Patent Application

App. No. 11/692,300

Abstract

Claims (56)

1 . A method, comprising:

disposing a first member of an implant between a first spinous process and a second spinous process that is adjacent the first spinous process;

extending a first tether across the first spinous process;

coupling the first tether to a second member of the implant, the second member configured to be removably coupled to the first member;

extending a second tether across the second spinous process; and

coupling the second tether to a third member of the implant, the third member configured to be removably coupled to the first member.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a range of motion of the first spinous process relative to the second spinous process is maintained after the coupling the first tether and the coupling the second tether.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the coupling the first tether includes extending an end of the first tether through an opening defined by the second member of the implant; and

the coupling the second tether includes extending an end of the second tether through an opening defined by the third member of the implant.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the coupling the first tether includes tying off an end of the first to the second member of the implant; and

the coupling the second tether includes tying off an end of the second tether to the third member of the implant.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first member of the implant is disposed between the second member of the implant and third member of the implant.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the first member of the implant is constructed from a flexible material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the first member of the implant is constructed from a material having a modulus of elasticity corresponding to a modulus of elasticity of a bone.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first member defines an opening configured to enhance the flexibility of the implant.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising distracting the adjacent spinous processes before the disposing.

10 . A method, comprising:

disposing an implant between a first spinous process and a second spinous process adjacent the first spinous process, the implant having:

a first tether with a first end coupled to a first side of a first end portion of the implant; and

a second tether with first end coupled to a first side of a second end portion of the implant;

extending the first tether across the first spinous process;

coupling a second end of the first tether to a second side of the first end portion of the implant;

extending the second tether across the second spinous process; and

coupling a second end of the second tether to a second side of the second end portion of the implant.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the second side of the first end portion of the implant is opposite the first side of the first end portion of the implant; and

the second side of the second end portion of the implant is opposite the first side of the second end portion of the implant.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a range of motion of the first spinous process relative to the second spinous process is maintained after the coupling the second end of the first tether and the coupling the second end of the second tether.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the disposing includes disposing the implant without resecting a supraspinous ligament extending between the first spinous process and the second spinous process.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein

the coupling the second end of the first tether includes tying off the second end of the first tether; and

the coupling the second end of the second tether includes tying off the second end of the second tether.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant is constructed from a flexible material.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant defines an opening configured to enhance the flexibility of the implant.

17 . A method, comprising:

extending a first tether across a first spinous process;

coupling the first tether to a first member of an implant;

moving the first member of the implant with respect to a second member of the implant;

extending a second tether across a second spinous process that is adjacent the first spinous process;

coupling the first tether to a third member of the implant; and

moving the third member of the implant with respect to the second member of the implant.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a range of motion of the first spinous process relative to the second spinous process is maintained after the coupling the first tether and the coupling the second tether.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the coupling the first tether includes extending an end of the first tether through an opening defined by the first member of the implant; and

the coupling the second tether includes extending an end of the second tether through an opening defined by the third member of the implant.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the coupling the first tether includes tying off an end of the first tether to the first member of the implant; and

the coupling the second tether includes tying off an end of the second tether to the third member of the implant.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the first member is configured to be removably coupled to the second member; and

the third member is configured to be removably coupled to the second member.

22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein at least the second member of the implant is constructed from a flexible material.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the second member defines an opening configured to enhance the flexibility of the implant.

24 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising disposing the first member of the implant between the first spinous process and the second spinous process before the extending the first tether and the extending the second tether.

Assignments (9)