Patent ID: 8221465
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An expandable interspinous process spacer comprising: an outer chamber formed of an expandable material, the outer chamber having a generally H-shape in both a relatively smaller deflated configuration and a relatively larger inflated configuration, wherein the H-shape includes first and second spinous process-receiving notches; a theoretical axis extending from the first spinous process-receiving notch to the second spinous process-receiving notch; an inner expandable chamber disposed within and generally surrounded by the outer chamber, the inner expandable chamber disposed entirely on a first lateral side of the theoretical axis; the outer chamber being changeable from the relatively smaller deflated configuration to the relatively larger inflated configuration via injection of a first biocompatible material; the inner chamber changeable from a relatively smaller deflated configuration to a relatively larger inflated configuration via injection of a second biocompatible material; the inner chamber changeable from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration independently of the outer chamber; wherein the spacer is configured to be disposed between adjacent first and second spinous processes such that the first spinous process-receiving notch receives the first spinous process and the second spinous process-receiving notch receives the second spinous process, and wherein when the spacer is disposed between the spinous processes the theoretical axis extends along a sagittal plane defined by the spinous processes.