Patent ID: 8157841

Claim:
A spinal implant apparatus, comprising: a support member having a most distal end, an opposing most proximal end, and a lumen extending therein; the support member also having a first longitudinal axis extending through the most distal end, the most proximal end, and extending through a center of the lumen; wherein the support member is configured to have at least a portion thereof disposed between a first spinous process and a second spinous process; a retention member having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the retention member being movably coupled to the support member and configured to rotate relative to the support member about a second axis from a first position to a second position; the second axis extending perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, through the lumen, and disposed between the most proximal end and the most distal end; wherein, in the first position: the first end portion and the second end portion of the retention member are disposed within the lumen of the support member; the second end portion of the retention member is disposed on a first side of the first longitudinal axis; wherein, in the second position: the first end portion of the retention member is disposed within the lumen and the second end portion of the retention member extends outwardly from the support member and is disposed between the most distal end and the most proximal end of the support member; the second end portion of the retention member is disposed on a second side of the first longitudinal axis, wherein the second side is opposite the first side; wherein in the both the first and second positions, the spinal implant apparatus maintains a constant longitudinal length.