Patent ID: 8070778

Claim:
An interspinous implant adapted to be arranged between spinous processes, comprising: a first member comprising: a first wing disposed toward a first longitudinal end; a second wing disposed toward a second longitudinal end and longitudinally spaced from the first wing; a spacer disposed between the first wing and the second wing; a distraction guide at the second end of the interspinous implant; a second member adapted to be slidably associated with the first member by sliding along an axis to a fully engaged position; wherein the first member includes a lower sliding surface and a lower contact surface; wherein the first wing, the second wing, and a lower portion of the spacer extend from the lower contact surface; wherein the second member includes an upper sliding surface and a upper contact surface; wherein the first and second members are configured such that, when the second member is coupled to the first member so as to be disposed in the fully engaged position, a theoretical line spaced equidistantly from the first and second wings and oriented perpendicular to the axis passes through the second member and then through the first member, then external to the implant without passing through the second member again, such that each of the first member and the second member form exterior-most surfaces of the implant along the line.