Patent ID: 8753345

Claim:
A minimally invasive system for preparing tissue associated with a spinal facet joint space targeted for receiving an implant, the spinal facet joint space including a superior facet joint surface and an inferior facet joint surface, the spinal facet joint space opening in a posterior direction immediately adjacent a superior lateral mass and an inferior lateral mass, the system comprising: a decorticator comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion opposite the proximal portion and a hollow body extending between the proximal and distal portions, the distal portion distally terminating in a decorticating surface comprising at least one of an abrasive surface or a plurality of teeth; and a guide tool comprising a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region and an elongated member extending between the proximal and distal regions, the distal region including a first chamfered tip, wherein the decorticator and guide tool are each further configured such that, when the first chamfered tip is positioned in the spinal facet joint space between the superior and inferior facet joint surfaces and the elongated member of the guide tool extends through the hollow body of the decorticator, the decorticator can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the elongated member and the decorticating surface brought into decorticating contact with at least one of the superior lateral mass or the inferior lateral mass.