Patent ID: 8540751

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a central body configured to be disposed between a first spinous process and a second spinous process; the central body extending from a first end portion to a second end portion along a longitudinal axis; the central body having a longitudinal passage having a first opening in the first end portion and a second opening in the second end portion; a first flexible retention member having a first end portion extending from the central body at the first opening and a second end portion extending from the central body at the second opening and a middle portion disposed between the first and second end portions with at least a portion of the middle portion being disposed within the passage; the first and second end portions having respective free tip ends disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the central body; a second flexible retention member distinct from the first flexible retention member, the second flexible retention member having a third end portion extending from the central body at the first opening and a fourth end portion extending from the central body at the second opening and a middle portion disposed between the third and fourth end portions with at least a portion of the middle portion being disposed within the passage; the third and fourth end portions having respective free tip ends disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the central body; wherein the tip ends of the first, second, third, and fourth end portions are spaced from each other; wherein the free tip end of the first end portion extends divergently with respect to the free tip end of the third end portion; wherein the free tip end of the second end portion extends divergently with respect to the free tip end of the fourth end portion.