Patent ID: 8465525

Claim:
An interspinous implant for insertion into an interspinous space between adjacent spinous processes, comprising: a) a central body having an upper surface for bearing against an upper spinous process, a lower surface for bearing against a lower spinous process, and first and second side portions, b) a first upper extension extending upward from the first side portions, c) a second upper extension extending upward from the second side portion, the upper extensions collectively defining an upper bracket, and d) a first lower extension extending downward from the first side portion, e) a second lower extension extending downward from the second side portion, the lower extensions collectively defining a lower bracket, wherein each of the first upper and first lower extensions comprises a shape memory metal, wherein the implant is a unitary body, wherein the first upper and first lower extensions are adapted to superelastically extend sideways in a martensitic phase, and wherein the first upper and first lower extensions are adapted to extend upwards and downwards in an austenitic phase.