Intervertebral implant devices and methods for insertion thereof

An implant device for implantation between adjacent spinous processes, the implant device comprising:

• an implant body;
• a first member of the implant body having a unitary, one-piece construction, the unitary, one-piece first member being configured for engaging a vertebra and including a first vertebral engaging portion having a first seat portion extending between proximal ends of a first arm and a second arm, and a first spacer portion extending from the first vertebral engaging portion;
• a second member of the implant body having a unitary, one-piece construction distinct from the unitary, one-piece first member so that the first and second members comprise two distinct pieces, the unitary, one-piece second member being configured for engaging a vertebra and including a second vertebral engaging portion having a second seat portion extending between proximal ends of a third arm and a fourth arm, and a second spacer portion extending from the second seat portion;
• and
• a pivot connection at which the first and second members are pivotably coupled, with the pivot connection being disposed closer to the first and third arms than the second and fourth arms of the implant body,
• wherein the implant body is configured to be pivoted between a compact orientation, in which a stop arrangement is formed on the first and third arms via stop surfaces that are pivoted into engagement with each other so that the first arm abuttingly engages the third arm, and an extended orientation, in which a stop arrangement is provided via a stop surface of the first spacer portion and a stop surface of the second spacer portion that are pivoted into engagement with each other so that the stop surface of the first spacer portion abuttingly engages the stop surface of the second spacer portion and in which the first and third arms are shifted to extend away from one another, with pivoting of the distinct first and second members between the compact and extended orientations causing an entirety of the first member to simultaneously pivot relative to an entirety of the second member.

A method of implanting an implant device between spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae, the method comprising:

• engaging a tool with a pair of unitary, one-piece implant members that comprise two distinct pieces of the implant device at tool engaging end portions thereof, each of the implant members having a generally U-shaped configuration;
• arranging a seat portion of each implant member to face generally in an insertion direction;
• arranging arms at end portions of the implant members generally opposite to the tool engaging end portions thereof to be engaged with one another and to extend generally in the insertion direction;
• arranging arms at the tool engaging portions of the implant members to be spaced from each other;
• advancing the tool and implant members along the insertion direction until the engaged arms extend through a space between the adjacent spinous processes;
• and
• pivoting the implant members with the tool to cause the seat portions to face generally opposite one another in respective upward and downward directions in the space between the adjacent spinous processes for engaging the corresponding spinous processes with the arms pivoted so that the arms of one of the implant members extend away from the arms of the other implant member.