Patent ID: 7588588

Claim:
A medical implant system comprising: a first bone anchor having a first proximal head and a first distal threaded shank; a second bone anchor having a second proximal head and a second distal threaded shank; and a brace assembly comprising: a shell coupled to the first proximal head; a brace having a longitudinal axis and a slot longitudinally displaced along the brace; a pair of bearings displaced on opposite sides of the brace and positioned between the brace and the shell, each of the pair of bearings riding within the slot longitudinally displaced along the brace, wherein the bearings allow for slidingly adjusting and pivoting the brace relative to the first proximal head along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the brace; wherein the brace assembly farther comprises means for transmitting torque between the brace and the first distal threaded shank that includes a first key at a distal end of the brace temporarily mated to a recess area on the first proximal head.