Cervical spinous process staple

An interarticulating staple for clamping one of a thoracic/lumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoracic/lumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the interarticulating staple comprising:

• a first claw having a first clamping surface and a second claw having a second clamping surface, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface cooperate to clamp a pair of adjacent spinous processes when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position;
• a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw;
• and
• a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw.

A method of clamping one of a thoracic/lumbar Spinous Process (SP), a thoracic/lumbar Transverse Process (TP), and cervical Spinous Process (SP), the method comprising:

• positioning an interarticulating staple on a pair of adjacent spinous processes, wherein the interarticulating staple comprises:
• a first claw having a first clamping surface and a second claw having a second clamping surface, wherein the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface cooperate to clamp the pair of adjacent spinous processes when the first claw and the second claw are in a closed position;
• a staple pin pivotally connecting the first claw and the second claw;
• and
• a ratchet mechanism that limits an opening force of the first claw with respect to the second claw;
• and
• securing the interarticulating staple to the pair of adjacent spinous processes by clamping the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to the pair of adjacent spinous processes.