Patent ID: 7776069

Claim:
A posterior vertebral support assembly, comprising: an interspinous wedge configured to be inserted between the spinous processes of two vertebrae, wherein the wedge includes: first and second opposing ends, each end comprising a recess shaped to receive the respective spinous processes; a longitudinal axis extending through said recesses; first and second lateral sides extending from the first end to the second end; and at least one elastically deformable zone; two compressive lateral elements disposed on either lateral side of the wedge in a longitudinal direction, wherein the compressive lateral elements are deformable between releasing positions and compressive positions; and two lateral transmission elements disposed between the compressive lateral elements and the wedge, and configured to selectively press against the lateral sides of the wedge substantially midway between the first and second ends in a transverse direction near the elastically deformable zone; wherein a force applied by the lateral transmission elements against the wedge varies based on the relative spacing between the compressive lateral elements as they move between the releasing position and the compressive position in response to spinal flexion; each lateral transmission element disposed entirely on a respective lateral side of said longitudinal axis.