Patent ID: 7955356

Claim:
An implant for relieving pain associated with the spinal column and adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, comprising: a central body having a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second generally opposite direction; the central body adapted to extend through a sagittal plane defined by the spinous processes with the first and second surfaces facing respective spinous processes; the first and second surfaces being curvate in said first and second directions, respectively; a first arm extending from the central body proximate the first surface and adapted to be located adjacent to a first lateral side of a spinous process; the first arm disposable, while connected to said central body, so as to have a first proximal end portion proximate the central body and a second free end tip portion disposed distal from the central body generally in the first direction, with the first arm not extending in the second direction beyond the central body second surface; a second arm having a first insertion position relative to the central body and said first insertion position adapted to allow the second arm to be inserted laterally from the sides of the spinous processes and between the spinous processes; said second arm having a second retention position relative to the central body and when in said second retention position, the second arm adapted to be located adjacent to a second lateral side of the other spinous process so that the first and second arms can retain the implant relative to the spinous processes of the spinal column; the first and second lateral sides being opposite one another; the second arm, in the second retention position: extending from the central body proximate the second surface; having a proximal portion proximate the central body; having a free distal tip portion disposed distal from the central body generally in the second direction; not extending in the first direction beyond the central body first surface; wherein when the first and second arms are located adjacent to the first and second lateral sides of the spinous processes, the first and second arms do not extend through the sagittal plane; wherein the implant is configured such that when the central body is disposed between the spinous processes, the first surface has an axis of curvature extending in a posterior to anterior direction and the central body has a thickness parallel to the axis of curvature; the thickness of the central body being greater than a thickness of the first arm measured parallel to the axis of curvature; wherein at least one of said first and second arms is more flexible than said central body; wherein said first and second arms are complexly curvate.