Patent ID: 8162993

Claim:
A method for stabilizing a spinal segment, comprising the steps of: providing first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth anchors, wherein each anchor carries a first elongate cable terminating in distinct first and second ends that extend from each anchor; attaching the first anchor to a first vertebra, attaching the second anchor to the first vertebra, and attaching the third anchor to the first vertebra between the first and second anchors; attaching the fourth anchor to a second vertebra, and attaching the fifth anchor to the second vertebra, and attaching the sixth anchor to the second vertebra between the fourth and fifth anchors; and attaching each of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the first anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the fourth and sixth anchors, attaching each of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the second anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the fifth and sixth anchors, attaching each of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the fourth anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the first and third anchors, attaching each of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the fifth anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of the first elongate cable of the second and third anchors, wherein at least some of the first elongate cables are attached in a crossing pattern having left and right generally vertically extending segments and diagonal connections between upper and lower end regions of each vertically extending segment.