Patent ID: 8114136
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising: providing a spacer member including an upper end structured to contact an inferior surface of an upper spinous process and a lower end structured to contact a superior surface of a lower spinous process and including at least flexibly distinctive first and second sections forming an asymmetrical stiffness profile that varies between anterior and posterior sides of said spacer member wherein said anterior side defines the anterior extent of the spacer member and said posterior side defines the posterior extent of the spacer member and wherein said second section is positioned between said first section and said posterior side and wherein the spacer member includes a first lateral side and a second lateral side, each lateral side extending from said upper end to said lower end and said first section extends along said anterior side and said first and second lateral sides and said second section extends along said posterior side and said first and second lateral sides and wherein said anterior side and said posterior side each extends from the upper end to said lower end; and positioning said spacer member between the upper and lower spinous processes of the spinal motion segment with said first section oriented anteriorly and said second section oriented posteriorly and with said first and second sections movably supporting the upper and lower spinous processes.