Patent ID: 8118838
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A facet joint implant that addresses spinal stenosis and other ailments of a spine while maintaining mobility of a facet joint, the implant comprising: an anchoring plate configured to anchor to a vertebra; a facet joint spacer sized and shaped to fit between a superior facet and an inferior facet forming the facet joint; and a multiple direction articulation joint connecting the anchoring plate to the facet joint spacer and located so that when the facet joint spacer is positioned between the superior facet and the inferior facet a portion of the multiple direction articulation joint is outside of the facet joint, wherein the multiple direction articulation joint includes a cavity and a notch associated with one of the anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer and a ball-shaped end associated with the other of the anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer, wherein the ball-shaped end is positionable within the cavity via the notch formed in the one of the anchoring plate and the facet joint spacer having the cavity.