Patent ID: 9603633
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An implantable interspinous spacer for implantation at an implantation site between a cranial spinous process and a caudal spinous process, each spinous process extending from a respective vertebral body of a spinal column of vertebral bodies, the spinal column including an anterior-posterior center that is anterior the implantation site, the implantable interspinous spacer comprising: a first element comprising: a first anchor structure configured to anchor to a first of the cranial spinous process or the caudal spinal process; and a body operably coupled to the first anchor structure, the body comprising an outer surface and an internal track surrounded by the outer surface, the internal track comprising a first sliding surface extending cranial-caudal when the implantable interspinous spacer is implanted at the implantation site; and a second element comprising: a second anchor structure configured to anchor to a second of the cranial spinous process or the caudal spinous process; and a retaining plate operably coupled to the second anchor structure and configured to be retained within, and prevent withdrawal from, the internal track of the body, the retaining plate comprising a second sliding surface configured to slidingly displace along the first sliding surface when the implantable interspinous spacer is implanted at the implantation site; wherein the first sliding surface includes a radius of curvature that is generally equal to a distance extending between the anterior-posterior center and the implantation site.