Patent ID: 7988709

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a support member configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes, the support member having a length and a side wall defining a lumen; a proximal retention member having a first configuration in which the proximal retention member is substantially disposed within the lumen of the support member and in which at least a portion of the proximal retention member is at a first angular orientation relative to the support member, and a second configuration in which the portion of the proximal retention member is disposed outside of the support member and in which the portion of the proximal retention member is at a second angular orientation relative to the support member, the second angular orientation different from the first angular orientation; the proximal retention member having first and second end tips, wherein the tips move relative to each other as the proximal retention member moves from the first configuration to the second configuration; a distal retention member having a first configuration in which the distal retention member is substantially disposed within the lumen of the support member and in which at least a portion of the distal retention member is at a third angular orientation relative to the support member and a second configuration in which the portion of the distal retention member is disposed outside of the support member and in which the portion of the distal retention member is at a fourth angular orientation relative to the support member, the fourth angular orientation different from the third angular orientation; wherein the proximal and distal retention members are spaced apart from each other along a first longitudinal axis of the support member such that the proximal and distal retention members extend outwardly from the first longitudinal axis at different points along the first longitudinal axis; wherein the apparatus is configured such that, when the apparatus is disposed between adjacent spinous processes with the first longitudinal axis extending generally transverse to a sagittal plane defined by the spinous processes, each of the proximal and distal retention members is disposed entirely on respective sides of the sagittal plane such that neither the proximal nor distal retention member extends through the sagittal plane; wherein the length of the support member extends along the first longitudinal axis and the length of the support member remains constant in the first and second configurations.