rubber material for example an implant grade silicone polyurethane or polysulfone rubber or other material exhibiting a durometer rating that is moderately firm and able to withstand roughly 200 400 psi compression repeatedly over several million cycles without fracture in other embodiments however one or both of the cushions 34 a and or 34 b can be eliminated further while the cushions 34 a 34 b are illustrated in fig2 a as forming the corresponding abutment surface 80 82 as having a continuous curvature in other embodiments a linear or complex curved surface can be formed preferably however sufficient cushion material provided to support edges of a spinous process located within the corresponding receiving zone 64 70 implantation of the device 30 to the vertebral column 10 fig1 is described in greater detail below one technique for securing the implant body 32 using a band 90 is provided in fig3 a 5b in general terms the band 90 is wrapped about and through the implant body 32 via the lateral passage 62 to better illustrate one desired assembly technique the band 90 is depicted in fig3 a 5b as being loosely associated connected with the implant body 32 it being understood that in actual practice the band 90 can be more tightly associated with the implant body 32 as well as to the vertebral column 10 fig1 being repaired with this in mind fig3 a illustrates the band 90 e g a suture tape belt etc initially secured to the implant body 32 such that a first segment 92 extends through the lateral passage 62 e g extending from the right side 52 to the left side 50 and a second segment 94.