Patent ID: 8066771

Claim:
A spinal prosthesis system, comprising: a caudal prosthesis having a pair of pedicle anchors for coupling to an inferior vertebral body, the caudal prosthesis including an artificial caudal facet joint structure comprising a pair of caudal bearing surfaces; a cephalad prosthesis having a second pair of pedicle anchors for coupling to a superior vertebral body, the cephalad prosthesis including an artificial cephalad facet joint structure comprising a pair of cephalad bearing surfaces; and an artificial facet joint formed between the adjoining vertebral bodies by articulation of the artificial caudal facet joint structure with the artificial cephalad facet joint structure, wherein the artificial caudal facet structure articulates with the artificial facet joint structure in the cephalad and caudal directions and provides medial/lateral angulation.