Patent ID: 8591548

Claim:
A spinal implant, comprising: a first plate extending along a first longitudinal axis and having a first inner face configured to abut adjacent spinous processes and having projections extending from the first inner face; a second plate extending along a second longitudinal axis and having a second inner face configured to abut the adjacent spinous processes and having projections extending from the second inner face; a brace extending along a third longitudinal axis, the brace having a first diameter and including a flange fixed to a proximal end of the brace; the first and second plates disposed along the brace such that the first and second longitudinal axes are transverse to the third longitudinal axis and the first inner face and the second inner face are oriented toward each other in spaced relation; and a locking element engaging a distal end of the brace and longitudinally moveable relative to the brace such that longitudinal displacement of the locking element toward a proximal end of the brace modifies the brace such that a distal portion of the brace has a second diameter being greater than the first diameter and configured to prevent the second plate from being moved distally past a distal end of the brace, wherein longitudinal displacement of the locking element toward the proximal end of the brace narrows a distance between the first plate and the second plate.