Patent ID: 8623054

Claim:
A method of implanting an implant in a spinal facet joint space, the method comprising: a) minimally invasively routing into the spinal facet joint space via a posterior approach a first chamfered tip of a first tool, the first tool comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, and a shaft extending between the proximal and distal portions, the distal portion distally terminating as the first chamfered tip; b) routing a second tool over the first tool, the second tool comprising a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, and a tubular body extending between the proximal and distal regions and comprising a lumen extending through the tubular body between the proximal and distal regions, the distal region distally terminating as a second chamfered tip, wherein the second tool is routed over the first tool until the second chamfered tip is received in the spinal facet joint adjacent the first chamfered tip; c) routing a third tool through the lumen of the second tool, the third tool comprising an implant support structure releasably coupled to the implant, the third tool further comprising a proximal part, a distal part opposite the proximal part, and an elongated body extending between the proximal and distal parts, the distal part terminating as the implant support structure, wherein the third tool is routed through the lumen until the implant is received in the spinal facet joint adjacent the second chamfered tip; and d) releasing the implant from the third tool, wherein the implant support structure comprises a first arm and a second arm offset from the first arm by a distance transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and the implant is supported between the first and second arms when the implant is releasably coupled to the implant support structure, wherein the first arm comprises a radially inward surface with a longitudinally extending ridge that projects radially inward from the radially inward surface, and the longitudinally extending ridge is received between a pair of longitudinally extending features of the implant.