Granted Patent B2

US 8,636,773 · App. 13/488,167 · Granted Jan 28, 2014

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. A spinous process device, comprising:

a first plate having a first part with an extended portion slidably coupled to a second part having a hollow interior portion, wherein the extended portion of the first part is slidably received into the hollow interior portion of the second part;

a second plate having a third part with an extended portion slidably coupled to a fourth part having a hollow interior portion, wherein the extended portion of the third part is slidably received into the hollow interior portion of the fourth part; and

first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising first and second locking mechanisms configured to lock the first and second parts and the third and fourth parts a desired distance apart.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each plate includes an interior portion having a plurality of protrusions configured to interact with the spinous processes.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein upon connection of the first and second plates using the first and second connector devices, the first and second plates are configured to be parallel to each other.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein upon connection of the first and second plates using the first and second connector devices, the first and second plates are configured to be disposed at an angle with respect to each other.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector devices comprise screws, bolts, or other suitable devices.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth parts includes an opening configured to accommodate the first and second connector devices.

8. A spinous process device, comprising:

a first plate that extends along a first pivot axis in a first plane, the first plate including

a first part configured to engage a first spinous process and having a first extended portion; and

a second part configured to engage a second spinous process and having a first hollow interior portion to receive the first extended portion;

a second plate that extends along a second pivot axis in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, the second plate including

a third part configured to engage the first spinous process and having a second extended portion; and

a fourth part configured to engage the second spinous process and having second hollow interior portion to receive the first extended portion; and

a coupling mechanism coupling the first and second plates such that at least one part of the first plate may pivot about the first pivot axis to be positioned at an angle with regard to at least one part of the second plate.

9. The spinous process device of claim 8 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a connector device that rotatably couples the first plate to the second plate together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and securing the spinous processes between the first and second plates.

10. The spinous process device of claim 8 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.

Assignments (16)