Patent ID: 8808378

Claim:
A multi-level spinal stabilization system, comprising: at least two X-shaped members, each X-shaped member having a central member with a superior pair of arms extending from opposed lateral sides thereof and an inferior pair of arms extending from the opposed lateral sides thereof, the superior pair of arms of a first X-shaped member being coupled to an inferior pair of arms of a second X-shaped member and the superior arms of the second X-shaped member having surfaces configured and dimensioned to articulate with a portion of an adjacent facet joint, wherein at least one of the X-shaped members comprises an opening and a keyed portion that forms a friction fit with the opening, wherein the opening is formed in a first link body and the keyed portion comprises a protruding portion extending outwardly from a second link body, and wherein the opening and the keyed portion are configured to receive a portion of a vertebra when frictionally engaged with each other via the friction fit.