Patent ID: 8105357

Claim:
An intervertebral process brace, comprising: a frame configured to support an upper vertebral process and a lower vertebral process, wherein the frame has: an inwardly facing upper concave surface configured to extend around a superior surface of the upper vertebral process; an opposing inwardly facing lower concave surface configured to extend around an inferior surface of the lower vertebral process; an outwardly facing upper convex surface corresponding to the upper concave surface; an outwardly facing lower convex surface corresponding to the lower concave surface; the upper concave surface and the upper convex surface each having respective maximum points; the lower concave surface and the lower convex surface each having respective minimum points; the inwardly facing upper and lower concave surfaces and the outwardly facing upper and lower convex surfaces being integrally formed portions of the frame; a first flexible vertebral process support strap spanning a first portion of the frame, wherein the first vertebral process support strap is configured to engage an inferior surface of the upper vertebral process and bind the upper vertebral process between the first vertebral process support strap and the first portion of the frame; a locking collar attached on the first vertebral process support strap; the locking collar being simultaneously movable relative to the frame and slidable along the first vertebral process support strap; the locking collar operative to secure the first vertebral process support strap to the frame; wherein when the intervertebral process brace is disposed such that the frame supports the upper and lower vertebral processes and the first strap engages an inferior surface of the upper vertebral process, the inwardly facing upper and lower concave surfaces and the outwardly facing upper and lower convex surfaces extend through a sagittal plane defined by the upper and lower vertebral processes such that the respective maximum points and the respective minimum points are disposed along the sagittal plane.