Patent ID: 8187306

Claim:
An implant comprising: a spacer sized to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine to urge the maintenance of a minimum separation between the first and second spinous processes; and a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, wherein the fixation portion is configured to permit insertion of the spacer between the first and second spinous processes from a lateral approach; wherein the fixation portion is securable to the first spinous process independently of the second spinous process to retain the spacer relative to the first spinous process; wherein the spacer comprises an arcuate convex wall; wherein, when the spacer is between the first and second spinous processes and the fixation portion is secured to the first spinous process, the arcuate convex wall crosses a sagittal plane of the spine; wherein the spacer has a resilient configuration selected to provide variable resistive force urging the first and second spinous processes apart in response to extension of the spine.