Patent ID: 8172877

Claim:
A facet joint implant that addresses ailments of the spine, the implant comprising: a facet joint spacer sized and shaped for insertion into a facet joint formed between a superior facet and an inferior facet, the facet joint spacer having a superior surface and an opposing inferior surface such that the superior surface is sized to engage the inferior facet and the inferior surface is sized to engage the superior facet when the facet joint spacer is inserted into the facet joint; an anchoring plate sized and configured to be anchored to a lamina of a vertebra when the facet joint spacer is disposed in the facet joint; an articulation joint connecting the anchoring plate to the facet joint spacer; and at least one protrusion extending from one of the superior and inferior surfaces of the facet joint spacer such that when the facet joint spacer is inserted into the facet joint between the superior and inferior surface the at least one protrusion engages one of the superior and inferior facets to retain the facet joint spacer in the facet joint.