Patent ID: 8636802

Claim:
An interspinous implant for insertion between adjacent spinous processes, the implant comprising: a) a flexible body comprising: i) an upper posterior portion having an upper surface adapted to bear upon an upper spinous process, ii) a lower posterior portion having a lower surface adapted to bear upon a lower spinous process, iii) an arcuate, flexible anterior wall connecting the upper and lower portions, wherein the flexible anterior wall has a single narrowed width portion that allows the device to twist in response to spinal rotation, thereby more closely mimicking natural physiologic movement, and b) a cushion element having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the lower surface of the upper portion of the flexible body comprises a porous coating thereon, and wherein the upper surface of the cushion element is interdigitated with the porous coating, and wherein the upper and lower posterior portions each comprise a bearing surface and opposed walls extending therefrom, the bearing surface and opposed walls of each posterior portion defining a bracket adapted to receive a projecting portion of opposed spinous processes.