Patent ID: 8425561

Claim:
An interspinous process brace, comprising: a superior spinous process bracket configured to engage a superior spinous process; an inferior spinous process bracket configured to engage an inferior spinous process, the superior and inferior spinous process brackets defining a first axis; a central component connecting the superior spinous process bracket and the inferior spinous process bracket, the central component defining a second axis offset from the first axis such that, when implanted in a patient, the central component is disposed along a side of an adjacent spinous processes, wherein the central component is configured to allow the interspinous process brace to move between a bent configuration and a straight configuration, wherein in the bent configuration an overall height of the interspinous process brace is minimized to facilitate installation between the superior spinous process and the inferior spinous process; further comprising a posterior locking plate, wherein the posterior locking plate is configured to prevent the interspinous process brace from moving to the bent configuration when affixed to the central component.