Patent ID: 8858597

Claim:
A device for treating facet joint dysfunction, the device comprising: a disk member with a first face and a second face adapted to contact the bony or cartilaginous articular surfaces of the facets of adjacent vertebrae, wherein the disk member has at least one aperture extending from the first face to the second face capable of accepting an elongate retainer through it; and an elongate retainer adapted for generally maintaining the location of the disk member with respect to the facet joint, the elongate retainer comprising: a flexible member extending through the aperture in the disk member; a first enlarged structure adapted to engage a first facet of the facet joint, wherein the first enlarged structure has a first configuration wherein the first enlarged structure is movable along the flexible member, and a second configuration wherein the first enlarged structure is fixed relative to the flexible member; a second enlarged structure adapted to engage a second facet of the facet joint, wherein the second enlarged structure has a first configuration wherein the second enlarged structure is movable along the flexible member, and a second configuration wherein the second enlarged structure is fixed relative to the flexible member; wherein the disk member is movable along the flexible member when the first enlarged structure is fixed relative to the flexible member and the second enlarged structure is fixed relative to the flexible member.