Patent ID: 8361116

Claim:
A spinal stabilization device, comprising: a plate member configured to be placed between an upper spinous process and a lower spinous process, the plate member having an upper surface configured to abut a lower surface of the upper spinous process and a lower surface configured to abut an upper surface of the lower spinous process; a pair of scissoring elements coupled to the plate member, each scissoring element being rotatable relative to the plate member, each scissoring element including an upper end that rotates to extend beyond the upper surface of the plate member and a lower end that rotates to extend beyond the lower surface of the plate member, such that inner surfaces of the upper ends of the scissoring elements rotate into contact with opposing outer lateral surfaces of the upper spinous process and inner surfaces of the lower ends of the scissoring elements rotate into contact with opposing outer lateral surfaces of the lower spinous process, wherein the upper ends of the scissoring elements are configured to avoid extending into the upper spinous process and the lower ends of the scissoring elements are configured to avoid extending into the lower spinous process; and a locking device configured to secure the scissoring elements in a fixed position, the locking device configured to lock the spinal stabilization device between the upper and lower spinous processes upon rotation of the scissoring elements into contact with the outer lateral surfaces of the upper spinous process and the lower spinous process such that the upper spinous process and the lower spinous process are stabilized by the spinal stabilization device.