Orthopedic Development Corporation

Minsurg International, Inc.

Other

David A Petersen

The present invention relates generally to tools, tool kits and methods useful for performing surgery an SI joint. The method includes implanting a graft into a SI joint of a patient by creating an incision in the patient, dilating the incision, creating a void in the SI joint, and inserting a graft into the void thereby substantially immobilizing the patient's SI joint.

Surgical methods and tools

Disclosed herein are methods and surgical kits that can be used to fuse facet joints via a minimally invasive procedure (including an arthroscopic or percutaneous procedure). An exemplary method includes creating an incision; locating a facet joint with a distal end of a pin; sliding a substantially hollow drill guide over said pin wherein said drill guide comprises a proximal end, a distal end; removing said pin from within said drill guide; inserting a drill bit into said drill guide; drilling a hole into a bone of said facet joint; removing said drill bit; inserting a facet joint bone plug into said hole using a bone plug inserter having a raised portion at or near is proximal end, wherein said raised portion prevents over-insertion of said bone plug; and removing said drill guide.

Methods and surgical kits for minimally-invasive facet joint fusion

A frustum shaped body has an aperture in a top surface and a pair of first and second opposed apertures in a side surface, first and second horizontal internal channels connect both the first and second opposed apertures. A vertical channel from the top aperture connects with the first and second channels. After the body is inserted into a hole in a facet joint, compatible synthetic or biologic material is inserted into the vertical channel until the material exits from the first and second apertures in the side surface. At least one pair of flanges on a portion of an exterior side surface of the body acts as a detent to hold the body in place within the facet joint hole.

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Clearwater, FL, United States of America

David A Petersen