Patent ID: 8070779

Claim:
A percutaneous interspinous process device for treating spinal conditions, comprising: a first section defining a first lateral surface, a first medial surface and a first lumen extending from the first lateral surface to the first medial surface; a second section defining a second lateral surface, a second medial surface and a second lumen extending from the second lateral surface; and a locking mechanism including an elongate member protruding from the first medial surface of the first section and a medial recess defined in the second medial surface of the second section, the elongate member including a barb at a medial end thereof and being positionable between expanded and compressed conditions, the elongate member defining at least one slit in a periphery of the elongate member whereby the at least one slit extends only partially through the elongate member, the at least one slit facilitating the movement of the elongate member between the expanded and compressed conditions and extending radially inward, the elongate member having a first diameter in the expanded condition and a second diameter in the compressed condition, the barb having a diameter smaller than at least one of the first and second diameters of the elongate member, the medial recess configured for securely receiving at least a portion of the elongate member, and the elongate member configured to maintain a predetermined distance between adjacent spinous processes.