Patent ID: 8460341

Claim:
A dynamic facet replacement system configured to articulately connect a first spinal vertebra to an adjacent second spinal vertebra and said second spinal vertebra to an adjacent third spinal vertebra, along the natural facet joints comprising: first and second inferior facet components configured to replace left and right natural inferior facets of a first vertebra, respectively; first and second par components configured to replace left and right natural pars of a second vertebra, respectively; first and second superior facet components configured to replace left and right natural facets of a third vertebra, respectively; wherein each of said inferior and superior facet components comprises a facet articulating surface and each of said par components comprises first and second par articulating surfaces, wherein said first and second par articulating surfaces are opposite to each other; wherein said first and second par components are shaped and dimensioned to be inserted between said first and second inferior and superior facet components, respectively, and to articulately connect said first and second inferior facet components to said first and second superior facet components, respectively, by connecting said first and second par articulating surfaces to said facet articulating surfaces of the inferior and superior facet components, respectively; wherein each of said inferior facet components comprises an elongated curved body extending along a first axis and said body comprises a first cylindrical shaped end, configured to be attached to a location of said first vertebra and a second cylindrical shaped end comprising said inferior facet articulating surface and extending from said elongated curved body perpendicular to said axis; and wherein in each of said inferior facet components, said first cylindrically shaped end's axis is oriented perpendicular to said second cylindrical shaped end's axis and perpendicular to said elongated curved body's first axis.