Patent ID: 8172880

Claim:
An intervertebral stabilization apparatus, comprising: an implant operable to be inserted at least partially between adjacent vertebral bodies and maintain at least one mutual degree of freedom of the vertebral bodies when inserted therebetween; and at least one extra-discal member operable to be disposed posteriorly to said implant when said implant is at least partially positioned between the vertebral bodies, said at least one extra-discal member further being configured to be coupled with each of the vertebral bodies and including a first anchor engaging portion attached to a first bone screw and having a longitudinal axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the first bone screw, a second anchor engaging portion attached to a second bone screw and having a longitudinal axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of the second bone screw, and a dampening member positioned between said longitudinal axes of said first and second anchor engaging portions, said dampening member being configured to dampen displacement between the vertebral bodies at least in response to intervertebral flexion when said at least one extra-discal member is disposed posteriorly to said implant.