Patent ID: 8828061

Claim:
A vertebral stabilization device operable for stabilizing and/or decompressing a portion of the spine, comprising: a first frame member comprising a first plurality of bone screw openings, wherein the first plurality of bone screw openings extend all the way through the first frame member such that a bone screw can extend through one of the first plurality of bone screw openings and into a bone of the spine, and wherein the first plurality of bone screw openings extend in at least a substantially linear fashion; a second frame member comprising a second plurality of bone screw openings, wherein the second plurality of bone screw openings extend all the way through the second frame member such that a bone screw can extend through one of the second plurality of bone screw openings and into a bone of the spine, and wherein the second plurality of bone screw openings extend in at least a substantially linear fashion; a first connector member engaged to the first frame member for securing the first frame member to a first structure of the spine; a second connector member engaged to the second frame member for securing the second frame member to a second structure of the spine; a first bone screw configured to be selectively disposed through at least one of the first plurality of bone screw openings of the first frame member and configured to extend into the first structure of the spine adjacent to the first connector member; and a second bone screw configured to be selectively disposed through at least one of the second plurality of bone screw openings of the second frame member and configured to extend into the second structure of the spine adjacent to the second connector member; wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are in a telescoping relationship with each other such that the first frame member is configured to be at least partially received within the second frame member for forming the telescoping relationship, wherein movement of the first frame member within the second frame member is supported by at least substantially an entire length of the second frame member receiving the first frame member, apd wherein telescoping portions of the first frame member and second frame member are configured such that rotation with respect to each other is inhibited, wherein the first frame member comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the second frame member comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the first frame member is configured to be at least partially received within the second frame member at least substantially along the longitudinal axes of the first and second frame members, wherein the first plurality of bone screw openings extend in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first frame member, and wherein the second plurality of bone screw openings extend in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second frame member.