Patent ID: 8048119
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical apparatus comprising: an expandable member having a pair of upper arms extending upwardly from a central body and forming an upper saddle and a pair of lower of arms extending downwardly from the central body and forming a lower saddle; the upper saddle having a minimum point therealong disposed closest to a center of the member and the lower saddle having a maximum point therealong disposed closest to the center of the member; a sheath adapted to contain the member and adapted to be heated to compress the member such that the minimum and maximum points of the upper and lower saddles respectively move toward each other and each of the upper and lower arms extend in a generally lateral direction from the central body so that the member can be inserted between two adjacent spinous processes; wherein when the member is compressed one of the upper arms and one of the lower arms extend in a first direction and the other of the upper arms and the other of the lower arms extend in a second direction, generally opposite from the first direction; a conduit for introducing fluid into the member to expand the member into engagement with at least one of the spinous processes.