Patent ID: 8323344

Claim:
A device for insertion between adjacent spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae comprising: a rod defining a longitudinal axis and having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the rod adapted to be coupled to a driver; a first collar threadably coupled to the threaded portion of the rod; a second collar coupled to the unthreaded portion of the rod; a plurality of members pivotally coupled together so as to be movable between an extended condition and a compressed condition, with at least one of the plurality of members pivotally coupled to the first collar and at least one of the plurality of members pivotally coupled to the second collar such that the rotation of the rod moves the plurality of members between the extended condition and the compressed condition to support the adjacent spinous processes; a detachable portion that extends beyond the first collar when the plurality of members are in the compressed condition, the detachable portion operable to be removed by the driver; and a stop nut fixedly coupled to the threaded portion of the rod, the stop nut operable to engage a side of the first collar opposite the driver when the plurality of members is in the compressed condition to facilitate the removal of the detachable portion of the rod; wherein the threaded portion of the rod defines a threaded bore, and the detachable portion includes a threaded projection that engages the threaded bore of the threaded portion such that the rod has a uniform thread pattern, and the engagement of the stop nut with the first collar prevents the rotation of the rod so that further rotation of the driver removes the detachable portion from the threaded portion of the rod.