Apparatus for treating spinal stenosis

An apparatus insertable between spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae through a lateral opening in a minimal invasive approach for treating spinal stenosis, the apparatus comprising:

• an implant body structure configured to fit between the spinous processes;
• first, second, third and fourth retainers operably associated with the body structure;
• and
• a screw substantially located within the implant body structure, the screw operative to move the first, second, third and fourth retainers from a retracted position to a deployed position, wherein in the retracted position the first and second retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure and the third and fourth retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure, wherein in the deployed position the first and third retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a first side of the spinous processes and the second and fourth retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a second side of the spinous processes;
• wherein the screw includes a longitudinal axis and the body structure comprises first and second body end portions spaced apart along the axis;
• wherein rotation of the screw in a first direction moves the first and second body end portions axially toward each other such that the retainers move from the retracted position to the deployed position under the influence of the first and second body end portions as they are moved axially toward each other;
• and
• wherein the screw includes a screw thread in a first direction engaged with the first body end portion, and an oppositely extending screw thread in a second direction engaged with the second body end portion.

An apparatus insertable between spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae through a lateral opening in a minimal invasive approach for treating spinal stenosis, the apparatus comprising:

• an implant body structure configured to fit between the spinous processes;
• first, second, third and fourth retainers operably associated with the body structure;
• and
• a screw substantially located within the implant body structure, the screw operative to move the first, second, third and fourth retainers from a retracted position to a deployed position, wherein in the retracted position the first and second retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure and the third and fourth retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure, wherein in the deployed position the first and third retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a first side of the spinous processes and the second and fourth retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a second side of the spinous processes;
• wherein the screw includes a longitudinal axis and the body structure comprises first and second body end portions spaced apart along the axis;
• wherein rotation of the screw in a first direction moves the first and second body end portions axially toward each other such that the retainers move from the retracted position to the deployed position under the influence of the first and second body end portions as they are moved axially toward each other;
• and
• wherein the body structure further includes a sleeve located axially between the first and second body end portions.

An apparatus insertable between spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae through a lateral opening in a minimal invasive approach for treating spinal stenosis, the apparatus comprising:

• an implant body structure configured to fit between the spinous processes;
• first, second, third and fourth retainers operably associated with the body structure;
• and
• a screw substantially located within the implant body structure, the screw operative to move the first, second, third and fourth retainers from a retracted position to a deployed position, wherein in the retracted position the first and second retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure and the third and fourth retainers are positioned beside each other and generally inside the implant body structure, wherein in the deployed position the first and third retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a first side of the spinous processes and the second and fourth retainers extend outwardly from the implant body structure adjacent a second side of the spinous processes;
• wherein the body structure comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, the screw includes a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of the screw having external screw threads, the screw configured for rotation;
• wherein the first end portion and second end portion each have internal threads and are mounted on the screw and each retainer comprises a generally U-shaped wire having two free ends;
• wherein the two free ends of the first and third retainers are fixed to the first end portion and the two free ends of the second and fourth retainers are fixed to the second end portion;
• wherein, upon rotation of the screw in a first direction, the first and second end portions move axially along the screw closer together and deploy the retainers at an angle with respect to the axis of the screw.

An apparatus insertable between spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae through a lateral opening in a minimal invasive approach for treating spinal stenosis, the apparatus comprising:

• an implant body structure having a longitudinal axis and configured to be placed between the spinous processes, the body structure including first and second body end portions spaced apart along the axis;
• first, second, third and fourth retainers operably associated with the body structure;
• and
• a mechanism located within the implant body structure, the mechanism operative to move the first, second, third and fourth retainers from a retracted position, wherein the retainers are generally aligned with the axis, to a deployed position, wherein the first and third retainers extend at an angle with respect to the axis and beside a first side of the spinous processes and the second and fourth retainers extend at an angle with respect to the axis and beside a second side of the spinous processes, wherein activation of the mechanism in a first direction moves the first and second body end portions axially toward each other such that the retainers move from the retracted position to the deployed position under the influence of the first and second body end portions as they are moved axially toward each other, the first and third retainers being coupled to the first body end portion so that the first and third retainers move with the first body portion, and the first and third retainers are slidable with respect to the second body end portion upon movement of the first body end portion axially toward the second body end portion so that the second body portion deflects and guides the first and third retainers from the retracted position to the deployed position;
• and the second and fourth retainers are coupled to the second body end portion so that the second and fourth retainers move with the second body portion, and the second and fourth retainers are slidable with respect to the first body end portion upon movement of the second body end portion axially toward the first body end portion so that the first body portion deflects and guides the second and fourth retainers from the retracted position to the deployed position.