Patent ID: 8282671

Claim:
An implantable device and system that allows post-operative adjustment of the movement, positions, or both movement and positions of members of the skeletal system relative to each other, comprising: a first extension-resisting member: wherein this extension-resisting member is implanted into the body of a mammal; wherein this extension-resisting member can be extended by application of force, but which offers resistance to such extension; wherein one or more post-operative changes in the extension-resisting member can be made in a non-invasive or minimally-invasive manner by a human operator, by automatic means, or by both human operator and automatic means, and wherein a change in the extension-resisting member is selected from the group consisting of a change in tension, a change in length, a change in width, and a change in torsion; wherein this extension-resisting member is configured to be connected, directly or indirectly, to two or more members of the skeletal system; and wherein one or more changes in the extension-resisting member can cause one or more movements of the members of the skeletal system relative to each other; a second extension-resisting member: wherein this extension-resisting member is implanted into the body of a mammal; wherein this extension-resisting member can be extended by application of force, but which offers resistance to such extension; wherein one or more post-operative changes in the extension-resisting member can be made in a non-invasive or minimally-invasive manner by a human operator, by automatic means, or by both human operator and automatic means, and wherein a change in the extension-resisting member is selected from the group consisting of a change in tension, a change in length, a change in width, and a change in torsion; wherein this extension-resisting member is configured to be connected, directly or indirectly, to two or more members of the skeletal system; and wherein one or more changes in the extension-resisting member can cause one or more movements of the members of the skeletal system relative to each other; a compression-resisting member: wherein this compression-resisting member is implanted into the body of a mammal; wherein this compression-resisting member offers resistance to compression; and wherein this compression-resisting member is configured to be connected, directly or indirectly, to two or more members of the skeletal system; and an internal control unit; wherein this internal control unit includes an actuator; wherein this internal control unit is implanted into the body of a mammal; wherein this internal control unit enables post-operative changes in an extension-resisting member in a non-invasive or minimally-invasive manner; wherein these changes are selected from the group consisting of a change in tension, a change in length, a change in width, and a change in torsion; and wherein these changes can be adjusted and reversed in a non-invasive or minimally-invasive manner.