Interspinous process implant having deployable wing and method of implantation

An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising:

• a spacer having:
• first and second opposing contact surfaces, each contact surface extending from a most proximal end to a most distal end of the spacer;
• the first and second contact surfaces separated by a first height;
• wherein the first and second contact surfaces each have a width extending perpendicular to the first height;
• the width of the contact surfaces being larger than the first height;
• the first and second contact surfaces having no protuberances extending outwardly therefrom;
• a distraction guide disposed on the most distal end of the spacer and comprising first and second wings each being non-flexible and each having a free tip;
• the distraction guide having first and second configurations;
• each tip being blunt and having a width measured in the same direction as the width of the contact surfaces, the width of the contact surfaces being larger than the width of the tips;
• wherein in the first configuration:
• the tips are disposed closer together such that the first and second wings contact each other proximate their tips;
• wherein in the second configuration:
• the tips are spaced apart from each other;
• the distraction guide limits movement of the interspinous implant when positioned between spinous processes.

An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising:

• a spacer having:
• first and second opposing contact surfaces, each contact surface extending from a most proximal end to a most distal end of the spacer;
• the first and second contact surfaces separated by a first height;
• wherein the first and second contact surfaces each have a width extending perpendicular to the first height;
• the width of the contact surfaces being larger than the first height;
• the first and second contact surfaces having no protuberances extending outwardly therefrom;
• a distraction guide disposed on the most distal end of the spacer and comprising first and second wings each being non-flexible;
• the first wing having a first distal tip and the second wing having a second distal tip;
• the distraction guide having a first insertion configuration and second deployed configuration;
• each tip being blunt and having a width measured in the same direction as the width of the contact surfaces, the width of the contact surfaces being larger than the width of the tips;
• wherein in the first insertion configuration:
• the first and second distal tips define a most distal end of the implant;
• the first and second distal tips are disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal axis;
• the first and second distal tips are disposed closer together than in the second deployed configuration such that the first and second wings contact each other proximate their tips;
• wherein the first wing rotates about a first pivot axis when moving from the insertion configuration to the deployed configuration;
• wherein a first distance from the first distal tip of the first wing to the first pivot axis remains constant when the first wing moves from the insertion configuration to the deployed configuration.