Patent ID: 8114131

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a support member defining a longitudinal axis and configured to be implanted at least partially into a space between adjacent spinous processes; an actuator coupled to the support member; a first elongate retention member having first and second ends mounted at a distal portion of the actuator; a second elongate retention member having first and second ends mounted at a proximal portion of the actuator; the actuator configured to be rotated relative to the support member such that the second end of the first elongate retention member maintains a longitudinal position and the first end of the first elongate retention member moves from a first location in which the first end of the first elongate retention member is at a first larger distance from the second end of the first elongate retention member to a second location in which the first end of the first elongate retention member is at a second smaller distance from the second end of the first elongate retention member; wherein at least a portion of the first elongate retention member is disposed a first non-zero distance from an outer surface of the support member, and external thereto, when the first end of the first elongate retention member is at its second location; wherein the portion of the first elongate retention member is disposed within an interior of the support member when the first end of the elongate retention member is at its first location.