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The present application describes a spinal implant device comprising a load-bearing component having at least one soft tissue-facing surface and a coating affixed to the soft tissue-facing surface. The coating is operable to define an interface with the soft tissue that exhibits one or more of the f

The present application describes a spinal implant device comprising a load-bearing component having at least one soft tissue-facing surface and a coating affixed to the soft tissue-facing surface. The coating is operable to define an interface with the soft tissue that exhibits one or more of the following features: reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to the soft tissue-facing surface in the absence of the coating. Other embodiments include methods of use and manufacture of the apparatus. The application also describes a method involving affixing a load-bearing prosthetic spinal implant device to first and second vertebrae of a motion segment and, after the device is affixed, applying to a soft tissue-facing surface of the device a flowable, curable coating material operable to cure in situ to form a coating.

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1. A method for making a spinal implant device having at least one soft tissue-contacting surface, comprising: providing a load-bearing spinal implant device having at least one soft tissue-facing surface; andapplying to the soft tissue-facing surface a coating operable for extended contact with sof

1. A method for making a spinal implant device having at least one soft tissue-contacting surface, comprising: providing a load-bearing spinal implant device having at least one soft tissue-facing surface; andapplying to the soft tissue-facing surface a coating operable for extended contact with soft tissue in vivo;wherein the coating is operable to define an interface with the soft tissue that exhibits a feature selected from the group consisting of reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing device in the absence of the coating, and wherein the coating comprises a xerogel or a hydrogel; andsurgically affixing the device to the spinal column: andwherein, after said affixing, the coating absorbs water to become hydrated or more fully hydrated. 2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a xerogel. 3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a hydrogel selected form the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyacrylic acid, a polyarylamide, a poly(acrylonitrile-acrylic acid), a polyurethane, a polyethylene glycol, a poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), a gelatin, a collagen, a polysaccharide, a cellulose, and combinations thereof. 4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a hydrogel having a water content when fully hydrated of at least 25% by weight. 5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coating has a thickness of between about 1 and about 500 microns. 6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the coating is adhered to the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing component. 7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the coating is adhered to the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing component by covalent bonding, ionic bonding, physical attachment or a combination thereof. 8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said applying comprises coating the soft tissue-facing surface with a hydrated coating material, and drying the material to provide a dehydrated coating. 9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said applying comprises coating the soft tissue-facing surface with a curable material, and curing the material to provide a coating. 10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the load-bearing component is selected from the group consisting of an interspinous process spacer, a rigid spinal rod, a flexible spinal rod, a spinal tether, a bone screw, a bone anchor, an anterior spinal fixation plate, a lateral spinal fixation plate, a prosthetic disc nucleus and a disc prosthesis. 11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said applying comprises providing a sheet of coating material and adhering the sheet to the soft tissue-facing surface. 12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein an adhesive layer is adhered to at least a portion of said sheet of coating material, and wherein said adhesive layer is effective to attach said coating material to said soft tissue-facing surface to provide a coating. 13. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the load-bearing spinal implant device also defines at least one bone-engaging surface that is positioned in contact with bone; and wherein the bone-engaging surface is substantially free from the coating. 14. A load-bearing spinal implant device, comprising: a load-bearing component defining at least one soft tissue-facing surface; anda coating affixed to the soft tissue-facing surface, the coating operable for extended contact with soft tissue in vivo;wherein the coating is operable to define an interface with the soft tissue that exhibits a feature selected from the group consisting of reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing device in the absence of the coating, and wherein the coating comprises a xerogel or a hydrogel; andsurgically affixing the device to the spinal column; andwherein, after said affixing, the coating absorbs water to become hydrated or more fully hydrated. 15. The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein the load-bearing component also defines at least one engaging surface operable to contact bone, another implant device or another implant device component; and wherein said engaging surface is substantially free from said coating. 16. The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said coating comprises a therapeutic agent. 17. The device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a thrombo-resistant agent, an anti-adhesion agent, an antibiotic agent, an anti-tumor agent, an anti-viral agent, an anti-fungal agent, an anti-angiogenic agent, an angiogenic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-cytokine, an analgesic, an anesthetic, a steroid, a bacteriostatic compound, a growth factor, a nutrient, a vitamin, a cell cycle regulating agent, a homolog, derivative, fragment, pharmaceutical salt thereof and combinations thereof. 18. The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein the coating is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a nonbioresorbable material, a bioresorbable material and a semi-resorbable material. 19. The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein the load-bearing component is selected from the group consisting of an interspinous process spacer, a rigid spinal rod, a flexible spinal rod, a spinal tether, a bone screw, a bone anchor, an anterior spinal fixation plate, a lateral spinal fixation plate, a prosthetic disc nucleus and a disc prosthesis. 20. The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein the device is contained in a package in sterile form. 21. The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein the load-bearing component also defines at least one bone-engaging surface that is positioned in contact with bone; and wherein said bone-engaging surface is substantially free from said coating. 22. A method for achieving immobilization or stabilization of a vertebral motion segment, comprising; providing a load-bearing prosthetic spinal implant device including a load-bearing component defining at least one soft tissue-facing surface and a coating affixed to the soft tissue-facing surface, the coating operable for extended contact with soft tissue in vivo, and wherein the coating comprises a xerogel or a hydrogel; andsurgically affixing the device to a first vertebrae and a second vertebrae of the motion segment;forming an interface between the soft tissue and the coating that exhibits a feature selected from the group consisting of reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to an interface between the soft tissue and the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing device in the absence of the coating; andwherein, after said affixing, the coating absorbs water to become hydrated or more fully hydrated. 23. The method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the load-bearing component also defines at least one bone-engaging surface that is positioned in contact with bone; and wherein the bone-engaging surface is substantially free from the coating. 24. A method for achieving immobilization or stabilization of a vertebral motion segment, comprising: providing a spinal implant device having at least one soft tissue-facing surface;preparing a surgical site by surgically exposing a vertebral motion segment in need of immobilization or stabilization;surgically affixing the device to a first vertebra and a second vertebra of the motion segment; andafter said affixing, applying to the soft tissue-facing surface a flowable, curable coating material operable to cure in situ to form a coating effective for extended contact with soft tissue in vivo, wherein the curable coating material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, epoxy, polymethylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and polyethylene glycol;forming an interface between the soft tissue and the coating that exhibits a feature selected from the group consisting of reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to an interface between the soft tissue and the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing device in the absence of the coating. 25. The method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising allowing said coating to cure before closing the surgical site. 26. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the curable coating material comprises a xerogel or a hydrogel. 27. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the spinal implant device also defines at least one bone-engaging surface that is positioned in contact with bone; and wherein the bone-engaging surface is substantially free from the coating. 28. A method for achieving immobilization or stabilization of a vertebral motion segment, comprising: providing a spinal implant device having at least one soft tissue-facing surface;preparing a surgical site by surgically exposing a vertebral motion segment in need of immobilization or stabilization;surgically affixing the device to a first vertebra and a second vertebra of the motion segment; andafter said affixing, applying to the soft tissue-facing surface a flowable, curable coating material operable to cure in situ to form a coating effective for extended contact with soft tissue in vivo;wherein the coating is operable to define an interface with the soft tissue that exhibits a feature selected from the group consisting of reduced friction, reduced tissue irritation, reduced adhesion, reduced inflammation, reduced incidence of infection and reduced pain, relative to an interface between the soft tissue and the soft tissue-facing surface of the load-bearing device in the absence of the coating;wherein the curable coating material is a two-part self-curing mixture; and wherein the curable coating material is applied using a delivery device effective to mix the two-part self-curing silicone material at the time it is applied to the surface.