Systems and methods for facet joint treatment

A method of treating a facet joint of a patient, wherein the facet joint includes a superior articular face and an inferior articular face, wherein the method comprises:

• securing an implant to an implant insertion tool by mating a first engagement feature on the implant with a second engagement feature on the implant insertion tool, wherein the implant comprises a first implant portion and a second implant portion;
• positioning the first implant portion and the second implant portion in a stacked arrangement;
• loading the first implant portion and the second implant portion into an internal passage of a delivery cannula, wherein the delivery cannula assembly has a distal end and defining the delivery cannula passage to be open at the distal end;
• slidably disposing an implant insertion tool into the delivery cannula passage, wherein a distal portion of the implant insertion tool abuts the first implant portion and the second implant;
• positioning the distal end of the delivery cannula assembly to the facet joint;
• positioning a distal end of a guide cannula proximate the facet joint, wherein the guide cannula has an internal passage extending therethrough;
• sliding the implant insertion tool distally within the delivery cannula passage to eject the first implant and the second implant from the distal end and at least partially between the superior articular face and the inferior articular face;
• and
• exerting a force of at least 1 Newton on the implant insertion tool to separate the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature.