illustrates the
pedicle measurement tool 430 in a fully assembled state. Once
assembled, the registration member 432, slider member 434, rod
member 438, and contact member 440 all combine to form a
displacement structure 504 capable of permitting tri-axial
variation in the relative positions of the registration interface
342 and the contact feature 502. More precisely, the first slider
444 and the first rod 464 cooperate to permit relative translation
along one axis. The second slider 476 and the second rod 466
cooperate to permit relative translation along an axis
perpendicular to that of the first slider 444 and the first rod
464. The third slider 478 and the third rod 494 cooperate to permit
relative translation along an axis perpendicular to those of the
first slider 444 and the first rod 464, and the second slider 476
and the second rod 466.
[0140] The registration member 432 is particular to the left-hand
side, and a mirror image of the registration member 432 would be
required for right-side measurement operations. However, the slider
member 434, pin 436, rod member 438, and contact member 440 may be
used for either left-hand side or right-hand side measurement. The
slider member 434, pin 436, and rod member 438 may simply be
rotated 180.degree., and the contact member 440 may be rotated
180.degree. about a different axis, and then the slider member 434,
pin 436, rod member 438, and contact member 440 may be reassembled
to each other and to a right-hand registration member, handle
member, and screw (not shown) to provide a pedicle measurement tool
for the right-hand side.
[0141] Referring to FIG. 12, a plan view illustrates the pedicle
measurement tool 430 in a fully assembled state. As shown, each of
the first, second, and third sliders 444, 476, 478 has a plurality
of recesses 386 positioned to facilitate reading of the markings
470, 472, 500 of the first, second, and third rods 464, 466, 494,
respectively. Each of the sliders 444, 476, 478 also has
measurement edges 388 that align with the tic marks adjacent to the
numbers of the markings 470, 472, 500 so that a clear and
unambiguous measurement reading may be obtained.
[0142] The recesses 386 and measurement edges 388 operate in the
manner described previously, in connection with FIG. 9, to
facilitate measurement. Furthermore, like the markings 368 of FIG.
9, each set of markings 470, 472 of the first and second rods 464,
466 of FIG. 12 is separated into two groupings to double the
resolution of measurement along their respective axes by permitting
measurements to be read from either end of the first and second
sliders 444, 476. As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 11, the
markings 500 of the third rod 494 may also be staggered between
adjacent, perpendicular facets of the third rod 494 to provide a
similar increase in resolution, as on the second rod 374 the facet
measurement tool 330 of FIG. 8.
[0143] Referring to FIG. 13, a perspective view illustrates a kit
510 of cutting tools designed to resect the superior facets 38 of
the first vertebra 24. The kit 510 includes a short cutting tool
512, a long cutting tool 514, a curved cutting tool 516, and a seat
cutting tool 518. Each of the cutting tools 512, 514, 516, 518 is
registrable to the spine 10 via a post or guide wire (not shown in
FIG. 13) to guide rotation of the cutting tools 512, 514, 516, 518
to a fixed axis. The short cutting tool 512, the long cutting tool
514, and the curved cutting tool 516 cooperate to resect bone
tissue from the superior facet 38 of the left-hand side of the
first vertebra 24 to provide a substantially continuous, planar
surface. The seat cutting tool 518 is usable to provide a planar
surface relatively nearer the saddle point 42 of the pedicle 30 of
the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. The manner in which
the kit 510 is used will be shown and described in greater detail
subsequently.
[0144] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the short cutting tool 512 has a
shaft 520 and a resection feature 522 protruding asymmetrically
from the shaft 520. The shaft 520 receives oscillating torque,
which is then transmitted to the resection feature 522 to remove
bone tissue as the resection feature 522 oscillates against the
bone tissue. The shaft 520 has a central portion 524, a torque
receiver 526, and a distal cap 528. In alternative embodiments, a
shaft 520 of a superior cutting tool (not shown) need not have a
circular cross section, and need not be used for rotation. Rather,
such a shaft may be used to drive linear motion to provide
resection of a bony landmark. Such translational superior cutting
tools are envisioned by the present invention.
[0145] The central portion 524 has an indicator 530 that indicates
the identity and intended use of the short cutting tool 512, i.e.,
resection of the superior facet 38 of the left-hand side of the
first vertebra 24. The torque receiver 526 is shaped to receive a
torque transmitting implement such as a manually grippable handle
or a coupling driven by a motor. The torque receiver 526 may have a
hexagonal cross section or the like to permit transmission of
torque when inserted into a corresponding hexagonal cavity of a
driver (not shown in FIG. 13). Manual rotation of the cutting tools
512, 514, 516, 518 may provide greater control for purposes of
superior facet resection. The shaft 520 further has a registration
feature 532 that facilitates rotation about the desired stationary
axis. The registration feature 532 will be shown and described in
greater detail subsequently.
[0146] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the resection feature 522 is
integrally formed with the distal cap 528 of the shaft 520. The
resection feature 522 includes an arm 534 generally parallel to the
shaft 520 and a cutting surface 536 that extends substantially
perpendicular to the arm 534. The cutting surface 536 is shaped to
form a substantially planar resection surface in response to
oscillatory rotation about an axis of rotation 538 of the shaft
520. As shown, the resection feature 522 protrudes non-collinear to
the axis of rotation 538. Thus, the resection feature 522 is not
symmetrical about the axis of rotation 538. The resection feature
522 and the registration feature 532 will be shown and described in
greater detail subsequently.
[0147] The long cutting tool 514 similarly has a shaft 540 and a
resection feature 542 protruding from the shaft 540. The shaft 540
has a central portion 544, a torque receiver 526, and a distal cap
548. The central portion 544 has an indicator 550 that indicates
the identity and intended use of the long cutting tool 514. The
shaft 540 has a registration interface 532 that facilitates
rotation about the desired stationary axis, i.e., the axis of
rotation 538 of the shaft 540. The resection feature 542 is
integrally formed with the distal cap 548 and has an arm 534 and a
cutting surface 556 that extends substantially perpendicular to the
arm 534. The cutting surface 556 is shaped to cooperate with the
cutting surface 536 of the short cutting tool 512 to form the
substantially planar resection surface.
[0148] The curved cutting tool 516 similarly has a shaft 560 and a
resection feature 562 protruding from the shaft 560. The shaft 560
has a central portion 564, a torque receiver 526, and a distal cap
568. The central portion 564 has an indicator 570 that indicates
the identity and intended use of the curved cutting tool 516. The
shaft 560 has a registration interface 532 that facilitates
rotation about the desired stationary axis, i.e., the axis of
rotation 538 of the shaft 560. The resection feature 562 is
integrally formed with the distal cap 568 and has an arm 534 and a
cutting surface 576 that extends substantially perpendicular to the
arm 534.
[0149] The cutting surface 576 is shaped to cooperate with the
cutting surfaces 536, 556 of the short cutting tool 512 and the
long cutting tool 514 to form the substantially planar resection
surface. However, unlike the cutting surfaces 536, 556, the cutting
surface 576 is generally arcuate in shape. The configuration of the
cutting surface 576 will be shown and described in greater detail
subsequently.
[0150] The seat cutting tool 518 also has a shaft 580 and a
resection feature 582 protruding from the shaft 580. The shaft 580
has a central portion 584, a torque receiver 526, and a distal cap
588. The central portion 584 has an indicator 590 that indicates
the identity and intended use of the seat cutting tool 518. The
shaft 580 has a registration interface 592 that facilitates
rotation about the desired stationary axis, i.e., the axis of
rotation 538 of the shaft 580. The resection feature 582 is
integrally formed with the distal cap 588 and has a cutting surface
596 that extends substantially perpendicular to the shaft 580. The
seat cutting tool 518 may be registered differently from the
cutting tools 512, 514, 516; therefore, the resection feature 582
does not require an arm 534 to displace the cutting surface 596
from the distal cap 588.
[0151] Referring to FIG. 14, an enlarged, perspective view
illustrates the resection feature 522 and the corresponding end of
the shaft 520 of the short cutting tool 512 in greater detail. As
shown, the registration interface 532 has a bore 600 that passes
through the distal cap 528 and into the remainder of the shaft 520
via an aperture 602 formed in the distal cap 528. Accordingly, the
registration interface 532 is able to receive a stationary
registration feature such as a cylindrical member to constrain
rotation of the short cutting tool 512 to the axis of rotation 538
of the shaft 520.
[0152] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the cutting surface 536 has a
leading edge 604 and a rasp portion 606 that trails behind the
leading edge 604 when the cutting surface 536 moves clockwise about
the axis of rotation 538, as viewed from the torque receiver 526.
The leading edge 604 has a wedge 608 with an acute angle that
enables the wedge 608 to split off and pry up bits of bone tissue.
The rasp portion 606 has a plurality of abrasive features in the
form of teeth 610 that abrade the bone surface to further remove
bone tissue. The teeth 610 may also have sharpened edges that
scrape against the bone as the rasp portion 606 follows the leading
edge 604. If desired, the teeth 610 may vary slightly in length so
that each tooth removes progressively more bone.
[0153] The teeth 610 advantageously are oriented to cut
substantially along only one direction of rotation of the short
cutting tool 512, i.e., the direction moving away from the
foramenal space of the first vertebra 24. Thus, the sensitive nerve
roots that extend through the foramenal space are protected from
abrasion by the relatively blunt, trailing edges of the teeth 610.
In alternative embodiments, a rasp portion of a superior facet
cutting tool may have teeth with various shapes to provide straight
teeth, angled teeth, diamond-shaped teeth, or any other desirable
tooth configuration.
[0154] The leading edge 604 and the rasp portion 606 provide two
different types of cutting action that cooperate to enhance the
efficiency of resection, as well as provide a relatively smooth
resection surface. The short cutting tool 512 may be rotated by
hand in an oscillatory manner about the axis of rotation 538 to
form a portion of a resection surface that is generally bounded by
a sector of a circle.
[0155] Referring to FIG. 15, an enlarged, perspective view
illustrates the resection feature 562 and the corresponding end of
the shaft 560 of the curved cutting tool 516 in greater detail. The
registration interface 532 of the curved cutting tool 516 is not
shown in detail in FIG. 15, but is substantially the same as that
of the short cutting tool 512, as described in connection with FIG.
14. The curved, or generally arcuate, shape of the cutting surface
576 is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 15.
[0156] As in the short cutting tool 512, the cutting surface 576 of
the curved cutting tool 516 has a leading edge 614 and a rasp
portion 616 that trails behind the leading edge 614 when the
cutting surface 576 moves clockwise about the axis of rotation 538,
as viewed from the torque receiver 526. The leading edge 614 has a
wedge 618 with an acute angle that enables the wedge 618 to split
off and pry up bits of bone tissue. The rasp portion 616 has a
plurality of abrasive features in the form of teeth 620 that abrade
the bone surface to further remove bone tissue.
[0157] As in the cutting surface 536, the leading edge 614 and the
rasp portion 616 of the cutting surface 576 provide two different
types of cutting action that cooperate to enhance the efficiency of
resection, as well as provide a relatively smooth resection
surface. The curved cutting tool 516 may be rotated by hand in an
oscillatory manner about the axis of rotation 538 to form a portion
of a resection surface that is generally bounded by a skewed sector
of a circle. The long cutting tool 514 and the curved cutting tool
516 may form progressively larger resections than the short cutting
tool 512, and may thus be used in progressive combination to split
the superior facet resection procedure into a plurality of
relatively simple steps.
[0158] Referring to FIG. 16, a perspective view illustrates one
embodiment of a cutting guide 630 usable to couple the short
cutting tool 512, the long cutting tool 514, and the curved cutting
tool 516 of FIG. 13 to the frame 110 of FIG. 4. As shown, the
cutting guide 630 has a main body 632, a registration interface 634
designed to be registered on the frame 110, and a registration
feature 636 designed to guide motion of the cutting tools 512, 514,
516.
[0159] The main body 632 may have a plurality of bends, including a
first bend 640, a second bend 642, and a third bend 644 that
provide the appropriate orientation of the registration feature 636
relative to the registration interface 634. The main body 632 also
has a shoulder 646 adjoining the registration feature 636 to
support the cutting tools 512, 514, 516, thereby controlling the
depth of resection.
[0160] Further, the main body 632 has an indicator 648 that
indicates the identity and intended use of the cutting guide 630,
i.e., resection of the superior facet 38 on the left-hand side of
the first vertebra 24. The indicator 648 further indicates that the
cutting guide 630 corresponds to a specific implant, i.e., superior
implant #1, which may be selected from a kit of several superior
prostheses based on measurements made with the facet measurement
tool 330 and/or the pedicle measurement tool 430. Generally, each
prosthesis is selected based on which prosthesis of the kit most
nearly resembles the natural facet to be replaced.
[0161] The registration interface 634 has a bore 650 with a
generally rectangular shape selected to slide onto the guide post
124 of the first anchor 112 of the frame 110. The rectangular shape
of the bore 650 and the guide post 124 then prevents relative
rotation between the frame 110 and the cutting guide 630. The
registration feature 636 has a post 652 with a generally circular
cross section sized to slide into the bore 600 of any of the
cutting tools 512, 514, 516. The post 652 may slide into the
corresponding bore 600 until the corresponding distal cap 528, 548,
568 abuts the shoulder 646 of the main body 632. The shoulder 646
thus controls the depth of resection by determining the plane
within which resection occurs.
[0162] Referring to FIG. 17, an exploded, perspective view
illustrates an inferior resection tool 660 according to one
embodiment of the invention. The inferior resection tool 660 may be
used to resect the inferior facet 60 of the left-hand side of the
second vertebra 26. As will be described in greater detail
subsequently, the inferior resection tool 660 remotely simulates
the tangential contact between members of a ball-and-trough joint
such as the facet joints 64 of the spine 10, or a replacement facet
joint designed to mimic the articulation of the facet joints
64.
[0163] As shown, the inferior resection tool 660 has a registration
member 662, an anchoring member 664, and a pivot member 666. A
guide wire 668, a pedicle screw 670, and a castle nut 672 may be
used in conjunction with the registration member 662 and the
anchoring member 664, and are therefore depicted in FIG. 17, in
addition to the first anchor 112 illustrated previously in FIGS. 4
and 5.
[0164] The registration member 662 has a registration interface 680
designed to register the inferior resection tool 660 on the frame
110 of FIG. 4. Additionally, the registration member 662 has a
first arm 682 coupled to the registration interface 680 at a bend
684. The registration interface 680 has a bore 686 with a generally
rectangular cross section shaped to receive the guide post 124 of
the first anchor 112 of the frame 110 in such a manner that the
registration member 662 is unable to rotate with respect to the
frame 110. The bend 684 positions the first arm 682 at a desired
orientation with respect to the registration interface 680. The
first arm 682 has an extension 688 with a relatively narrower cross
section and a shoulder 690 that controls the depth of insertion of
the extension 688 into the pivot member 666.
[0165] As shown, the anchoring member 664 has an anchoring feature
700, a guide feature 702, a second arm 704, and an arcuate
extension 706. The anchoring feature 700 is shaped to abut the
left-side saddle point 62 of the second vertebra 26 in such a
manner that the anchoring member 664 is able to rotate against the
second vertebra 26 until locked in place via the castle nut 672.
The anchoring feature 700 has a semispherical surface that permits
relative rotation between the anchoring member 664 and the second
vertebra 26 along three orthogonal axes. The anchoring feature also
has a bore 712 through which the pedicle 670 may extend. The
semispherical surface 700 corresponds to a semispherical surface of
an inferior prosthesis so that motion of the anchoring feature 700
against the bone mimics positioning of the corresponding inferior
prosthesis.
[0166] The guide feature 702 has a slot 714 positioned to guide a
cutting tool, such as a blade of an oscillating saw designed for
cutting bone. The second arm 704 has a first portion 716 and a
second portion 718 extending from the first portion 716 at an
angle. The second arm 704 also has an indicator 720 that indicates
the identity and intended use of the second arm 704, i.e.,
resection of the left-side facet 60 of the second vertebra 24.
[0167] The indicator 720 further indicates that the anchoring
member 664 corresponds to a specific implant, i.e., inferior
implant #4 "long," which may be selected from a kit of several
inferior implants based on measurements made with the facet
measurement tool 330 and/or the pedicle measurement tool 430. The
registration member 662 may similarly correspond to a specific
superior implant, and may have an indicator (not shown) that
indicates which implant of a kit of multiple implants the
registration member 662 corresponds to.
[0168] The arcuate extension 706 has a generally arcuate shape
designed to cooperate with the pivot member 666 to provide a rotary
joint. The arcuate extension 706 has a groove 722 that extends
along its length to interface with the pivot member 666.
[0169] The pivot member 666 has a main body 730, a retention
interface 732, a lever 734, a plate 736, and an engagement
interface 738. The main body 730 has a generally U-shaped
configuration with a first pair of apertures 740 and a second pair
of apertures 742. The first pair of apertures 742 pivotably engages
the lever 734. The second pair of apertures 742 pivotably engages
the plate 736. The main body 730 also has a plateau 744 that
pivotably engages the engagement interface 738.
[0170] The plate 736 has a pair of pins 746 that extend into the
second pair of apertures 742 of the main body 730 such that the
plate 736 is rotatable relative to the main body 730 about an axis
passing through the pins 746. The retention interface 732 has a
first bracket 748 with a generally U-shaped configuration and a
second bracket 750 that also has a generally U-shaped configuration
and is positioned in opposition to the first bracket 748 so that
the extension 688 of the first arm 682 can be retained between the
brackets 748, 750. The first and second brackets 748, 750 are
positioned within a slot 752 defined by the shape of the main body
730. The retention interface 732 is able to slide along the slot
752 until the lever 734 is actuated to lock the extension 688 and
the retention interface 732 in place.
[0171] The lever 734 has a grip plate 754 and a detent plate 756
that are positioned at near-ninety degree angles to each other. The
grip plate 754 is positioned to be grasped and manually moved by a
user to move the lever 734 between locked and unlocked positions.
The detent plate 756 is positioned to abut the main body 730 to
limit rotation of the lever 734. A pivot extension 758 extends from
the detent plate 756 and includes a pair of flanges 760, only one
of which is visible in FIG. 17. The flanges 760 are pivotably
attached to the first pair of apertures 740 such that the lever 734
rotates about an axis passing through the first pair of apertures
740. The flanges 760 are also pivotably coupled to the plate 736 at
a point-of-attachment that is not visible in FIG. 17, but is
proximate the juncture of the grip plate 754 to the detent plate
756.
[0172] In FIG. 17, the lever 734 is in an unlocked position, in
which the main body 730 is not compressed and therefore, the first
and second brackets 748, 750 of the retention interface 732 are
movable along the slot 752 and may be separated sufficiently to
permit insertion of the extension 688 of the first arm 682 into the
space between the first and second brackets 748, 750. When the
lever 734 is pivoted such that the detent plate 756 abuts the end
of the main body 730, the plate 736 is drawn by the flanges 760
such that the second pair of apertures 742 of the main body 730 is
drawn toward the first pair of apertures 740. As a result, the slot
752 is compressed and the brackets 748, 750 of the retention
interface 732 are pressed against each other. The brackets 748, 750
are then unable to slide along the slot 752 and the extension 688
of the first arm 682 is unable to slide within the compressed space
between the brackets 748, 750.
[0173] The location of the pivotable coupling of the plate 736 to
the flanges 760 provides an over-center geometry that makes the
lever 734 "bi-stable." This over-center geometry is present because
the point-of-attachment of the plate 736 to the flanges 760 passes
through a plane extending through the first and second pairs of
apertures 740, 742 in the course of motion of the lever 734 between
the locked and unlocked positions. Thus, the lever 734 is able to
rest in either of the locked and unlocked positions until actuated
by a user. The lever 734 therefore provides a quick-release and
quick-locking mechanism by which the first arm 682 can be locked in
engagement with the pivot member 666.
[0174] The engagement interface 738 has a first plate 764 and a
second plate 766, each of which has a generally arcuate shape with
a radius substantially the same as that of the arcuate extension
706 of the anchoring member 664. The plates 764, 766 are positioned
substantially parallel to each other such that a trough 768 is
defined between them. The trough 768 is sized such that the arcuate
extension 706 is able to slide along the trough 768 with
clearance.
[0175] The second plate 766 has a pair of pins 770 that extend into
the trough 768 to protrude into the groove 722 of the arcuate
extension 706 to restrict motion of the engagement interface 738
perpendicular to the arcuate extension 706. Thus, the engagement
interface 738 is constrained to follow the arcuate pathway of the
arcuate extension 706. The engagement interface 738 also has a
collar 772 that is rotatably coupled to the plateau 744 of the main
body 730 to permit rotation of the engagement interface 738 with
respect to the main body 730.
[0176] The registration member 662, the anchoring member 664, and
the pivot member 666 may be coupled together to define a linking
structure 774 that couples the registration interface 680 of the
registration member 662 with the anchoring feature 700 of the
anchoring member 664. The linking structure 774 facilitates proper
positioning of the slot 714 of the guide feature 702 of the
anchoring member 664 in a manner that will be described
subsequently.
[0177] As also shown in FIG. 17, the guide wire 668 has a central
portion 776, a leading end 778, and a trailing interface 780. The
leading end 778 is sharpened to facilitate bone penetration, and
the trailing interface 780 may have a hexagonal or other cross
sectional shape selected to permit connection of the trailing
interface 780 with a driver (not shown in FIG. 17). The central
portion 776 has a roughened portion 782 proximate the leading end
778, and a pair of markings 784 positioned near the center of the
central portion 776.
[0178] The roughened portion 782, when exposed, may indicate that
the guide wire 668 has not been driven sufficiently far into the
pedicle (for example, one of the pedicles 30 of the first vertebra
24 or one of the pedicles 50 of the second vertebra 26). The
markings 784 indicate proper implantation of the guide wire 668
into a pedicle when only one of the markings 784 is visible, and
the other is beneath the surface of the bone.
[0179] As depicted in FIG. 17, the pedicle screw 670 has a shank
788, which may have machine threads (not shown) designed to receive
the castle nut 672, and a threaded end 790 with threads shaped to
retain the pedicle screw 670 firmly in bone. The pedicle screw 670
also has a torque receiver 792 designed to receive torque from a
manual or motorized driver. The torque receiver 792 has a cavity
with a generally hexagonal cross sectional shape selected to
receive the end of a driver with a corresponding hexagonal
shape.
[0180] The castle nut 672 has a semispherical surface 796 designed
to rest against the concave semispherical surface within the
anchoring feature 700. The castle nut 672 also has a bore 798
through which the shank 788 of the pedicle screw 670 may pass, and
a plurality of radial grooves 800 that facilitate transmission of
torque to the castle nut 672 from a manual or motorized driver. The
semispherical surface 796 permits rotation of the anchoring feature
700 against the bone until the castle nut 672 is tightened to
sandwich the anchoring feature 700 between the bone and the castle
nut 672.
[0181] As mentioned previously, the inferior resection tool 660, or
more precisely, the linking structure 774, remotely mimics the
tangential contact between articulating surfaces of a natural facet
joint, and the articulation of a corresponding prosthetic facet
joint, by providing ball-in-trough motion. More precisely, the
linking structure 774 provides a first joint 802, a second joint
804, and a third joint 806. The first joint 802 is a linear joint,
and the second and third joints 804, 806 are rotary joints. The
configuration and operation of the joints 802, 804, 806 will be
described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 18.
[0182] The registration feature 662, the anchoring member 664, and
the pivot member 666 may easily be assembled to provide the
inferior resection tool 660. According to one method of assembly,
the anchoring member 664 and the pivot member 666 may first be
coupled together by inserting the arcuate extension 706 through the
trough 768 of the engagement interface 738 such that the pins 770
extend into the groove 722. Then, with the lever 734 in the
unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 17, the extension 688 of the
first arm 682 may be inserted into the space between the first and
second brackets 748, 750 of the retention interface 732 until the
shoulder 690 of the first arm 682 abuts the brackets 748, 750.
[0183] As mentioned previously, moving the lever 734 to the locked
position locks the extension 688 in place between the first and
second brackets 748, 750 and also prevents further translation of
the retention interface 732 along the slot 752 of the main body
730. Motion of the retention interface 732 along the slot 752 may
be required in order to couple the registration member 662 and the
anchoring member 664 to the first vertebra 24 and the second
vertebra 26, respectively, at their proper relative orientations.
Accordingly, the lever 734 may be left in the unlocked position
until attachment of the inferior resection tool 660 to the spine
10, or may be moved to the locked position during assembly and then
moved back to the unlocked position prior to attachment to the
spine 10.
[0184] Referring to FIG. 18, a perspective view illustrates the
inferior cutting tool 660 in a fully assembled configuration. The
first anchor 112, the guide wire 668, the pedicle screw 670, and
the castle nut 672 are also shown in their proper positions to
couple the inferior cutting tool 660 to the spine 10 (not shown in
FIG. 18).
[0185] More precisely, the guide wire 668 is positioned as though
implanted in the left-side pedicle 30 of the first vertebra 24, and
the first anchor 112 is positioned such that the guide wire 668
passes through the bore 130 of the anchoring feature 122 of the
first anchor 112 to keep the first anchor 112 properly positioned
with respect to the pedicle 30. The guide post 124 of the first
anchor 112 is inserted through the bore 686 of the registration
interface 680 such that the registration interface 680 is
registered on the first anchor 112. The pedicle screw 670 is
positioned as though implanted in the left-side pedicle 50 of the
second vertebra 26, and the anchoring feature 700 is placed such
that the shank 788 of the pedicle screw 670 passes through the bore
712 of the anchoring feature 700. The castle nut 672 is threaded
into engagement with the threaded end 690 of the pedicle screw 670
to keep the anchoring feature 700 in place against the pedicle
50.
[0186] The first, second, and third joints 802, 804, 806 of the
inferior resection tool 660 enable adjustment of the relative
positions and orientations of the anchoring feature 700 and the
registration interface 680. As the relative orientations are
adjusted, the anchoring member 664 will pivot about the center of
the semispherical surface 710 of the anchoring feature 700 to the
proper orientation to position the slot 714 at the desired
orientation for proper resection of the inferior facet 60 of the
left-hand side of the second vertebra 26.
[0187] The first joint 802 includes the main body 730 and the
retention interface 732 of the pivot member 666. The first joint
802 simulates sliding of a ball within a trough by enabling linear
motion of the registration interface 680 with respect to the
anchoring feature 700 via translation of the retention interface
732 within the slot 752 of the main body 730. The first joint 802
permits adjustment to account for variations in the spacing between
the pedicles 30, 50 of the first and second vertebrae 24, 26,
respectively, generally along the cephalad and caudal directions
12, 14.
[0188] The second joint 804 includes the main body 730 and the
engagement interface 738 of the pivot member 666. Rotation of the
engagement interface 738 with respect to the main body 730
simulates rolling of a ball across a trough by enabling rotation of
the registration interface 680 with respect to the anchoring
feature 700. The second joint 804 permits adjustment to account for
variations in the spacing between the pedicles 30, 50 of the first
and second vertebrae 24, 26, respectively, generally along the
medial/lateral axis 20.
[0189] The third joint 806 includes the engagement interface 738 of
the pivot member 666 and the arcuate extension 706 of the anchoring
member 664. The third joint 806 simulates rolling of a ball along a
trough by enabling rotation of the registration interface 680 with
respect to the anchoring feature 700 via rotation of the engagement
interface 738 as it moves along the arcuate path of the arcuate
extension 706. The third joint 806 permits adjustment to account
for variations in the spacing between the pedicles 30, 50 of the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26, respectively, generally along
the anterior and posterior directions 16, 18.
[0190] As stated above, motion of the first, second, and third
joints 802, 804, 806 accounts for positional variation generally
along the cephalad and caudal directions 12, 14, the medial/lateral
axis 20, and the anterior and posterior directions 16, 18,
respectively. However, the joints 802, 804, 806 do not correspond
directly to the various directions and axes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
because the inferior resection tool 660 is positioned with respect
to a coordinate system aligned with the axis of the pedicle 50 of
the left-hand side of the second vertebra 26, and not necessarily
with the sagittal plane 22. In any case, the joints 802, 804, 806
cooperate to adjust for a wide range of relative prosthesis
positions and anatomical variations.
[0191] The first joint 802 remotely replicates the tangential
contact between articulating surfaces of a facet joint because the
retention interface 732 slides along an axis generally parallel to
the trough defined by the superior facet 38 on the left-hand side
of the first vertebra 24. The second and third joints 804, 806
remotely replicate the tangential contact between articulating
surfaces of a facet joint because the second and third joints 804,
806 provide for relative rotation about axes that pass through the
center of a semispherical surface (not shown in FIG. 17) of an
inferior facet, such as the inferior facet 60 on the left-hand side
of the second vertebra 26. Thus, the joints 802, 804, 806 cooperate
to position the slot 714 of the guide feature 702 at the proper
orientation to guide resection of the inferior facet 60 of the
left-hand side of the second vertebra 26 so that the selected
inferior prosthesis (not shown in FIG. 18) can be attached to the
second vertebra 26 to replace the inferior facet 60.
[0192] In alternative embodiments, a fourth joint (not shown) may
be added to the configuration of FIG. 18. More precisely, in place
of the generally straight extension 688 of the first arm 682 more
clearly illustrated in FIG. 16, a second arcuate extension (not
shown) may be provided. Like the arcuate extension 706, the second
arcuate extension may be centered about an axis passing through the
center of curvature of the articulation surface of an inferior
implant to be coupled to the saddle point 62 of the left-hand side
of the second vertebra 26. The second arcuate extension may be
insertable into the retention interface 732 such that the retention
interface 732 is positionable at a plurality of locations along the
length of the second arcuate extension to provide one more
rotational degree of freedom. Moving the lever 734 to the locked
position then locks the position of the retention interface 732
along the second arcuate extension.
[0193] Referring to FIG. 19, a perspective view illustrates a
clamping tool 810 according to one embodiment of the invention. The
clamping tool 810 is used to hold the prostheses that replace the
inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26 in place as they are
securely attached. The manner in which the clamping tool 810
accomplishes this function will be described in greater detail
subsequently.
[0194] As shown, the clamping tool 810 has a first clamping member
812, a second clamping member 814, a threaded post 816, and a knob
818. The first clamping member 812 has a main body 822, a handle
portion 824 extending from one end of the main body 822, and a grip
portion 826 extending from the other end of the main body 822. The
grip portion 826 has a recess 828 proximate a free end of the grip
portion 826 to receive and exert clamping force on a projection
extending from an inferior facet prosthesis (not shown).
[0195] The second clamping member 814 is shaped to be a substantial
mirror image of the first clamping member 812. Accordingly, the
second clamping member 814 has a main body 832, a handle portion
824 extending from one end of the main body 832, and a grip portion
826 extending from the other end of the main body 832. Like the
grip portion 826 of the first clamping member 812, the grip portion
826 of the second clamping member 814 has a recess 828 proximate a
free end thereof to receive and exert clamping force on projection
extending from an inferior facet prosthesis.
[0196] The threaded post 816 is integrally formed with or securely
attached to the main body 822 of the first clamping member 812, and
extends through the main body 832 of the second clamping member
814. The threaded post 816 further passes through and engages a
threaded hole 840 of the knob 818. The knob 818 has a plurality of
ridges 842 that facilitate gripping and rotation of the knob 818 by
hand. The threaded post 816 has threads 844 that engage the
threaded hole 840 and enable the knob 818 to advance along the
threaded post 816 to press the first and second clamping members
812, 814 together in response to rotation of the knob 818. The
operation of the clamping tool 810 will be shown and described in
greater detail subsequently.
[0197] The various implements described in connection with FIGS.
1-19 may be used to facilitate measurement and resection of spinal
bony landmarks and replacement of facets such as the superior
facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 and the inferior facets 60 of
the second vertebra 26. FIGS. 20-48 set forth one exemplary method
for carrying out facet joint replacement according to the
invention. However, a wide variety of methods may be used, and the
structures of the present invention are not limited to use in any
one method. Similarly, methods according to the invention may be
carried out using structures different from those of FIGS.
1-19.
[0198] The method of FIGS. 20-48 will be set forth in connection
with a bi-lateral facet joint replacement, or an operation in which
both of the superior facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 and both of
the inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26 are replaced.
Those of skill in the art will recognize that the systems and
methods of the present invention are also applicable to unilateral
facet replacements, and operations in which only one facet of a
facet joint is replaced such that the facet prosthesis articulates
against a natural facet.
[0199] Some of the implements of FIGS. 1-19, including the reamers
70, 72, the frame 110, the stationary external support 260, and the
clamping tool 810, may be usable to carry out operations on either
side of the sagittal plane 22, i.e., on either of the left and
right sides of the spine 10. However, some of the implements of
FIGS. 1-19, including the facet measurement tool 330, the pedicle
measurement tool 430, the kit 510 of superior cutting tools, the
cutting guide 630, and the inferior resection tool 660, are
specific to the left-hand side of the spine 10. The corresponding
surgical instruments for the right-hand side may be substantial
mirror images of the foregoing.
[0200] The method outlined below will generally describe procedures
to be carried out with respect to the left-hand side of the spine
10, with the understanding that those of the right-hand side may be
performed in a similar manner using the appropriate surgical
instruments for the right-hand side. In some of FIGS. 20-48, the
operations described in connection with the left-hand side have
already been carried out on the right-hand side, so that the manner
in which the operation is performed is shown in on the left-hand
side, and the results of the operation are illustrated on the
right-hand side.
[0201] The method may commence with performance of a CT scan of the
patient to get the best possible mapping of the morphology of the
spine 10. From the mapping, various dimensions may be obtained and
used to preliminarily determine the appropriate prostheses to
replace the superior facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 and the
inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26. The prostheses may be
selected from a kit of superior implant prostheses and a kit of
inferior implant prostheses, each of which includes a plurality of
prostheses varied in shape and size to provide compatibility with
the vast majority of spinal morphologies.
[0202] Once the appropriate superior and inferior implant
prostheses have been selected, blunt dissection and retraction of
the tissues surrounding the first and second vertebrae 24, 26 may
be carried out. The tissues are retracted to expose the vertebrae
24, 26, and also a portion of a third vertebra (not shown) adjacent
to the second vertebra 26 and a portion of the sacrum (also not
shown), which is adjacent to the first vertebra 24. The facet
joints 64, pedicles 30, 50, and transverse processes 34, 54 of the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 are then identified. If needed,
the facet joints 64 may be exposed by removing hypertrophic bone.
The capsules that normally encase the facet joints 64 are then
removed to expose the bony surfaces of the facet joints 64.
[0203] Referring to FIG. 20, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 of the spine 10 with a joint flag
850 that serves as a reference for rotation of various instruments
about the medial/lateral axis 20. The joint flag 850 has a shaft
852, an insertion plate 854, and a handle 856. The insertion plate
854 is generally flat and is coupled to the shaft 852 at a
pre-established angle, which may be at or near a statistical
average of the angle between the anterior surface of the facet
joint 64 and the major axis of the associated pedicle 30. The
handle 856 extends from the opposite end of the shaft 852 at a
ninety degree angle, coplanar with the shaft 852 and the insertion
plate 854.
[0204] After exposure of the facet joints 64, the insertion plate
854 is inserted into the "joint space," i.e., the space between the
superior facet 38 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24
and the inferior facet 60 of the left-hand side of the second
vertebra 26. The insertion plate 854 is inserted into the caudal
edge of the joint space, and is then pressed generally along the
cephalad direction 12 to provide thorough contact between the
insertion plate 854 and the adjacent surfaces of the facets 38, 60.
Since the handle 856 is coplanar with the shaft 852 and the
insertion plate 854, the handle 856 provides visual confirmation
that the insertion plate 854 is properly aligned.
[0205] Referring to FIG. 21, an enlarged, perspective view
illustrates the first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the joint
flag 850 in place. After insertion of the insertion plate 854 into
the joint space, the shaft 852 extends outward from the spine 10 at
an angle that enables the shaft 852 to serve as a reference for
other surgical instruments. Thus, surgical instruments may be
coupled to the spine 10 based on the angle at which the facets 38,
60 contact each other.
[0206] When the joint flag 850 has been properly positioned, the
saddle point 42 of the pedicle 30 of the left-hand side of the
first vertebra 24 may be identified. A pin, chisel, or the like may
be used to nick the saddle point 42 to indicate where the
corresponding guide wire 668 should be implanted. The saddle point
42 is then prepared for implantation of the guide wire 668.
[0207] Referring to FIG. 22, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26, with a guide wire inserter 860
positioned to implant the guide wire 668 into the saddle point 42
of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. As shown, the guide
wire inserter 860 has a main body 862, a grip member 864, a handle
member 866, and an angular reference member 868.
[0208] The main body 862 has a central portion 872 and an insertion
portion 874. The central portion 872 has a generally cylindrical
shape, and is coupled to the handle member 866 and the angular
reference member 868. The central portion 872 receives a shaft 876
via a bore 878 passing through the central portion 872. The shaft
876 serves to couple the grip member 864 to the central portion
872. The central portion 872 also has a handle coupling 880 to
which the handle member 866 is attached, and a slot 882 that
receives the angular reference member 868.
[0209] The insertion portion 874 has a tapered end 884 that abuts
the surface of the bone, i.e., the saddle point 42 of the pedicle
30 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24, to facilitate
accurate implantation. The insertion portion 874 also has a guide
extension 886 that protrudes from the tapered end 884. The guide
extension 886 has two pairs of aligned notches that can be used to
visually confirm that the saddle point 42 has been properly placed
and that the anatomy of the spine 10 is within acceptable limits
prior to implantation of the guide wire 668. The guide wire 668 may
be positioned within the insertion portion 874 such that the
leading end 778 of the guide wire 668 is able to exit the insertion
portion 874 through the tapered end 884.
[0210] The grip member 864 has a coupling 890, a grip 892, and a
strike plate 894. The grip member 864 may be a standardized,
universal grip that is attachable to a wide variety of instruments
to provide manual torque and/or linear force. Thus, the coupling
890 is removably attachable to the shaft 876, and to a variety of
other surgical tools. The grip 892 is shaped to be comfortably
grasped and rotated by hand. The strike plate 894 may be formed of
a metal, and may be coupled to the coupling 890 via a metal support
(not shown) extending through the interior of the grip 892 so that
impact can be nondestructively transmitted from the strike plate
894 to the coupling 890.
[0211] The handle member 866 includes a handle 898, a body coupling
900, and a lever 902. The handle 898 is shaped to be easily grasped
by a hand of a user. The body coupling 900 is shaped to facilitate
attachment of the handle member 866 to the central portion 872 of
the main body 862. The handle 898 and the body coupling 900 may be
shaped similarly to the handle 358 and the attachment end 360 of
the handle member 334 of the facet measurement tool 330 and the
pedicle measurement tool 430. Accordingly, the body coupling 900
may be attached to the central portion 872 through the use of a
screw (not shown) such as the screw 336 of the facet measurement
tool 330 and the pedicle measurement tool 430.
[0212] The lever 902 of the handle member 866 may be pivotably
coupled to the central portion 872. The lever 902 may be subject to
resilient force provided by a spring (not shown) or the like such
that, in the absence of actuation by a user, the lever 902
restricts motion of the angular reference member 868 through the
slot 882 of the central portion 872. However, when the lever 902 is
actuated toward the handle 898 by a user, the lever 902 permits
motion of the angular reference member 868 through the slot 882.
This permits rotational adjustment about the cephalad and caudal
directions 12, 14 of the angle along which the guide wire 668
enters the saddle point 42.
[0213] As shown, the angular reference member 868 has an arcuate
rod 904, a guide plate 906 attached to the arcuate rod 904, and a
plurality of markings 908 arranged along the length of the arcuate
rod 904. The guide plate 906 is generally square in shape, and is
generally perpendicular to the end of the arcuate rod 904 to which
it is attached. The markings 908 specify angles, and when the lever
902 is actuated to permit adjustment of the angular reference
member 868, any of the markings 908 may be aligned with a marking
(not shown) on the central portion 872 of the main body 862 to set
the angle of rotation about the cephalad and caudal directions 12,
14 along which the guide wire 668 will be inserted.
[0214] The guide wire inserter 860 may be used in the following
manner to implant the guide wire 668 into the saddle point 42 of
the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. A surgeon may first
measure the angle at which the pedicle 30 of the left-hand side of
the first vertebra 24 extends with respect to the sagittal plane
20. This may be accomplished by using the spinal morphology mapping
from the CT scan performed previously. Then, the lever 902 may be
actuated to release the angular reference member 868, and the
arcuate rod 904 may be moved through the slot 862 until the
markings 908 indicate that the angular reference member 868 is set
at the proper angle. The lever 902 may then be released to keep the
angular reference member 868 at the proper angle.
[0215] Then, the tapered end 884 of the insertion portion 874 of
the main body 862 is placed on the saddle point 42. The guide wire
inserter 860 is pivoted about the saddle point 42 until the guide
plate 906 is parallel to the sagittal plane 22 and the shaft 876 is
substantially coplanar with the shaft 852 of the joint flag 850.
This form of alignment is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 23.
[0216] Referring to FIG. 23, a lateral view illustrates the first
and second vertebrae 24, 26, with the joint flag 850 and the guide
wire inserter 860 in position. As shown, the guide plate 906 of the
angular reference member 868 is generally parallel to the sagittal
plane 22 (shown in FIG. 1). Furthermore, the shaft 876 of the guide
wire inserter 860 is oriented substantially coplanar with the shaft
852 of the joint flag 850. Thus, the guide wire inserter 860 has
been rotated about the medial/lateral axis 20 to substantially the
same angle as the joint flag 850.
[0217] As set forth above, alignment of the guide plate 906 with
the sagittal plane 22 controls the medial/lateral angulation of the
guide wire inserter 860, i.e., orientation via rotation about the
cephalad and caudal directions 12, 14. Alignment of the shaft 876
with the shaft 852 of the joint flag 850 controls the
cephalad/caudal angulation of the guide wire inserter 860, i.e.,
orientation via rotation about the medial/lateral axis 20. These
two modes of alignment are used to ensure that the guide wire 668
permits the necessary range of multiaxial rotation of a
semispherical bone apposition surface of a superior facet
prosthesis (not shown in FIG. 23) against the saddle point 42 to
permit proper alignment of the prosthesis. However, it has been
found that a relatively wide range of implantation angles is
acceptable for the guide wire 668. Accordingly, the above-described
procedures for cephalad/caudal and medial/lateral alignment of the
guide wire inserter 860 may be omitted in favor of expedited
implantation of the guide wire 668.
[0218] After the guide wire inserter 860 has been oriented as
desired, the surgeon may use the guide extension 866 to verify that
the insertion portion 874 is properly positioned and that the
anatomy of the spine 10 is within necessary boundaries. More
precisely, when the surgeon looks down the length of the guide wire
inserter 860, the joint space of the facet joint 64 should appear
to cross the guide extension 866 between the pairs of notches. If
this is not the case, the insertion portion 874 may be moved
slightly to a location more suitable for implantation.
[0219] Then, a hammer or the like may be impacted against the
strike plate 894 of the grip member 864. The impact is transferred
through the coupling 890, through the shaft 876, and to the guide
wire 668 within the insertion portion 874 of the guide wire
inserter 860. The guide wire 668 is driven generally along the axis
of the pedicle 30, or along the length of the pedicle 30. Once the
guide wire 668 has been driven into the bone a sufficient distance,
the guide wire inserter 860 may be removed. The guide wire inserter
860 may control the depth to which the guide wire 668 is implanted
in the first vertebra 24. The guide wire 668 is driven into the
bone until only one of the markings 784 of the central portion 776
of the guide wire 668 is showing above the surface of the bone.
[0220] After the guide wires 668 have been implanted in both
pedicles 42 of the first vertebra 24, the superior facets 38 of the
first vertebra 24 may be preliminarily resected. The preliminary
resection may not need to be accurately guided or measured. Rather,
a minimal amount of bone tissue, i.e., only the superior articular
process, is removed from the superior facets 38 to enhance access
to the joint space of the facet joints 64 and to further expose the
inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26 for resection.
Further, more precise resection of the superior facets 38 of the
first vertebra 24 will be performed subsequently to prepare the
first vertebra 24 to receive superior facet prostheses.
[0221] Referring to FIG. 24, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26, with the joint flag 850 and the
guide wires 668 in place. The superior facets 38 of the first
vertebra 24 have been preliminarily resected to form preliminary
resection surfaces 912 on the first vertebra 24. Such preliminary
resection may be carried out with a reciprocating bone saw or the
like. As mentioned previously, further resection of the superior
facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 will be carried out
subsequently. After preliminary resection has been carried out, the
saddle points 42 of the first vertebra 24 may be reamed to enable
attachment of the frame 110.
[0222] Referring to FIG. 25, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the right-hand saddle point
42 of the first vertebra 24 partially reamed, and with the primary
reamer 70 positioned to ream the left-hand saddle point 42. As
shown, the primary reamer 70 has been registered on the guide wire
668 of the left-hand saddle point 42. More precisely, the portion
of the guide wire 668 exposed outside the bone of the first
vertebra 24 is inserted into the bore 88 of the primary reamer 70
to register the primary reamer 70 with respect to the saddle point
42. Thus, motion of the primary reamer 70 is constrained to
rotation about the axis of the guide wire 668 and motion along the
guide wire 668.
[0223] The primary reamer 70 is coupled at the torque interface 76
to a handle, motor, or the like (not shown). The primary reamer 70
may operate most effectively when driven by a motor. The primary
reamer 70 rotates along a direction 914 such that the cutting
flanges 92 scrape away bone tissue from around the saddle point 42.
The primary reamer 70 is advanced into the pedicle 30 until the
flat surface 90 abuts the bone immediately surrounding the guide
wire 668. The primary reamer 70 is then unable to advance further
into the bone, and is withdrawn to leave a roughened semispherical
surface 916, as shown on the right-hand side of the first vertebra
24. The roughened semispherical surface 916 has a plateau 918
immediately surrounding the guide wire 668, where the primary
reamer 70 was unable to remove the bone tissue.
[0224] Referring to FIG. 26, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the right-hand saddle point
42 of the first vertebra 24 partially reamed, and with the primary
reamer 70 positioned to ream the left-hand saddle point 42, as in
FIG. 25. The plateau 918 of the roughened semispherical surface 916
is more clearly shown. The plateau 918 will be removed via the
secondary reamer 72.
[0225] Referring to FIG. 27, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the right-hand saddle point
42 of the first vertebra 24 fully reamed, and with the secondary
reamer 72 positioned to complete reaming of the left-hand saddle
point 42. As described previously, the dome 102 of the secondary
reamer 72 is advanced into the roughened semispherical surface 916.
However, the dome 102 does not remove bone tissue, and thus, the
roughened semispherical surface 916 remains at its proper depth.
The central teeth 100 remove the plateau 918 to leave a
semispherical interface 920 at the saddle point 42.
[0226] Referring to FIG. 28, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the right-hand saddle point
42 of the first vertebra 24 fully reamed, and with the secondary
reamer 72 positioned to complete reaming of the left-hand saddle
point 42, as in FIG. 27. The semispherical interface 920 on the
right-hand side of the first vertebra 24 is more clearly visible.
The effect of the progressive use of the primary and secondary
reamers 70, 72 is to accurately control the depth of the
semispherical interface 920 so that, at its deepest, the
semispherical interface 920 is, for example, two millimeters below
the former bone surface of the saddle point 42.
[0227] If a deeper ream is desired, the procedure illustrated in
FIGS. 25, 26, 27, and 28 may be repeated by using the primary
reamer 70 to add limited depth to the ream, and then using the
secondary reamer 72 to complete reaming to the additional depth.
Thus, the depth of a reamed indentation may be increased by
discrete quantities, such as two millimeters.
[0228] After the saddle points 42 of the first vertebra 24 have
been reamed to provide the semispherical interfaces 920, the frame
11 may be anchored to the spine 10. In this application,
"anchoring" refers to contacting one part with another to limit
relative motion between the two parts. "Coupling" refers to
contacting one part with another, either directly or through a
third part, to limit relative motion between the first two
parts.
[0229] The frame 110 may easily be anchored on the first vertebra
24. The locking mechanism 144 may first be moved to the unlocked
configuration by rotating the handle 202 counterclockwise, as
viewed from above, to permit the first, second, and third rods 164,
184, 210 to slide relatively freely within the first, second, and
third sliders 212, 220, 222. The first and second anchors 112, 114
may thus be repositioned along three orthogonal axes to slide the
bore 130 of the anchoring feature 122 of the first anchor 112 over
the guide wire 668 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24,
and to slide the bore 130 of the anchoring feature 122 of the
second anchor 114 over the guide wire 668 of the right-hand side of
the first vertebra 24.
[0230] Each of the semispherical surfaces 128 of the anchoring
features 122 is then seated in the corresponding semispherical
interface 920 of the first vertebra 24. With the semispherical
surfaces 128 seated against the semispherical interfaces 920, the
frame 110 is pivotable only about the medial/lateral axis 20, or
about an axis angularly displaced slightly therefrom. Since the
semispherical surfaces 128 permit pivotal motion with respect to
the first vertebra 24, they are "pivot features" within the meaning
of this application. The frame 110 is pivoted about the
medial/lateral axis 20 until the frame 110 is oriented generally
parallel to the shaft 852 of the joint flag 850.
[0231] The stationary external support 260 is then attached to the
frame 110. More precisely, the fixed end 262 of the stationary
external support 260 is attached to a stationary object such as an
operating table, wall, or the like. The first, second, and third
joints 276, 278, 280 of the stationary external support 260 are all
unlocked by rotating the corresponding handles 286, 296
counterclockwise, thereby permitting relative rotation and/or
translation of the first, second, and third rods 270, 272, 274. The
handle 296 of the grip 264 is also actuated to permit the first and
second gripping members 312, 314 to move apart from each other.
[0232] The first, second, and third joints 276, 278, 280 are moved
to position the grip 264 proximate the external anchor 116 of the
frame 110, and the generally spherical surface 136 of the external
anchor 116 is then inserted into the space between the gripping
members 312, 314. Then, the handles 286, 296 of the joints 276,
278, 280 are moved clockwise to lock the joints 276, 278, 280. The
handle 296 of the grip 264 is also moved clockwise to draw the
first and second gripping members 312, 314 closer together to grip
the generally spherical surface 136 of the external anchor 116.
[0233] Attachment of the stationary external support 260 to the
frame 110, in combination with coupling of the frame 110 to the
first vertebra 24, makes the frame 110 a stable platform for
surgical instrument registration. However, external attachment is
optional, and in alternative embodiments, the stationary external
support 260 need not be used. Furthermore, attachment to the first
vertebra 24 is optional, as a frame (not shown) coupled only to the
stationary external support 260 may still be stable enough to guide
spinal measurement and resection operations. Indeed, if desired,
surgical instruments could be made to register directly on the grip
264 of the stationary external support 260. The remainder of this
disclosure assumes that both anchoring to the vertebra 24 and
attachment to the stationary external support 260 are used.
[0234] Referring to FIG. 29, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668 and
joint flag 850 in place, and with the frame 110 anchored to the
first vertebra 24 and coupled to the stationary external support
260. The stationary external support 260 is substantially rigid and
securely grips the external anchor 116 to stabilize the frame 110,
and especially, fix the orientation of the frame 110 about the
medial/lateral axis 20 to be substantially parallel to the shaft
852 of the joint flag 850.
[0235] Referring to FIG. 30, a lateral view illustrates the first
and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668 and joint flag
850 in place, and with the frame 110 anchored to the first vertebra
24 and coupled to the stationary external support 260. As shown,
the frame 110 is oriented substantially parallel to the shaft 852
of the joint flag 850. The frame 110 is then ready to receive
registration of surgical instruments to facilitate additional
measurement and resection operations. The joint flag 850 may be
removed and set aside. Holes (not shown in FIG. 30) may then be
drilled or burred through the inferior facets 60 of the second
vertebra 26 to expose or the most medial and anterior surface, of
each of the superior facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 in
preparation for measurement of the location of P1.
[0236] The facet measurement tool 330 may then be used to measure
the location of P1. More precisely, the registration interface 342
of the facet measurement tool 330 may be registered on the first
anchor 112 by sliding the bore 348 of the registration interface
342 over the guide post 124 of the first anchor 112. The user then
grasps the grip 378 of the contact member 340 and moves it to slide
the first and second rods 364, 374 within the first and second
sliders 344, 366 until the contact feature 382 is positioned to
contact P1.
[0237] Referring to FIG. 31, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with the
facet measurement tool 330 registered to the frame 110 to measure
P1. Once the contact feature 382 is in contact with P1,
measurements corresponding to the location of P1 may be acquired
from the first and second rods 364, 374, with respect to the saddle
point 38 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. The
measurements may be read as indicated previously, in connection
with the description of FIG. 9.
[0238] Referring to FIG. 32, a cephalad section view illustrates
the first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668,
frame 110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with
the facet measurement tool 330 registered to the frame 110 to
measure P1. The section view more clearly illustrates the position
of the contact feature 382 when measurement is conducted, and the
manner in which the inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26
have been drilled or burred through to expose P1 for each of the
superior facets 38 of the first vertebra 24. The contact extension
376 of the contact member 340 extends through the opening formed by
drilling or burring to enable the contact the feature 38 to contact
P1.
[0239] When the position of P1 has been measured, the facet
measurement tool 330 may be removed. The pedicle measurement tool
430 may then be used to measure the position of the saddle point 62
of the left-hand side of the second vertebra 26, with respect to
the saddle point 42 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24.
More precisely, the registration interface 342 of the pedicle
measurement tool 430 may be registered on the first anchor 112 by
sliding the bore 348 of the registration interface 342 over the
guide post 124 of the first anchor 112. The user then grasps the
grip 378 of the contact member 440 and moves it to slide the first,
second, and third rods 464, 466, 494 within the first, second, and
third sliders 444, 476, 478 until the contact feature 502 is
positioned to contact the saddle point 62 of the left-hand side of
the second vertebra 26.
[0240] Referring to FIG. 33, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with the
pedicle measurement tool 430 registered to the frame 110 to measure
the saddle point 62. Once the contact feature 502 is in contact
with the saddle point 62, measurements corresponding to the
location of the saddle point 62 may be acquired from the first,
second, and third rods 464, 466, 494, with respect to the saddle
point 38 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. The
measurements may be read as indicated previously, in connection
with the description of FIG. 12.
[0241] Referring to FIG. 34, a cephalad section view illustrates
the first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668,
frame 110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with
the pedicle measurement tool 430 registered to the frame 110 to
measure the saddle point 62. The section view more clearly
illustrates the position of the contact feature 502 when
measurement is conducted. When the position of the saddle point 62
has been measured, the pedicle measurement tool 430 may be removed.
The measurements obtained from the facet measurement tool 330 and
the pedicle measurement tool 430 may be used to verify or change
the selection of inferior and superior prostheses made previously
to ensure that the selected prostheses match the shapes of the
superior and inferior facets 38, 60 as closely as possible.
[0242] After measurement has been carried out with the measurement
tools 330, 430, guide wires 668 may then be inserted into the
saddle points 62 of the second vertebra 26. Guide wire implantation
into the saddle points 62 of the second vertebra 26 may be carried
out in a manner very similar to that of implantation into the
saddle points 42 of the first vertebra 24.
[0243] Referring to FIG. 35, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with the
guide wire inserter 860 positioned to insert a guide wire (not
visible in FIG. 35) into the saddle point 62 of the left-hand side
of the second vertebra 26. The lever 902 may be actuated to enable
the arcuate rod 904 of the angular reference member 868 to slide
through the slot 882 of the central portion 872 of the main body
862. The arcuate rod 904 may then be moved to indicate the proper
angle, and the lever 902 may be released to keep the angular
reference member 868 at the angle.
[0244] The guide plate 906 is then aligned with the sagittal plane
22 (shown in FIG. 1), and the guide wire inserter 860 is rotated
into alignment with the major axis of the corresponding pedicle 50
of the second vertebra 26, as viewed from a lateral viewpoint. The
strike plate 894 may then be tapped to insert the guide wire 668
into the saddle point 62 of the left-hand side of the second
vertebra 26. Accurate guidance of the implantation angle of the
guide wire 668 into the saddle point 62 of the left-hand side of
the second vertebra 26 may be somewhat less important than in the
corresponding saddle point 42 of the first vertebra 24.
[0245] After the guide wires 668 have been implanted into the
saddle points 62 of the second vertebra 26, the saddle points 62
may be reamed in a manner similar to that of the saddle points 42
of the first vertebra 42. As with the saddle points 42, the primary
and secondary reamers 70, 72 may be used.
[0246] Referring to FIG. 36, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with the
primary reamer 70 positioned to ream the left-hand saddle point 62
of the second vertebra 26. As shown, the primary reamer 70 has been
registered on the guide wire 668 of the left-hand saddle point 62
by inserting the guide wire 668 into the bore 88 of the primary
reamer 70, thereby registering the primary reamer 70 with respect
to the saddle point 62. Thus, motion of the primary reamer 70 is
constrained to rotation about the axis of the guide wire 668 and
motion along the guide wire 668.
[0247] The primary reamer 70 is coupled at the torque interface 76
to a handle, motor, or the like (not shown). The primary reamer 70
rotates along the direction 914 such that the cutting flanges 92
scrape away bone tissue from around the saddle point 62. The
primary reamer 70 is advanced into the pedicle 50 until the flat
surface 90 abuts the bone immediately surrounding the guide wire
668. The primary reamer 70 is then unable to advance further into
the bone, and is withdrawn to leave a roughened semispherical
surface 926, as shown on the right-hand side of the second vertebra
26. The roughened semispherical surface 926 has a plateau (not
visible in FIG. 36) immediately surrounding the guide wire 668,
where the primary reamer 70 was unable to remove the bone
tissue.
[0248] Referring to FIG. 37, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with the
secondary reamer 72 positioned to complete reaming of the left-hand
saddle point 62. As described previously, the dome 102 of the
secondary reamer 72 is advanced into the roughened semispherical
surface 926. The dome 102 does not remove bone tissue, but the
central teeth 100 remove the plateau (not visible) to leave a
semispherical interface 930 at the saddle point 62.
[0249] After the semispherical interfaces 930 have been formed at
the saddle points 62 of the second vertebra 26, The guide wires 668
implanted in the saddle points 62 are no longer needed and may be
removed. The pedicles 50 of the second vertebra 26 may then be
tapped and the pedicle screws 670 may be inserted into the
resulting tapped holes.
[0250] Referring to FIG. 38, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with tools
positioned to tap and drive a pedicle screw 670 into the pedicles
50 of the second vertebra 26. More precisely, a pedicle tapping
tool 934 is positioned to tap the pedicle 50 of the left-hand side
of the second vertebra 26.
[0251] The pedicle tapping tool 934 may have any of a variety of
configurations, some of which may be known in the art of spinal
fusion. According to one example, the pedicle tapping tool 934 has
a shaft 936, a tapping head 938 at one end of the shaft 936, and a
grip member 864 on the opposite end of the shaft 936. The grip
member 864 may be substantially the same as the grip member 864 of
the guide wire inserter 860 of FIGS. 22 and 35, and may thus be
used to manually impart torque to the shaft 936. The tapping head
938 has a plurality of threads (not visible in FIG. 38). The shaft
936 has a coupling end 940 retained within the coupling 890 of the
grip member 864, and a working end 942 either permanently or
removably coupled to the tapping head 938.
[0252] The end (not shown) of the tapping head 938 is inserted into
the canal left by removal of the guide wire 668. Then, the tapping
head 938 is rotated clockwise to cause the threads of the tapping
head 938 to cut a threaded path into the wall of the canal. The
tapping head 938 may be rotated counterclockwise to withdraw the
threads from the canal, thereby leaving a tapped hole in the
pedicle 50 of the second vertebra 26. The tapped hole may also be
sounded through the use of a sounder (not shown) having any of a
variety of known configurations, if desired.
[0253] A screw insertion tool 944 is positioned to drive the
pedicle screw 670 into the pedicle 50 of the right-hand side of the
second vertebra 26. The right-hand side pedicle 50 has already been
tapped and sounded, and is therefore ready to receive the pedicle
screw 670. The screw insertion tool 944 has a shaft 946 and a grip
948 coupled to one end of the shaft 946. The shaft 946 has a grip
attachment end 950 coupled to the grip 948 and a working end 952,
which may have a hexagonal shape designed to be insertable into the
torque receiver 792 of the pedicle screw 670.
[0254] The end (not shown) of the pedicle screw 670 is inserted
into the tapped hole of the pedicle 50. Then, the grip 948 is
rotated clockwise to cause the threaded end 790 of the pedicle
screw 690 to engage the threads of the tapped hole. The working end
952 may then be drawn free of the torque receiver 792 of the
pedicle screw 670. The pedicle screw 670 may remain implanted in
the pedicle 50, with the shank 788 and a portion of the threaded
end 790 exposed.
[0255] After the pedicle screws 670 have been implanted in the
pedicles 50 of the second vertebra 26, the inferior resection tool
660 may be used to guide resection of the inferior facet 60 of the
left-hand side of the second vertebra 26. The registration member
662 and the anchoring member 664 of the inferior resection tool 660
may be selected based on the selection of the superior and inferior
prostheses. The inferior resection tool 660 may then be assembled
and registered on the frame 110 by sliding the bore 686 of the
registration interface 680 over the guide post 124 of the first
anchor 112 of the frame 110.
[0256] Simultaneously, the first, second, and third joints 802,
804, 806 may be actuated to move the anchoring feature 700 with
respect to the registration interface 680 such that the anchoring
feature 700 is able to slide into engagement with the semispherical
interface 930 and the pedicle screw 670 of the left-hand side of
the second vertebra 26. The anchoring feature 700 may be attached
to the semispherical interface 930 via the castle nuts 672 through
the use of a nut tightening tool.
[0257] Referring to FIG. 39, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, pedicle
screws 670, frame 110, and stationary external support 260 in
place, and with the inferior resection tool 660 registered to the
frame 110 and anchored to the second vertebra 26. The joints 802,
804, 806 of the inferior resection tool 660 have moved to positions
in which the relative positions and orientations of the
registration interface 680 and the anchoring feature 700 are
adapted to the morphology of the spine 10. Thus, the slot 714 of
the guide feature 702 of the inferior resection tool 660 is
positioned at the proper orientation to guide a reciprocating blade
of a cutting tool (not shown) to resect the inferior facet 60 of
the left-hand side of the second vertebra 26. The cutting tool may
be an oscillating saw or another cutting tool designed specifically
for spinal applications.
[0258] Referring to FIG. 40, a lateral view illustrates the first
and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, pedicle
screws 670, frame 110, and stationary external support 260 in
place, and with the inferior resection tool 660 registered to the
frame 110 and anchored to the second vertebra 26. Before the
inferior facet 60 is resected, the lever 734 may be actuated into
the locked position to lock the first joint 802 in place to
stabilize the position and orientation of the slot 714. In
alternative embodiments, the second and third joints 804, 806 may
be lockable in addition to or in the alternative to the first joint
802 to stabilize the position and orientation of the slot 714.
[0259] After the cutting tool has been used to resect the inferior
facet 60, the castle nuts 672 may then be removed, and the inferior
resection tool 660 may be removed from the spine 10. If the surgeon
decides not to drive the oscillating saw completely through the
facet 58, to avoid entry into the central canal of the spine 10, an
osteotome or other similar tool may be used to complete resection
of the inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26. Manual tools
may be required to complete resection of the medial margins of the
inferior facets 58 of the second vertebra 26. An inferior resection
surface 956 has then been formed on each side of the second
vertebra 26, as shown in FIG. 40.
[0260] After the inferior facets 60 of the second vertebra 26 have
been resected, the superior facets 38 of the first vertebra 24 are
relatively easily accessible. Thus, the superior facet 38 of the
left-hand side of the first vertebra 24 may be resected through the
use of the kit 510 of superior cutting tools.
[0261] The cutting guide 630 is selected from a kit of multiple
cutting guides based on the selection of the superior facet
prosthesis. The cutting guide 630 may be registered on the frame
110, and the short, long, and curved cutting tools 512, 514, 516
may be sequentially registered on the cutting guide 630 to perform
resection of the superior facet 38. The short cutting tool 512 may
be used first to commence forming a resection surface, then the
curved cutting tool 516 may be used to broaden the resection
surface, and then the long cutting tool 514 may be used to further
broaden the resection surface.
[0262] Referring to FIG. 41, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668, pedicle
screws 670, frame 110, and stationary external support 260 in
place, and with the cutting guide 630 registered on the frame 110
and the curved cutting tool 516 registered on the cutting guide 630
to carry out resection of the superior facet 38 of the left-hand
side of the first vertebra 24. The registration interface 634 of
the cutting guide 630 is registered on the first anchor 112 of the
frame 110 by sliding the bore 650 of the registration interface 634
over the guide post 124 of the first anchor 112. The post 652 of
the registration feature 636 of the cutting guide 630 then
protrudes at an angle offset from that of the guide post 124. The
post 652 extends substantially perpendicular to the plane along
which resection of the superior facet 38 is to be carried out.
[0263] The curved cutting tool 516 is registered on the cutting
guide 630, and thereby registered on the frame 110, by sliding the
bore 600 of the registration interface 532 of the curved cutting
tool over the post 652. Relative motion between the curved cutting
tool 516 and the first vertebra 24 is then limited to translation
along the post 652 and rotation about the axis of the post 652. As
shown, the grip member 864 may be coupled to the curved cutting
tool 516 by inserting the torque receiver 526 of the shaft 560 of
the curved cutting tool 516 into the coupling 890 of the grip
member 864.
[0264] The grip 892 may thus be grasped and rotated by hand in
reciprocating fashion, while slight pressure is applied to urge the
cutting surface 576 of the curved cutting tool 516 against the
surface of the bone, to remove bone tissue from the superior facet
38. As bone tissue is removed, the bore 600 progresses further
along the post 652 until the distal cap 568 of the shaft 560 of the
curved cutting tool 516 abuts the shoulder 646 of the main body 632
of the cutting guide 630.
[0265] At the time the curved cutting tool 516 is used, the short
cutting tool 512 has already been applied in a similar manner. The
short cutting tool 512 has been rotated clockwise such that the
cutting surface 536 of the short cutting tool 512 sweeps from the
foraminal space until the arm 534 of the short cutting tool 512
contacts the first anchor 112 of the frame 110. The curved cutting
tool 516 is used in a similar manner to simply broaden the radius
of the resection surface and to extend the resection surface around
the semispherical surface 128 of the first anchor 112. After the
curved cutting tool 516 is applied, the long cutting tool 514 may
be used in a similar manner to further broaden the resection
surface. The resulting resection surface, which is a superior
resection surface 958, is substantially planar and continuous
despite the use of multiple different cutting tools 512, 514, 516
to form it.
[0266] Referring to FIG. 42, a cephalad view illustrates the first
vertebra 24 with the guide wires 668, pedicle screws 670, frame
110, and stationary external support 260 in place, and with the
cutting guide 630 registered on the frame 110 and the curved
cutting tool 516 registered on the cutting guide 630 to carry out
resection of the superior facet 38 of the left-hand side of the
first vertebra 24. FIG. 42 provides an edge view of the superior
resection surface 958 formed through the use of the cutting tools
512, 514, 516. As in other drawings previously described, the same
operation has already been performed on the right-hand side of the
first vertebra 24.
[0267] After the short, long, and curved cutting tools 512, 514,
516 have been applied and removed in sequence, the cutting guide
630 and the frame 110 may be removed, and the seat cutting tool 518
may be used. The seat cutting tool 518 does not register on the
cutting guide 630 and is not designed to contribute to formation of
the superior resection surface 958. Rather, the seat cutting tool
518 provides a flat surface proximate the semispherical interfaces
920 of the saddle points 42 of the first vertebra 24. The flat
surface formed by the seat cutting tool 518 may correspond to a
flat surface of the selected superior facet prosthesis, and may
help prevent rotation of the selected superior facet prosthesis
against the first vertebra 24 after the selected superior facet
prosthesis has been attached to the first vertebra 24.
[0268] Referring to FIG. 43, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the guide wires 668 and the
pedicle screws 670 in place, and with the seat cutting tool 518
positioned to provide a flat surface proximate the semispherical
interface 920 of the left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. The
seat cutting tool 518 is registered to the guide wire 668 extending
from the saddle point 42 of the left-hand side of the first
vertebra 24.
[0269] More precisely, the registration interface 592 of the shaft
580 of the seat cutting tool 518 is registered on the guide wire
668 by sliding a bore (not visible in FIG. 43) of the shaft 580
over the exposed portion of the guide wire 668. Relative motion
between the seat cutting tool 518 and the first vertebra 24 is thus
constrained to translation along the guide wire 668, or rotation
about the axis of the guide wire 668. The guide wire 668 is
substantially collinear with an axis of the corresponding pedicle
30; accordingly, the seat cutting tool 518 is registered to form a
flat surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pedicle
30.
[0270] Referring to FIG. 44, a cephalad view illustrates the first
vertebra 24 with the guide wires 668 and the pedicle screws 670 in
place, and with the seat cutting tool 518 positioned to provide a
flat surface proximate the semispherical interface 920 of the
left-hand side of the first vertebra 24. The size of the flat
surface formed by the seat cutting tool 518 varies according to the
selection of the superior facet prosthesis. In FIG. 44, the seat
cutting tool 518 has little bone to resect because the superior
resection surface 958 extends substantially to the edge of the
semispherical interface 920. However, in alternative embodiments,
the seat cutting tool 518 may resect away more bone tissue to
provide a more distinct flat surface.
[0271] After resection of the superior facets 38 of the first
vertebra 24 has been completed, the guide wires 668 may be removed
from the pedicles 30 of the first vertebra 24. The remaining canals
may be tapped, and pedicle screws 670 may be inserted into the
resulting tapped holes in preparation for attachment of facet joint
prostheses to the vertebrae 24, 26.
[0272] Referring to FIG. 45, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26 with the pedicle screws 670 of
the second vertebra 26 in place. Furthermore, in FIG. 45, the
pedicle tapping tool 934 is positioned to tap the pedicle 30 of the
left-hand side of the first vertebra 24, and the screw insertion
tool 944 is positioned to insert one of the pedicle screws 670 into
the pedicle 30 of the right-hand side of the first vertebra 24.
[0273] The end (not shown) of the tapping head 938 is inserted into
the canal left by removal of the guide wire 668 from the left-hand
pedicle 30 of the first vertebra 24. Then, the tapping head 938 is
rotated clockwise to cause the threads of the tapping head 938 to
cut a threaded path into the wall of the canal. The tapping head
938 may be rotated counterclockwise to withdraw the threads from
the canal, thereby leaving a tapped hole in the pedicle 30 of the
first vertebra 24. The tapped hole may also be sounded through the
use of a sounder (not shown) having any of a variety of known
configurations, if desired.
[0274] The right-hand side pedicle 30 has already been tapped and
sounded, and is therefore ready to receive the pedicle screw 670.
The end (not shown) of the pedicle screw 670 is inserted into the
tapped hole of the pedicle 30. Then, the grip 948 is rotated
clockwise to cause the threaded end 790 of the pedicle screw 690 to
engage the threads of the tapped hole. The working end 952 may then
be drawn free of the torque receiver 792 of the pedicle screw 670.
The pedicle screw 670 may remain implanted in the pedicle 30, with
the shank 788 and a portion of the threaded end 790 exposed.
[0275] After the pedicle screws 670 have been implanted in the
pedicles 30 of the first vertebra 24, trial facet prostheses may be
coupled to the vertebrae 24, 26 and checked for proper fit. If the
fit is not proper, different prostheses may be selected and/or
additional resections may be carried out on the first and second
vertebrae 24, 26 to obtain the desired fit. Then, the selected
facet prostheses may be coupled to the vertebrae 24, 26. The facet
prostheses may be secured to the vertebrae 24, 26 via the castle
nuts 672.
[0276] Referring to FIG. 46, a perspective view illustrates the
vertebrae 24, 26 with the pedicle screws 670 in place, with facet
prostheses attached, with a nut tightening tool 964 positioned to
secure the facet prostheses via the castle nuts 672. In FIG. 46,
the clamping tool is used to clamp the inferior facet prostheses in
place as they are secured to the second vertebra 26.
[0277] As shown, the nut tightening tool 964 is used in combination
with the screw insertion tool 944 of FIG. 38. The nut tightening
tool 964 has a shaft 966 and a grip 968, which may be shaped
similarly to the grip 948 of the screw insertion tool 944, except
that the grip 968 is cannulated to receive the shaft 946 of the
screw insertion tool 944. The shaft 966 has a grip attachment end
970 attached to the grip 968 and a working end 972. The shaft 966
is hollow so that the shaft 946 of the screw insertion tool 944 is
able to pass through the shaft 966 to reach the corresponding
pedicle screw 670. Thus, a user may hold the grip 948 of the screw
insertion tool 944 substantially stationary while rotating the grip
968 of the nut tightening tool 964 to tighten the corresponding
castle nut 672 without significant rotation of the pedicle screw
670 about which the castle nut 672 is tightened. The castle nut 672
may engage exposed threads of the threaded end 790 of the pedicle
screw 670.
[0278] In FIG. 46, a first superior prosthesis 974 and a second
superior prosthesis 976 may be attached to the first vertebra 24,
and a first inferior prosthesis 978 and a second inferior
prosthesis 980 may be attached to the second vertebra 26. The
prostheses 974, 976 replace the superior facets 38 of the first
vertebra 24 that were resected away previously, while the
prostheses 978, 980 replace the inferior facets 60 of the second
vertebra 26 that were also resected away previously. Although FIG.
46 illustrates full, bi-lateral replacement of both of the facet
joints 64 of the vertebrae 24, 26, the systems and methods of the
present invention apply equally to unilateral replacement
operations, or operations in which only superior or inferior facets
are replaced.
[0279] The process of tightening the castle nuts 672 to secure the
inferior prostheses 978, 980 transmits torque to the inferior
prostheses 978, 980 that could potentially move them from their
optimal positions. Accordingly, the clamping tool 810 may be used
to hold the inferior prostheses 978, 980 in place while the
corresponding castle nuts 672 are tightened using the nut
tightening tool 964 and the screw insertion tool 944. More
precisely, each of the inferior prostheses 978, 980 may have a
projection 982 that extends posteriorly and terminates in a
semispherical surface or the like. The projections 982 may be
designed for use with a cross-link (not shown) that permanently
stabilizes the inferior prostheses 978, 980.
[0280] As shown, the clamping tool 810 is positioned such that the
grip portions 826 of the first and second clamping members 812, 814
are spread apart. The knob 818 has been rotated counterclockwise to
retract the knob 818 along the threaded post 816, thereby
permitting the clamping members 812, 814 to move apart. The
projections 982 have been positioned in the recesses 828 of the
grip portions 826, and the knob 818 has been rotated clockwise to
draw the clamping members 812, 814 slightly together, thereby
pressing the projections 982 snugly toward each other. As a result,
the first and second inferior prostheses 978, 980 are held securely
against the intervening bony body of the second vertebra 26. Thus,
the clamping tool 810 prevents either of the inferior prostheses
978, 980 from rotating against the second vertebra 26.
[0281] Once the castle nuts 672 have all been tightened, the nut
tightening tool 964 and the screw insertion tool 944 may be set
aside, and the clamping tool may be removed by once again rotating
the knob 818 counterclockwise to permit the clamping members 812,
814 to move apart sufficiently to withdraw the projections 982 from
the recesses 828 of the grip portions 826. Attachment of the
prostheses 974, 976, 978, 980 is now complete.
[0282] Referring to FIG. 47, a perspective view illustrates the
first and second vertebrae 24, 26, with the first and second
superior prostheses 974, 976 attached to the first vertebra 24 and
with the first and second inferior prostheses 978, 980 attached to
the second vertebra 26. As illustrated in FIG. 47, each of the
superior prostheses 974, 976 has an anchoring surface 984 with a
generally semispherical shape that fits within the corresponding
semispherical interface 920 of each saddle point 42 of the first
vertebra 24. Similarly, each of the inferior prostheses 978, 980
has an anchoring surface 986 with a generally semispherical shape
that fits within the corresponding semispherical interface 930 of
each saddle point 62 of the second vertebra 26.
[0283] Additionally, each of the superior prostheses 974, 976 has
an articulating surface 988 that faces generally medially (i.e.,
inward). The articulating surfaces 988 are generally trough-shaped
to replicate the natural shapes of the superior facets 38 of the
first vertebra 24. Each of the inferior prostheses 978, 980 has an
articulating surface 990 that faces generally laterally (i.e.,
outward). The articulating surfaces 990 are generally semispherical
to replicate the natural shapes of the inferior facets 60 of the
second vertebra 26. Accordingly, the articulating surfaces 988, 990
may articulate against each other to provide ball-in-trough motion
characteristic of the natural facet joints 64 of the vertebrae 24,
26.
[0284] Referring to FIG. 48, a posterior view illustrates the first
and second vertebrae 24, 26, with the first and second superior
prostheses 974, 976 attached to the first vertebra 24 and with the
first and second inferior prostheses 978, 980 attached to the
second vertebra 26. The articulating surfaces 988, 990 are more
clearly visible in FIG. 48. If desired, a cross-link (not shown)
may be attached to the projections 982 of the inferior prostheses
978, 980 to help keep them in place. Such a cross-link may, if
desired, be attached to the spinous process 56 of the second
vertebra 26, or separate linking structures may attach the
projections 982 to the spinous process 56 to provide additional
stability.
[0285] As a result of the manner in which the prostheses 974, 976,
978, 980 articulate against each other, the spine 10 maintains its
natural kinematics in flexion/extension, lateral bending, and
rotation, or twisting. Additionally, the loads on the vertebrae 24,
26 and on the surrounding bone structures, ligaments, and
musculature will be substantially the same as before the facet
joints 64 were replaced. Accordingly, the prostheses 974, 976, 978,
980 may correct facet joint problems without disrupting the normal
functioning of the spine 10. Furthermore, through the use of the
various surgical instruments and methods presented herein,
prostheses 974, 976, 978, 980 may be accurately selected and safely
attached to vertebrae of patients having a wide variety of spinal
morphologies.
[0286] The present invention has particular relevance to surgery,
and more particularly to facet joint replacement. However, the
principles, structures, and methods of the present invention may
also be extended to other fields including measurement and
resection of bone for installation of other implants such as hip
and knee implants.
[0287] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. As such the described embodiments are to be
considered in all respects only as illustrative and not
restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by
the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
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