US Patent 8147528 Laminoplasty methods and devices

A vertebral implant is provided that includes a distraction member having a first end configured to pivotally couple to a first cut portion of a vertebra and a second end configured to mate with a base member configured to couple to a second cut portion of the vertebra. The distraction member can move relative to the base member to create a force effective to adjust a distance between the first and second cut portions of the vertebra.