Patent ID: 8287569

Claim:
A modular system for stabilizing one or more spinous processes within a spinal column, the system comprising: at least one pair of spaced blocks, each one of said pair of spaced blocks further comprising a facing surface; an array of spikes disposed upon each facing surface, wherein each spike is operable to penetrate the spinous process upon compression of the block against the spinous process; wherein each block is interchangeably sized and shaped in accordance with the associated spinous process to be engaged; wherein for each of the at least one pair of spaced blocks, one block is configured to be positioned upon a first side of the spinous process and the other block is configured to be positioned upon a second side of the spinous process; a first rod disposed generally parallel to the spinal column and connected to the one block that is configured to be positioned upon a first side of the spinous process; a second rod disposed generally parallel to the spinal column and connected to the other block that is configured to be positioned upon a second side of the spinous process; and a cross link having a first end shaped to receive the first rod and a second end shaped to receive the second rod, the cross link operable to compress the spaced blocks against the spinous process; wherein at least one block of the pair of spaced blocks comprises an aperture extending entirely through the block, the aperture shaped so as to slidably receive the associated first or second rod, and wherein the blocks are secured to the rods with set screws, and wherein the rods are connected to the cross link with set screws.