Patent ID: 7922766

Claim:
A method for providing articulating surfaces for cervical vertebrae facet joint articular facets comprising: creating a space between a superior articular facet of a selected cervical vertebra and an inferior articular facet of a cervical vertebra immediately above the selected vertebra; fixing a generally flat inferior implant having a fixation surface and a generally flat articulating surface on the inferior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the inferior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the inferior articular facet; and fixing a generally flat superior implant having a fixation surface and a generally flat articulating surface on the superior articular facet such that the fixation surface of the superior implant interacts with an articulating surface of the superior articular facet; wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant forms the majority of the top surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant forms the majority of the bottom surface of the inferior implant; and wherein the articulating surface of the superior implant and the articulating surface of the inferior implant are positioned to directly contact and articulate with one another following the fixation of the superior implant to the superior articular facet and fixation of the inferior implant to the inferior articular facet.