Interspinous process implant and fusion cage spacer

A spinal implant comprising:

• a) an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, the body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and a tapered head portion configured to gradually distract the two adjacent spinous processes during insertion therebetween wherein an outer surface of the body, including the tapered head portion, is threaded;
• b) a distal anchor associated with a distal end portion of the body, the distal anchor having two radially-deployable blades adapted to engage a first side of the two adjacent spinous processes, wherein the radially-deployable blades are mounted to rotate about a common pivot axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body between a stowed position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body and a deployed position projecting radially outward from the body at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein each of the radially-deployable blades is provided with proximally directed spikes;
• and
• c) a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the tapered head portion and a second position approximated with the tapered head portion, adapted to engage a second side of the two adjacent spinous processes, wherein the proximal anchor includes an axially slideable plate and a nut threaded to the threaded outer surface of the body for axial movement of the proximal anchor by rotational movement of the nut, wherein the axially slideable plate is between the nut and the distal anchor axially, and wherein the threaded outer surface of the body includes at least one flat portion engaged with a corresponding flat portion of the axially slideable plate for inhibiting relative rotation of the axially slideable plate and the body.

A method of percutaneously performing interspinous process decompression, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a spinal implant having an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, wherein an outer surface of the body is threaded, a distal anchor associated with a distal end of the body, and a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the head and a second position approximated with the distal end, adapted to compress the two adjacent spinous processes, in conjunction with the distal anchor, wherein the proximal anchor includes an axially slideable plate and a nut threaded to the threaded outer surface of the body for axial movement of the proximal anchor by rotational movement of the nut, wherein the axially slideable plate is between the nut and the distal anchor axially, and wherein the threaded outer surface of the body includes at least one flat portion engaged with a corresponding flat portion of the axially slideable plate for inhibiting relative rotation of the axially slideable plate and the body, wherein the distal anchor includes two radially-deployable blades adapted for engaging adjacent spinous processes, wherein the two radially-deployable blades are mounted to rotate about a common pivot pin extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body between a stowed position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body and a deployed position projecting radially outward from the body at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, wherein each of the radially-deployable blades is provided with proximally directed spikes;
• b) forming an incision in a patient's skin, lateral from a target interspinous process space, in which the implant is to be placed;
• c) inserting a stylet through the incision, laterally to the target interspinous process space, using an internal imaging technique, to form an entry path;
• d) inserting one or more dilators, sequentially, along the entry path to dilate soft tissues between the incision and the target interspinous process space;
• e) inserting a sleeve through the entry path;
• f) selecting an implant having a size appropriate for a desired amount of interspinous distraction;
• g) inserting the implant, held by an insertion device, through the sleeve, up to the target interspinous process space;
• and
• h) advancing the implant into the interspinous process space.