Patent ID: 8292934

Claim:
An attachment apparatus for attaching an elongated connecting element to a vertebral column, comprising: an anchor member engageable to a vertebral body, said anchor member including a distal bone engaging portion and a proximal coupling portion configured to extend from the surface of the vertebral body, the anchor member further includes an axial chamber extending distally from and opening through said proximal coupling portion of said anchor member, said axial chamber extending into said bone engaging portion of said anchor member; a receiver defining a channel configured to receive and engage an elongated connecting element and including a distal coupling portion; and a flexible member positioned between said receiver and said anchor member; wherein a first of said proximal and distal coupling portions defines an inner cavity and a second of said proximal and distal coupling portions includes an end at least partially positioned within said inner cavity, said flexible member having a cup-shaped configuration defining an interior region, said flexible member positioned within said inner cavity with said end portion positioned within said interior region of said flexible member to provide a flexible interface between said anchor member and said receiver.