Patent ID: 7686832

Claim:
An intra-spinous spacer for implantation between spinous processes of the spine, the spacer comprising: a body having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a front side, a back side opposite the front side, an end side, and a nose side opposite the end side, the front, back, end, and nose sides between the top and bottom sides; wherein: the nose side is formed by first, second, third and fourth radius surfaces that taper to a pointed or rounded tip, the first surface joined to the top side, the second surface joined to the bottom side, the third surface joined to the front side and the fourth surface joined to the back side, the first surface joins to the second surface and the third surface joins to the fourth surface at the tip; the top side has a first depression configured such that a spinous process contacts only the first depression on the top side in an implanted position, the top side further includes first and second holes formed therein, the first and second holes extending through the body from the top side to the bottom side, the first depression being located between the first and second holes formed on the top side; and the bottom side has a second depression configured such that an adjacent spinous process contacts only the second depression on the bottom side in the implanted position, one of the first and second holes extending diagonally though the body such that the first and second holes exit the body at the bottom side through a single common opening, the second depression being located to one side of the single common opening; and at least one fixation strap for securing the spacer to at least one spinous process, the at least one fixation strap passing through the first and second holes.