Implant device for a facet joint and method for fusing the facet joint

1 . An implant device for a facet joint, comprising:

a wedge portion having a distal wedge end and a proximal wedge end opposite said distal wedge end, said wedge portion having increasing thickness from said distal wedge end to said proximal wedge end;

an anchor portion being made integral with said wedge portion at said proximal wedge end so as to form a central opening and having a distal anchor end, a proximal anchor end opposite said distal anchor end, a first side anchor end between said distal anchor end and said proximal anchor end, and a second anchor end between said distal anchor end and said proximal anchor end and opposite said first anchor end, said central opening having a D-shape with a curve of the D-shape corresponding to said proximal wedge end,

wherein said anchor portion and said wedge portion are comprised of a first face extending from said anchor portion to said distal wedge end, a second face opposite said first face extending from said anchor portion to said distal wedge end, and a lateral rim between said first face and said second face, said first face having a length and width greater than a thickness of said lateral rim and said second face having a length and width greater than said thickness of said lateral rim so as to form a rectangular prism portion with said first face on a first longest and widest side of said rectangular prism portion and said second face on a second longest and widest side of said rectangular prism portion opposite said first longest and widest side;

a plurality of first notches on said first face from said anchor portion to said wedge portion and from said proximal wedge end toward said distal wedge end; and

a plurality of second notches on said second face from said anchor portion to said wedge portion and from said proximal wedge end toward said distal wedge end.

2 . The implant device, according to claim 1 , wherein said wedge portion is further comprised of a curved outer edge at said distal wedge end.

3 . The implant device, according to claim 1 , wherein said anchor portion is further comprised of a hole on said proximal anchor end, said hole extending from said central opening to said lateral rim.

4 . A method of fusing vertebrae, comprising the steps of:

forming a rectangular cavity between a lower articular apophyses of an upper vertebra and an upper articular apophyses of a lower vertebra, said rectangular cavity having a first longest and widest side on said upper vertebra and a second longest and widest side on said lower vertebra;

inserting an implant device, according to claim 1 , within said rectangular cavity, said wedge portion entering said rectangular cavity before said anchor portion, said first face corresponding to said anchor portion facing said first longest and widest side on said upper vertebra, said second face corresponding to said anchor portion facing said second longest and widest side on said upper vertebra;

fusing said upper vertebra to said plurality of first notches on said first face corresponding to said anchor portion;

fusing said lower vertebra to said plurality of second notches on said second face corresponding to said anchor portion;

fusing said upper vertebra and said lower vertebra through said central opening;

fusing said upper vertebra to said plurality of first notches on said first face corresponding to said wedge portion; and

fusing said lower vertebra to said plurality of second notches on said second face corresponding to said wedge portion.

5 . The method of fusing vertebrae, according to claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:

forming an additional rectangular cavity between an additional lower articular apophyses of said upper vertebra and an additional upper articular apophyses of said lower vertebra, said additional rectangular cavity having an additional first longest and widest side on said upper vertebra and an additional second longest and widest side on said lower vertebra;

inserting an additional implant device within said an additional rectangular cavity,

wherein said additional implant device comprises;

an additional wedge portion having an additional distal wedge end and an additional proximal wedge end opposite said additional distal wedge end, said additional wedge portion having increasing thickness from said additional distal wedge end to said additional proximal wedge end; and

an additional anchor portion being made integral with said additional wedge portion so as to form an additional central opening, said additional central opening having a respective D-shape with a respective curve of the respective D-shape corresponding to said additional proximal wedge end,

wherein said additional anchor portion and said additional wedge portion are comprised of an additional first face extending from said additional anchor portion to said additional distal wedge end, an additional second face extending from said additional anchor portion to said additional distal wedge end and being opposite said additional first face, and an additional lateral rim between said additional first face and said additional second face so as to form an additional rectangular prism portion with said additional first face on a first longest and widest side of said additional rectangular prism portion and said additional second face on a second longest and widest side of said additional rectangular prism portion opposite said first longest and widest side;

wherein said additional first face faces said additional first longest and widest side on said upper vertebra,

wherein said additional second face faces said additional second longest and widest side on said lower vertebra, and

wherein said implant device and said additional implant device are aligned across said upper vertebra so as to fuse both sides of said upper vertebra to said lower vertebra;

fusing said upper vertebra to said additional first face corresponding to said additional anchor portion;

fusing said lower vertebra to said additional second face corresponding to said additional anchor portion;

fusing said upper vertebra and said lower vertebra through said additional central opening;

fusing said upper vertebra to said additional first face corresponding to said additional wedge portion; and

fusing said lower vertebra to said additional second face corresponding to said additional wedge portion.

6 . The method of fusing vertebrae, according to claim 5 , wherein said first face of said implant device is cooperative with said additional first face of said additional implant device across said upper vertebra.

7 . The method of fusing vertebrae, according to claim 5 , wherein said implant device and said additional implant device are oriented symmetrically across a midline of said upper vertebra.