Interspinous process implant having deployable wing and method of implantation

1. An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising:

a spacer;

a distraction guide associated with and extending distally relative to the spacer;

the distraction guide comprising a distal-most portion and at least a first winglet adapted to be extended from the distraction guide; the first winglet disposed proximally relative to the distal-most portion;

an actuator operably associated with the first winglet so that when the actuator is actuated, the first winglet extends from the distraction guide;

wherein rotation of the actuator causes the first winglet to extend from the distraction guide while the distal-most portion of the distraction guide maintains an unaltered configuration.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein when the first winglet is extended, the first winglet limits movement of the interspinous implant when the implant is positioned between spinous processes.

3. The implant of claim 1 , further including:

a central body; and

wherein the spacer is rotatably disposed about the central body.

4. The implant of claim 1 , wherein:

the distraction guide includes a cavity; and

the first winglet and the actuator are at least partially disposed within the cavity.

5. The implant of claim 4 wherein when the actuator is actuated, the first winglet pivots so that the first winglet extends away from the cavity.

6. The implant of claim 1 , wherein:

the actuator is a threaded shaft;

the first winglet is pivotably attached to a threaded collar such that the collar travels along the threaded shaft when the actuator is actuated.

7. The implant of claim 1 , wherein:

the first winglet includes a curved inner surface;

a pin extends across the cavity; and

the pin travels along the curved inner surface as the actuator is actuated.

8. The implant of claim 1 , wherein:

the distraction guide further includes a second winglet;

the second winglet is extendable from the distraction guide; and

when the actuator is actuated, the second winglet extends from the distraction guide.

9. An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising:

a first wing;

a spacer associated with the wing and extending distally therefrom and having a first longitudinal axis: the first longitudinal axis disposed transverse to the first wing;

a distraction guide extending distally relative to the spacer, and including at least one winglet and an actuator; the actuator rotatable about a second axis disposed transverse to the first longitudinal axis; and

wherein at least the one winglet of the distraction guide is extendable from the distraction guide when the actuator is rotabably actuated.

10. The implant of claim 9 , further including:

a central body extending from the first wing;

wherein the spacer is rotatably disposed about the central body; and

wherein the distraction guide extends distally adjacent the central body.

11. The implant of claim 9 , wherein:

the distraction guide includes a cavity; and

the at least one winglet and the actuator are at least partially disposed within the cavity.

12. The implant of claim 11 wherein, when the actuator is actuated, the at least one winglet pivots so that the at least one winglet extends away from the cavity.

13. The implant of claim 9 , wherein:

the actuator is a threaded shaft;

the at least one winglet is pivotably attached to a threaded collar such that the collar travels along the threaded shaft when the actuator is actuated.

14. The implant of claim 9 , wherein:

the at least one winglet includes a curved inner surface;

a pin corresponding to the at least one winglet extends across the cavity; and

the pin travels along the curved inner surface as the actuator is actuated.

15. A method for insertion of an interspinous implant between spinous processes comprising the steps of:

accessing first and second spinous processes;

inserting a main body between the spinous processes, which main body includes a spacer, a distraction guide including a winglet adapted to be extended from the distraction guide, and an actuator operably associated with the winglet so that when the actuator is actuated, the winglet extends from the distraction guide;

actuating the actuator in order to cause the winglet to extend from the distraction guide.

16. An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising:

a first wing;

a central body extending proximally relative to the first wing;

a spacer rotatably disposed about the central body;

a distraction guide extending proximally relative to the central body, the distraction guide including:

an actuator disposed at least partially within the distraction guide;

a first winglet and a second winglet operably associated with the actuator and adapted to be movable between a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration wherein the winglets are extended from the distraction guide; wherein a portion of the first and second winglets are disposed in the cavity in the retracted configuration;

wherein the first winglet and the second winglet are extended by actuating the actuator.

17. The implant of claim 16 , further comprising:

a collar having a threaded surface, the collar being associated with the actuator;

wherein the actuator includes a threaded surface; and

wherein the first winglet and the second winglet are pivotably associated with the collar.

18. The implant of claim 17 , wherein the first winglet and the second winglet include a first inner surface and a second inner surface respectively; and further including:

a first pin disposed within the distraction guide, the first pin being adapted to contact the first inner surface to guide the movement of the first winglet; and

a second pin disposed within the distraction guide, the second pin can contact the second inner surface to guide the movement of the second winglet.