Patent ID: 8252031

Claim:
A method of treating a spine, comprising: installing an expandable interspinous process implant between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process; installing distinct first and second portions of a molding device around the expandable interspinous process implant such that: the first portion laterally limits the implant and is disposed on a first lateral side of the sagittal plane defined by the superior and inferior spinous processes; the second portion laterally limits the implant and is disposed on a second opposite lateral side of the sagittal plane; expanding the expandable interspinous process implant; removing the first and second portions of the molding device from around the interspinous process implant while maintaining the expanded interspinous process implant between the superior and inferior spinous processes; wherein the expandable interspinous process implant at least partially conforms to a volume bound by the molding device, the superior spinous process, and the inferior spinous process; and further comprising curing an injectable biocompatible material within the expandable interspinous process implant.