SPINE STIFFENING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

摘要

In various embodiments, a spinal stabilization system (10) has a first an d a second vertebral anchor (14) each adapted to be coupled to one of a firs t and a second vertebrae (16). The system (10) also includes a flexible conn ecting element (12) coupled to each of the first and second vertebral anchor s (14) and extending between the vertebral anchors (14). The connecting elem ent (12) has a central member (36) and a brace (40) positioned about the cen tral member (36) and the central member (36) is stiffer than the brace (40) to provide the needed combination of support and stiffness to the construct while offering flexibility. These and other various embodiments of this inve ntion offer an improvement over known systems by providing stabilization of the vertebral column while allowing for flexibility and axial dampening.