CPC A61F 2/4405 (2013.01) [A61F 2/30749 (2013.01); A61F 2/446 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61B 17/1671 (2013.01); A61B 17/7035 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3085 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30616 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4658 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4681 (2013.01)] | 26 Claims |
1. A method of implanting an intra-facet implant in a facet joint of a patient, wherein said facet joint is between an upper vertebra comprising an inferior facet articulating surface and an adjacent, lower vertebra comprising a superior facet articulating surface, said method comprising:
gaining access to said facet joint from a posterior portion of said patient's anatomy;
positioning a distal end of a guide tube at said facet joint, said guide tube comprising a lumen;
passing said intra-facet implant through said lumen towards said facet joint, with said intra-facet implant releasably coupled to a distal portion of a delivery instrument;
inserting said intra-facet implant into said facet joint, wherein during said inserting, said intra-facet implant is connected to said delivery instrument, and further wherein said intra-facet implant comprises
a proximal portion,
a distal portion,
a cylindrical body extending between said proximal portion and said distal portion,
wherein said cylindrical body comprises a central axis extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion;
an external thread extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion, and
at least one channel extending along a first portion of said implant and defined both along and within an external surface of said first portion of said implant such that a portion of said external thread is disrupted by said at least one channel;
wherein upon implantation of said implant, said axis of said cylindrical body resides in said facet joint between said inferior and superior articulating surfaces in an intra-facet manner; and
releasing the intra-facet implant from the delivery instrument.
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