Facet joint replacement instruments and methods

Abstract

A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, a superior implant with a superior articular surface, and an optional crossbar. The inferior implant and the superior implant are each polyaxially adjustably connected to fixation elements which anchor the implants to adjacent vertebrae. The optional crossbar may be polyaxially adjustably connected to bilateral implants. The system components may be provided in kits which provide components of various sizes and shapes. A set of surgical instruments may facilitate implantation of the facet joint replacement system by providing tools for bone preparation, trialing, implant insertion, implant alignment, and lock-out of modular interconnections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical method comprising:
 providing an instrument for delivering an implant into a bone in a body; and   inserting the implant into a pedicle of the body using the instrument;   wherein the implant comprises a fixation member, a base member and an articulation surface.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical method of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed jaw comprises a shaft with a distal arm terminating in a tab. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical method of  claim 3 , wherein the tab is sized and shaped to fit into a notch on the implant. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw, wherein the moveable jaw is hinged to the fixed jaw. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , wherein the base member is tapered. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a superior facet joint implant. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical method of  claim 7 , wherein the superior facet joint implant further comprises a ring attached to the articulation surface. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical method of  claim 8 , wherein the ring comprises at least one notch for being gripped by the instrument. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a threaded lumen and a tapered base. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical method comprising:
 providing an instrument for delivering an implant into a bone in a body; and   inserting the implant into a pedicle of the body using the instrument;   wherein the implant comprises a fixation member, a base member and an articulation surface,   wherein the instrument comprises a pair of tabs for gripping the implant.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical method of  claim 12 , wherein the fixed jaw comprises a shaft with a distal arm terminating in one of the pair of tabs. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the tabs is sized and shaped to fit into a notch on the implant. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw, wherein the moveable jaw is hinged to the fixed jaw. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical method of  claim 15 , wherein the base member is tapered. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the implant comprises a superior facet joint implant. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical method of  claim 17 , wherein the superior facet joint implant further comprises a ring attached to the articulation surface. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical method of  claim 18 , wherein the ring comprises at least one notch for being gripped by the instrument. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the base member comprises a threaded lumen and a tapered base.