Minimally invasive interspinous process spacer implants and methods

1. An interspinous process spacer for implantation in an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process, the interspinous process spacer comprising:

a balloon-like body comprising an inflatable interior member and an inflatable exterior member disposed around the inflatable interior member, the balloon-like body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the balloon-like body being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration;

the inflatable exterior member including:

a first and a separate third deployable protrusion mounted proximate the proximal end of the balloon-like body and each having an elongate axis, the third deployable protrusion generally opposite the first deployable protrusion, wherein the first deployable protrusion and the third deployable protrusion are comprised of an elongated hollow semi-cylinder and extend proximally along the longitudinal axis of the balloon-like body in the unexpanded configuration to cover and protect a portion of the balloon-like body; and

a second and a separate fourth deployable protrusion mounted proximate the distal end of the balloon-like body and each having an elongate axis, the fourth deployable protrusion generally opposite the second deployable protrusion, wherein the second deployable protrusion and the fourth deployable protrusion are comprised of an elongated hollow semi-cylinder and extend distally along the longitudinal axis of the balloon-like body in the unexpanded configuration to cover and protect another portion of the balloon-like body;

wherein the elongate axes of the first, second, third, and fourth deployable protrusions are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configuration

wherein inflating the exterior member deploys the first, second, third, and fourth deployable protrusions.

2. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein at least one deployable protrusion is inflatable.

3. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein the inflatable exterior member is formed from one of a compliant material or a semi-compliant material, and wherein the interior member is formed from one of compliant material or non-compliant material.

4. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein inflating the exterior member inflates the first, second, third, and fourth deployable.

5. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein at least one deployable protrusion is relatively rigid in the expanded configuration.

6. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein the first deployable protrusion and the second deployable protrusion pinch inwardly when expanded.

7. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein an inflatable component is inflated with a biocompatible fluid or biocompatible gas, wherein the inflatable component comprises at least one from among a group consisting of the inflatable interior member, the inflatable exterior member, the first deployable protrusion, the second deployable protrusion, the third deployable protrusion, and the fourth deployable protrusion.

8. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 wherein at least one protrusion is formed from solid material.

9. The interspinous process spacer of claim 1 further comprising: a relatively solid member disposed on a surface of the balloon-like body; a first bendable portion distally adjacent to the relatively solid member and adjacent to the first deployable protrusion, the bendable portion acting as a hinge between the relatively solid member and the first deployable protrusion; and a second bendable portion proximally adjacent to the relatively solid member and adjacent to the second deployable protrusion, the bendable portion acting as a hinge between the relatively solid member and the second deployable protrusion.

10. An interspinous process spacer for implantation in an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process, the interspinous process spacer comprising:

a symmetrical pre-shaped balloon-like body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the balloon-like body being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration,

a first and a separate third deployable protrusion mounted proximate the proximal end and each having an elongate axis, the third deployable protrusion generally opposite the first deployable protrusion,wherein the first deployable protrusion and the third deployable protrusion are comprised of an elongated hollow semi-cylinder and extend proximally along the longitudinal axis of the balloon-like body in the unexpanded configuration to cover and protect a portion of the balloon-like body; and

a second and a separate fourth deployable protrusion mounted proximate the distal end and each having an elongate axis, the fourth deployable protrusion generally opposite the second deployable protrusion, wherein the second deployable protrusion and the fourth deployable protrusion are comprised of an elongated hollow semi-cylinder and extend distally along the longitudinal axis of the balloon-like body in the unexpanded configuration to cover and protect another portion of the balloon-like body;

wherein the elongate axes of the first second, third and fourth deployable protrusions are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configuration.

11. The interspinous process spacer of claim 10 wherein the symmetrical pre-shaped balloon-like body further comprises an H-shaped inflatable body.

12. The interspinous process spacer of claim 11 wherein the H-shaped inflatable body further comprises: a first U-shaped inflatable member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the first U-shaped inflatable member being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and a second U-shaped inflatable member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the second U-shaped inflatable member being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, and the second U-shaped inflatable member in coupled in opposition and adjacent to the first U-shaped inflatable member along the longitudinal axis such that the first U-shaped inflatable member and the second U-shaped inflatable member together form the H-shaped balloon-like body.

13. The interspinous process spacer of claim 12 wherein the symmetrical pre-shaped balloon-like body further comprises an X-shaped inflatable body.

14. The interspinous process spacer of claim 13 wherein the H-shaped inflatable body comprises a single inflatable member being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration.

15. The interspinous process spacer of claim 12 wherein the first U-shaped inflatable member can be inflated separately from the second U-shaped inflatable member.

16. The interspinous process spacer of claim 12 wherein the first U-shaped inflatable member is in communication with the second U-shaped inflatable member such that the first U-shaped inflatable member and the second U-shaped inflatable member can be inflated simultaneously.

17. The interspinous process spacer of claim 11 wherein the H-shaped inflatable body comprises a single inflatable member being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration.

18. The interspinous process spacer of claim 10 further comprising three linearly-arranged inflatable members wherein: the longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends comprises a central balloon; the distal end comprises a contralateral balloon that extends beyond the height of the interspinous space in the expanded configuration; and the proximal end comprises a ipsalateral balloon that extends beyond the height of the interspinous space in the expanded configuration.

19. The interspinous process spacer of claim 18 wherein the central balloon can be inflated separately from the ipsalateral balloon and the contralateral balloon.

20. The interspinous process spacer of claim 18 wherein the central balloon, the ipsalateral balloon, and the contralateral balloon can each be inflated separately from the other.

21. The interspinous process spacer of claim 18 wherein the contralateral balloon is in communication with the ipsalateral balloon such that the contralateral balloon and the ipsalateral balloon can be inflated simultaneously.

22. The interspinous process spacer of claim 21 wherein the contralateral balloon and the ipsalateral balloon are in communication with the central balloon such that the contralateral balloon and the ipsalateral balloon can be inflated simultaneously with the central balloon.

23. The interspinous process spacer of claim 10 wherein the symmetrical pre-shaped balloon-like body further comprises an alpha-shaped inflatable body.

24. The interspinous process spacer of claim 10 wherein the symmetrical pre-shaped balloon-like body comprises a three-chamber inflatable body wherein: the longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends comprises a central chamber of the three-chamber inflatable body; the distal end comprises a contralateral chamber of the three-chamber inflatable body, wherein the contralateral chamber extends beyond the height of the interspinous space in the expanded configuration; and the proximal end comprises a ipsalateral chamber of the three-chamber inflatable body, wherein the ipsalateral chamber extends beyond the height of the interspinous space in the expanded configuration.