Patent ID: 8172878

Claim:
A conical interspinous apparatus comprising: a distractor comprising an insertion portion and a central engagement groove having a proximal end and a distal end, the insertion portion having a conical shape which tapers from the proximal end of the central engagement groove to a tip and is adapted to enable passage of the distractor between two spinous processes of vertebrae such that a gradual distraction between the two spinous processes occurs, and the central engagement groove is adapted to secure the distractor between the two spinous processes such that the two spinous processes rest in the central engagement groove between the proximal end and the distal end; and an insertion driver detachably coupled to a rear portion of the distractor; and wherein the distractor and the insertion driver each have a guide channel extending through an entire central portion therein, each guide channel being in alignment with each other; a stabilizer which is adapted to be deployed from the distractor to secure the two spinous processes within the central engagement groove, wherein the stabilizer comprises: a wire fed through the guide channel and connected to the tip of the insertion portion; and the insertion portion, made of flexible material and having a first diameter at the proximal end of the central engagement groove, is configured to collapse towards the proximal end of the central engagement groove such that the insertion portion is compressed into a shape having a second diameter at the proximal end of the central engagement groove larger than the first diameter to inhibit the distractor from reversing out from between the two spinous processes, the tip of the insertion portion is adapted to be pulled towards the central engagement groove upon pulling of the wire to collapse the insertion portion.