Patent ID: 8029542

Claim:
A method of stabilizing at least one spinal motion segment including a first vertebra having a first spinous process and a second vertebra having a second spinous process, wherein an interspinous space is defined therebetween, comprising: inserting a device having a first forked end and a second forked end into the interspinous space such that the first forked end is adapted to receive the first spinous process and the second forked end is adapted to receive the second spinous process; the device further comprising an intermediate body distinct from both the first forked end and the second forked end and disposed between the first forked end and the second forked end; wherein the first forked end defines a first location and the second forked end defines a second location such that the first location is located a first distance from the second location during the insertion step; moving the first location to a second distance from the second location wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; engaging the first spinous process with the first location and engaging the second spinous process with the second location; thereafter, moving the first location to a third distance from the second location wherein the third distance is greater than the second distance; wherein the moving the first location to a third distance comprises both: rotating the intermediate body relative to the first forked end to engagingly move male and female threads relative to each other; and rotating the second forked end relative to the intermediate body without longitudinally displacing the second forked end relative to the intermediate body; wherein the intermediate body has a substantially cylindrical exterior surface; wherein the second forked end comprises a hollow shaft portion disposed in a bore of the intermediate body; the intermediate body disposed outside of the second forked end such that the intermediate body externally overlaps the shaft.