Patent ID: 8568461
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: disposing at least a portion of a support member into a space between adjacent spinous processes, the support member having a central portion of the support member and defining a lumen extending from a proximal exterior endface of the support member to a distal exterior endface of the support member, the support member having a noncontiguous outer surface and includes a first portion having a first end and a second end and a second portion being separate from the first portion, the second portion having a first end and a second end, a hinge pivotally coupling the first end of the first portion to the first end of the second portion, a gap formed between the second end of the first portion and the second end of the second portion, inserting an expandable member through the lumen of the support member such that a distal end portion of the expandable member is disposed outside a distal end of the lumen of the support member and a proximal end portion of the expandable member is disposed outside a proximal end of the lumen of the support member, the expandable member includes a central portion between the distal end portion of the expandable member and the proximal end portion of the expandable member; after the disposing and the inserting and while the lumen extends transversely through a sagittal plane defined by the spinous processes and the expandable member is in contact with the lumen along substantially the entire length thereof, expanding the distal end portion of the expandable member and the proximal end portion of the expandable member by injecting a medium into an interior of the expandable member such that: each of the distal end portion of the expandable member and the proximal end portion of the expandable member has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the support member; the distal end portion of the expandable member extends more distally than the support member and is disposed on a first lateral side of the sagittal plane; and the proximal end portion of the expandable member extends more proximally than the support member and is disposed on an opposite lateral side of the sagittal plane; the central portion of the support member expands such that the first portion of the support member moves relative to the second portion of the support member about the hinge and the adjacent spinous processes are distracted; during the expanding the central portion of the support member expands such that the first portion of the support member moves relative to and away from the second portion of the support member such that the gap increases in size; wherein a longitudinal length of the support member is substantially the same the prior to the expanding of the expandable member and after the expanding of the expandable member, the longitudinal length extending from the distal end of the support member to the proximal end of the support member; wherein, prior to the expanding of the expandable member, the support member extends farther outward radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the lumen than both the distal and proximal end portions of the expandable member.