Patent ID: 8790373

Claim:
A dynamic spacer for insertion between the spinous processes of a superior and inferior vertebra of a spine having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a rigid anchor member for engaging a surface of each of said spinous processes, said anchor member comprising a web, and two legs fixedly engaged to and extending orthogonally from said web to form a channel having a longitudinal axis aligned with said longitudinal axis of said spine, each said two legs having a first slot in a first end operatively positioned for sliding engagement with said superior vertebra along said longitudinal axis of said spine and a second slot in a second end operatively positioned for sliding engagement with said inferior vertebra along said longitudinal axis of said spine; a bridging member engaged between a distal end of a first of said two legs and a distal end of a second of said two legs; in each of said first and second slots, a fastener slideably engaged with one of said slots for fixed engagement with one of said vertebra; a port for receiving fluid; an outer expandable envelope affixed to said anchor member and in fluid engagement with said port, said outer expandable envelope inflatable by a fluid introduced via said port to engage and distract said superior and inferior vertebra; wherein said bridging member is shorter in the direction of said longitudinal axis than said web and cooperatively formed therewith to together define a wedge.