Method Of Implanting An Interspinous Vertebral Implant

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, disclosed is a vertebral interspinous implant including first and second supports ( 2,3 ) defining in their center part respective fixation bodies ( 7,8 ) to accept spinal processes of two respective vertebrae, these fixation bodies being located in a same sagittal plane, first and second elastically compressible bodies ( 4 ) being set between the first and second supports ( 2,3 ) and on each side of the said sagittal plane (P), first and second rigid guides ( 10 ) around which are arranged, respectively, the first and second elastically compressible bodies ( 4 ), each of these guides ( 10 ) optionally being connected at one of its extremities to the supports ( 2,3 ) and including at, at least, one of its extremities an abutment ( 13 ) adapted to cooperate with an abutment( 14 ) of the corresponding support ( 3 ) in order to limit the separation of the supports ( 2,3 ) in the direction of the spine.

1 . A method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant having at least one elastically compressible body into a space between two adjacent vertebrae comprising:
 resecting at least a portion of either one or both of ligament and soft tissue to expose said space; and   inserting the interspinous vertebral implant having at least one pre-loaded elastically compressible body under compression into the space between the two adjacent vertebrae.   
     
     
         2 . The of implanting an interspinous vertbral implant of  claim 1 , wherein resecting at least a portion of one or both of ligament and soft tissue comprises resecting at least a portion of the intespinous ligament. 
     
     
         3 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 2 , further comprising resecting at least a portion of the supraspinous ligament. 
     
     
         4 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting the interspinous vertebral implant occurs without resecting bony portions of the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae. 
     
     
         5 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 1 , further comprising resecting soft tissue adjacent the two adjacent vertebrae. 
     
     
         6 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 2 , further comprising resecting soft tissue adjacent the two adjacent vertebrae. 
     
     
         7 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 3 , further comprising resecting soft tissue adjacent the two adjacent vertebrae. 
     
     
         8 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the interspinous vertebral implant to the superior and inferior spinous processes with at least one synthetic ligament. 
     
     
         9 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the interspinous vertebral implant to the superior and inferior spinous processes with two synthetic ligaments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of implanting an interspinous vertebral implant of  claim 3 , further comprising rejoining ends of the resected supraspinonus ligament.