Patent ID: 8241331

Claim:
A spinal implant for causing distraction between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process in a body, the implant comprising: a first support plate for positioning inferiorly to the superior spinous process; a second support plate for positioning superiorly to the inferior spinous process; and a post-implantation variable dimension device disposed between said first and second support plates, which is operable after implanting said spinal implant into a patient, wherein said post-implantation variable dimension device comprises parallel threaded shafts, each of said shafts passing through each of said support plates, and said shafts being turned by a gear train, wherein rotation of said gear train causes said first support plate to push against the superior spinous process in a superior direction and said second support plate to push against the inferior spinous process in an inferior direction and changes a distance between said first and second support plates.