Patent ID: 8057513

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: an expandable member having a support portion with a first compliance configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes, the support portion having a longitudinal axis; a retention portion having a second compliance greater than the first compliance coupled to one of a proximal portion or a distal portion of the support portion, the retention portion being configured to limit movement of the support portion along the longitudinal axis; a first configuration in which the expandable member has a first volume; a second configuration in which the expandable member has a second volume, the second volume being greater than the first volume, the expandable member configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration and to move from the second configuration to the first configuration, wherein the retention portion is contained within the support portion in the first configuration and has a height greater than the distance between the adjacent spinous process in the second configuration; a sensor coupled to the support member, the sensor being configured to measure at least one of a pressure of a fluid within the support portion or a force applied to the expandable member; and a source remote from the sensor and adapted to supply power to and communicate with the sensor remotely.