Minimally invasive interspinous process spacer implants and methods

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 central generally rigid rod member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, the generally rigid rod member being arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration;
• an inflatable spacer portion disposed about the longitudinal axis;
• a first plurality of wires disposed axially about the proximal end;
• and
• a second plurality of wires disposed axially about the distal end,
• wherein the first and second plurality of wires are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configuration.

A method of implanting an inflatable interspinous process spacer having deployable securing elements into an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process, the method comprising:

• inserting a guiding device into an interspinous ligament in the interspinous space;
• introducing the process spacer via the guiding device into the interspinous space;
• inflating the process spacer such that a first portion of the process spacer is positioned contralaterally of the interspinous space and a second portion of the process spacer is positioned ipsilaterally of the interspinous space;
• and
• deploying the deployable securing elements.