Patent ID: 7993342
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for installing a spinal implant in an interspinous space disposed between adjacent spinous processes, the adjacent spinous processes extending in a posterior direction from corresponding adjacent vertebral bodies and the interspinous space disposed posteriorly from a disc space disposed between the adjacent vertebral bodies, the method comprising: disposing an expandable member in the interspinous space while the expandable member is in a collapsed configuration, wherein when the expandable member is disposed in the interspinous space, the expandable member extends through a sagittal plane defined by the adjacent spinous processes; while the expandable member is disposed in the interspinous space and extending through the sagittal plane, rotating a first knob of an expansion tool such that the expandable member moves from the collapsed to an expanded configuration; the expansion tool being removably coupled to the expandable member during the rotating; thereafter, rotating a second knob of the expansion tool such that the expandable member is removed from the expansion tool.