Patent ID: 8157842

Claim:
An implant for insertion into a patient between an L5 spinous process and a sacrum, the implant comprising: a body including a tapered first end and a second end, the body further including a superior side that faces towards the L5 spinous process and an inferior side that faces towards the sacrum when the implant is inserted into the patient; first and second recesses each extending into the body from the superior side, the recesses being spaced apart along the body with a contact surface formed between the recesses; a slot extending within an interior of the body between the recesses; a first wing positioned within the first recess and a second wing positioned within the second recess, the second wing further including an aperture; an elongated rod positioned within the slot and through the aperture in the second wing, the rod including a first end attached to the first wing and a second end positioned outward from the second wing away from the first wing; a fastener attached to the rod between the second end and the second wing, the fastener configured to move along the rod and force the wings to move together in a first lateral direction to reduce the distance between the wings with the first wing contacting against a first lateral side of the spinous process and the second wing contacting against a second lateral side of the spinous process; the wings, rod, and fastener being movable in a second superior direction relative to the body between a closed orientation with a majority of the first and second wings positioned in the first and second recesses respectively and an deployed orientation with the majority of the first and second wings extending outward beyond the superior side of the body.