Patent ID: 7753938

Claim:
An apparatus insertable between spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae through a lateral opening in a minimal invasive approach for treating spinal stenosis, the apparatus comprising: an implant body structure configured to fit between the spinous processes; first, second, third and fourth retainers operably associated with the body structure; and a screw substantially located within the implant body structure, the screw operative to move the first, second, third and fourth retainers from a retracted position to a deployed position, wherein in the retracted position the first and second retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure and the third and fourth retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure, wherein in the deployed position the first and third retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a first side of the spinous processes and the second and fourth retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a second side of the spinous processes; wherein the screw includes a longitudinal axis and the body structure comprises first and second body end portions spaced apart along the axis; wherein rotation of the screw in a first direction moves the first and second body end portions axially toward each other such that the retainers move from the retracted position to the deployed position under the influence of the first and second body end portions as they are moved axially toward each other; and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth retainers is a wire.