Patent ID: 8105363

Claim:
A method for restricting flexion of a spinal segment in a patient, said spinal segment comprising a first vertebra having a first spinous process and a second vertebra having a second spinous process, wherein said spinous processes are separated by a space and the spinal segment undergoes extension and flexion causing the spinous processes to move into and away from the space respectively, said method comprising: positioning a first inelastic cable over a superior surface of the first spinous process; positioning a second inelastic cable under an inferior surface of the second spinous process; positioning a first elastic member along one side of the space between the spinous processes; and positioning a second elastic member along an opposite side of the space between the spinous processes; wherein first ends of the first and second inelastic cables are connected to opposite ends of the first elastic member respectively and second ends of the first and second inelastic cables are connected to opposite ends of the second elastic member respectively so that the elastic members and inelastic cables form an elastic band which limits flexion of the segment as the spinous processes move away from the space when undergoing flexion.