Patent ID: 6074390
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: A61B,A61K

Abstract:
A method of relieving pain due to the development of spinal stenosis in the spinal column including the steps of:accessing adjacent first and second spinous processes of the spinal column with first and second incisions;distracting, without altering, the first and second spinous processes a sufficient amount in order to increase the volume of the spinal canal and/or neural foramen in the spinal column in order to relieve pain due to the development of spinal stenosis; andimplanting between, without altering, the spinous process a first portion of a device through said first incision and a second portion of said device through said second incision, until said portions can be mated;said device including a fastener, with the fastener used in a step of securing the first portion to the second portion in the mated configuration in order to maintain the amount of distraction required to relieve the pain due to spinal stenosis.