Patent ID: 8167915

Claim:
A method for treating spinal stenosis, comprising: gaining access to an inter spinous process space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process; abrading a portion of the superior spinous process; inserting an implant in the inter spinous process space, the implant having opposing lateral sides, and anterior side, and a posterior side, wherein said anterior side includes at least one pair of apertures for releasably engaging an insertion tool; verifying the position of the implant by observing on a radiographic image the position of three-radiopaque markers embedded in the implant, a first of the radio-opaque markers being positioned at the center of the implant in a superior-inferior orientation, a second of the radio-opaque markers being positioned in one of said lateral sides and in an anterior aspect of the implant, and a third of the radio-opaque markers being positioned in the opposite lateral side and in a posterior aspect of the implant; and coupling the implant to the superior spinous process.