Interspinous process implant having pin driven engagement arms

1. An interspinous process implant, comprising:

a) an elongated body dimensioned and configured for percutaneous interspinous process implantation, defining a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and opposed proximal and distal end portions;

b) a pair of laterally opposed engagement members mounted for movement between a first position stowed within the interior cavity of the body and a second position deployed from the interior cavity of the body to engage the spinous process, each engagement member including a central hub defining a common hub axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and having an inwardly extending crank pin, wherein the inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs are radially offset from the hub axis and circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the hub axis, and wherein each engagement member includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms extending radially outwardly from the central hub thereof, each arm having an inner curved portion and an outer claw portion; and

c) an elongated drive shaft mounted for axial movement within the interior cavity of the body along the longitudinal axis thereof and including a distal actuation portion having upper and lower yokes positioned to cooperate with the circumferentially spaced apart inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs of the engagement members, whereby axial movement of the drive shaft causes the two crank pins to translate through respective arcuate paths about the hub axis, causing corresponding rotational movement of the laterally opposed engagement members about the hub axis.

2. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 1 , wherein the engagement members are mounted for rotation about a common axle extending along the hub axis.

3. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for axially moving the drive shaft along the longitudinal axis of the body within the interior cavity thereof.

4. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 3 , wherein the means for axially moving the drive shaft includes a rotatable cap operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the body and having a threaded bore configured to receive a threaded shaft portion of the drive shaft, whereby rotation of the cap causes corresponding axial movement of the drive shaft within the interior cavity of the body.

5. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 3 , wherein the means for axially moving the drive shaft includes a ratchet assembly operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the body and having an axially advanceable rack engaged with a proximal end of the drive shaft and a pawl ring retained within the interior cavity, whereby axial advancement of rack relative to the pawl ring causes corresponding axial movement of the drive shaft within the interior cavity of the body.

6. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a nose cone assembly mounted at the distal end portion of the body to provide structural rigidity to the body implant.

7. An interspinous process implant, comprising:

a) an elongated body dimensioned and configured for percutaneous interspinous process implantation, defining a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and opposed proximal and distal end portions;

b) a pair of laterally opposed engagement members mounted for movement between a first position stowed within the interior cavity of the body and a second position deployed from the interior cavity of the body to engage the spinous process, each engagement member including a central hub defining a common hub axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and having an inwardly extending crank pin, wherein the inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs are radially offset from the hub axis and circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the hub axis, and wherein the engagement members are mounted for rotation about a common axle extending along the hub axis; and

c) an elongated drive shaft mounted for axial movement within the interior cavity of the body along the longitudinal axis thereof and including a distal actuation portion having upper and lower yokes positioned to cooperate with the circumferentially spaced apart inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs of the engagement members, whereby axial movement of the drive shaft causes the two crank pins to translate through respective arcuate paths about the hub axis, causing corresponding rotational movement of the laterally opposed engagement members about the hub axis.

8. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 7 , wherein each engagement member includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms extending radially outwardly from the central hub thereof, each arm having an inner curved portion and an outer claw portion.

9. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 7 , further comprising means for axially moving the drive shaft along the longitudinal axis of the body within the interior cavity thereof.

10. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 9 , wherein the means for axially moving the drive shaft includes a rotatable cap operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the body and having a threaded bore configured to receive a threaded shaft portion of the drive shaft, whereby rotation of the cap causes corresponding axial movement of the drive shaft within the interior cavity of the body.

11. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 9 , wherein the means for axially moving the drive shaft includes a ratchet assembly operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the body and having an axially advanceable rack engaged with a proximal end of the drive shaft and a pawl ring retained within the interior cavity, whereby axial advancement of rack relative to the pawl ring causes corresponding axial movement of the drive shaft within the interior cavity of the body.

12. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a nose cone assembly mounted at the distal end portion of the body to provide structural rigidity to the body implant.

13. An interspinous process implant, comprising:

a) an elongated body dimensioned and configured for percutaneous interspinous process implantation, defining a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and opposed proximal and distal end portions;

b) a pair of laterally opposed engagement members mounted for movement between a first position stowed within the interior cavity of the body and a second position deployed from the interior cavity of the body to engage the spinous process, each engagement member including a central hub defining a common hub axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and having an inwardly extending crank pin, wherein the inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs are radially offset from the hub axis and circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the hub axis;

c) an elongated drive shaft mounted for axial movement within the interior cavity of the body along the longitudinal axis thereof and including a distal actuation portion having upper and lower yokes positioned to cooperate with the circumferentially spaced apart inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs of the engagement members, whereby axial movement of the drive shaft causes the two crank pins to translate through respective arcuate paths about the hub axis, causing corresponding rotational movement of the laterally opposed engagement members about the hub axis; and

d) a rotatable cap operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the body and having a threaded bore configured to receive a threaded shaft portion of the drive shaft, whereby rotation of the cap causes corresponding axial movement of the drive shaft within the interior cavity of the body.

14. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 13 , wherein each engagement member includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms extending radially outwardly from the central hub thereof, each arm having an inner curved portion and an outer claw portion.

15. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 14 , wherein the engagement members are mounted for rotation about a common axle extending along the hub axis.

16. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a nose cone assembly mounted at the distal end portion of the body to provide structural rigidity to the body implant.

17. An interspinous process implant, comprising:

a) an elongated body dimensioned and configured for percutaneous interspinous process implantation, defining a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and opposed proximal and distal end portions;

b) a pair of laterally opposed engagement members mounted for movement between a first position stowed within the interior cavity of the body and a second position deployed from the interior cavity of the body to engage the spinous process, each engagement member including a central hub defining a common hub axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and having an inwardly extending crank pin, wherein the inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs are radially offset from the hub axis and circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the hub axis;

c) an elongated drive shaft mounted for axial movement within the interior cavity of the body along the longitudinal axis thereof and including a distal actuation portion having upper and lower yokes positioned to cooperate with the circumferentially spaced apart inwardly extending crank pins of the two central hubs of the engagement members, whereby axial movement of the drive shaft causes the two crank pins to translate through respective arcuate paths about the hub axis, causing corresponding rotational movement of the laterally opposed engagement members about the hub axis; and

d) a ratchet assembly operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the body and having an axially advanceable rack engaged with a proximal end of the drive shaft and a pawl ring retained within the interior cavity, whereby axial advancement of rack relative to the pawl ring causes corresponding axial movement of the drive shaft within the interior cavity of the body.

18. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 17 , wherein each engagement member includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms extending radially outwardly from the central hub thereof, each arm having an inner curved portion and an outer claw portion.

19. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 18 , wherein the engagement members are mounted for rotation about a common axle extending along the hub axis.

20. An interspinous process implant as recited in claim 18 , further comprising a nose cone assembly mounted at the distal end portion of the body to provide structural rigidity to the body implant.