Patent attributes
A distally expanding facet joint implant and delivery device for distally distracting a facet joint. The facet joint implant generally includes an outer part and an inner part. The outer part includes a pair of opposed distally expandable facet plates connected by a hinge. The inner part includes a wedge that is selectively movable against the facet plates to distally expand and contract the facet joint implant into open and closed states. Teeth on the outer part engage indents on the inner part to maintain the facet joint implant in the distally expanded state. The outer and inner parts include outer and inner connectors, and the delivery device includes corresponding outer and inner connectors adapted to be in locked engagement with the outer and inner connectors to hold the implant and selectively cause it to distally expand and contract.
