Patent ID: 8277488

Claim:
An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes comprising: a body defining a longitudinal axis; a first arm and a second arm both connected to the body and capable of movement with respect to the body; each arm defining a configuration for receiving a spinous process of a subject; each arm having a proximal caming surface; an actuator assembly connected to the body; the actuator assembly comprising: an actuator having at least one bearing surface; a shaft connected to the actuator and configured for movement with respect to the body; and a spindle; the actuator assembly is configured to move relative to the body such that rotation of the spindle moves the actuator such that the at least one bearing surface contacts at least one of the caming surfaces to move both of the arms from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the arms receive adjacent spinous processes while the body is positioned between the spinous processes such that the longitudinal axis of the body extends in a posterior-anterior direction relative to a spine of the subject.