Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides tools and methods designed to aid in the placement of artificial facet joints at virtually all spinal levels. One aspect of the present invention is a measurement tool for installing an artificial cephalad facet joint, the tool including a trial marker having a portion configured to be placed in a hole; and a trial body comprising a bore therethrough for slidaby receiving a portion of the trial marker. In some embodiments, the trial body further comprises an arm extending generally radially outward from the bore and configured to contact an opposing spinal prosthesis component. The trial body may further comprise a lower portion configured to be placed in the hole. The trial marker and the trial body are configured to cooperate to indicate a relative positioning between them. This measurement tool assists in the selection and/or configuration of an artificial cephalad facet joint for implantation in a patient. Another aspect is a method of using a spinal prosthesis component selection tool comprising accessing a target anatomy, creating a hole within a portion of the target anatomy, inserting a marker rod of a component selection tool in the hole, slidably adjusting a trial stem body along the marker rod until the trial body contacts an opposing spinal prosthesis component, determining the relative position between the trial body and marker rod, and selecting a component for implantation into the target anatomy based on the determined relative position.

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First Claim