Patent ID: 7931674

Claim:
An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising: a spacer having: first and second opposing contact surfaces, each contact surface extending from a most proximal end to a most distal end of the spacer; the first and second contact surfaces separated by a first height; wherein the first and second contact surfaces each have a width extending perpendicular to the first height; the width of the contact surfaces being larger than the first height; the first and second contact surfaces having no protuberances extending outwardly therefrom; a distraction guide disposed on the most distal end of the spacer and comprising first and second wings each being non-flexible and each having a free tip; the distraction guide having first and second configurations; each tip being blunt and having a width measured in the same direction as the width of the contact surfaces; the width of the contact surfaces being larger than the width of the tips; wherein in the first configuration: the tips are disposed closer together such that the first and second wings contact each other proximate their tips; wherein in the second configuration: the tips are spaced apart from each other; the distraction guide limits movement of the interspinous implant when positioned between spinous processes; wherein the first and second wings move from the first configuration to the second configuration via rotation about respective rotational axes; the rotational axes of the first and second wings being spaced apart.