Patent ID: 8029540

Claim:
A facet joint implant adapted to be inserted in a facet joint, the implant comprising: a. a facet joint spacer; and b. an anchoring plate flexibly coupled to the facet joint spacer, the anchoring plate having a superior surface, an inferior surface opposite the superior surface, and opposing side surfaces extending between the superior surface and the inferior surface, and wherein a central longitudinal axis extends through the facet joint spacer and the anchoring plate, wherein the anchoring plate includes an aperture through the superior surface adapted to receive a retractable engaging member of an implanting tool, the anchoring plate including a protrusion projecting in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis from each side surface, each protrusion being disposed on the side surface at an elevation different than that of the superior surface of the anchoring plate so as to form a step from the superior surface, the protrusion being shaped to have a longitudinal length along the side surface greater than a height of the side surface, and being adapted to correspondingly register with a receiving slot of the implanting tool.