Patent ID: 8012179

Claim:
A spinal stabilization system, comprising: first and second anchor assemblies engageable to respective ones of first and second vertebral bodies; and an elongated connecting element including opposite first and second anchor engaging end portions and a length along a longitudinal axis between said first and second anchor engaging end portions, each of said first and second anchor engaging end portions including a spinal rod portion extending longitudinally on said longitudinal axis and said length is sized for positioning each of said spinal rod portions in a respective one of said first and second anchor assemblies on said longitudinal axis when said first and second anchor assemblies are engaged to the respective vertebral bodies, said connecting element further including a support portion between said first and second anchor engaging end portions, said longitudinal axis extending through said support portion and said support portion including first and second support members spaced from one another on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, and further comprising at least one stabilizer member extending through aligned holes of said support members and engaged to said support members in a transverse orientation to said longitudinal axis.