Patent ID: 7566345

Claim:
A prosthesis for the replacement of a posterior element of a natural vertebra, the natural vertebra comprising two natural superior facets, two natural inferior facets, and a natural lamina, the prosthesis comprising: a first prosthetic superior facet to replace a first natural superior facet; a second prosthetic superior facet to replace a second natural superior facet; a first prosthetic inferior facet to replace a first natural inferior facet; and a second prosthetic inferior facet to replace a second natural inferior facet; a first prosthetic mount securable to the natural vertebra through the use of a first fixation member; a second prosthetic mount securable to the natural vertebra through the use of a second fixation member; and a nonplanar interconnecting structure that rigidly interconnects the first and second prosthetic superior facets and the first and second prosthetic inferior facets with each other; wherein the first and second prosthetic mounts are positioned relative to the interconnecting structure such that, after attachment of the first and second prosthetic mounts to the vertebra, the prosthesis exclusively contacts resected surfaces of the vertebra.