Patent ID: 8317864

Claim:
An interspinous device for stabilizing at least one spinal motion segment comprising a first vertebra having a first spinous process and a second vertebra having a second spinous process, the device comprising: an expandable member having a cross-sectional dimension and an enclosed volume configured to retain a fluid, the expandable member being deployable from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the expandable member is different in the first configuration than in the second configuration, wherein the expandable member includes apexes configured to fold proximally of a distal end; wherein, in the first configuration, the expandable member has a low profile configuration; and wherein, in the second configuration, the expandable member has (a) a central portion with a first dimension configured to extend between the first and second spinous processes such that the central portion bears against the first and second spinous processes, and (b) lateral ends with a second dimension greater than the first dimension such that the lateral ends are configured to seat the first and second spinous processes at the central portion and configured to extend vertically along and contact opposing lateral sides of the first spinous process and to extend vertically along and contact opposing lateral sides of the second spinous process.