Patent ID: 8114133

Claim:
A spine stabilization system, comprising: a rod assembly, comprising: a plurality of rod members, each rod member having a length and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first end and the second end has a substantially round end surface oriented in the direction of an axis of the at least one rod member, and each rod member has an axial channel along its length; at least one substantially round pivot member which is disposed between rod members and which makes substantially flush contact with the round end surfaces of the rod members and which has a channel; a tether disposed in the axial channels of the rod members and the channel of the at least one substantially round pivot member; at least two bone anchor assemblies, each bone anchor assembly comprising: an anchor member comprising a lower rod portion for insertion into bone tissue and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is adapted to receive a portion of a rod member and has an inner threaded surface; a screw top member having an outer threaded surface for engaging with the inner threaded surface of the upper portion of the anchor member; and wherein the bone anchor assemblies hold the rod assembly between the screw top member and the upper portion of the anchor member; at least one bone screw assembly, comprising: a screw shaft member comprising a lower portion for inserting into bone tissue and an upper rounded portion adapted to interface with the substantially round end surface of at least one rod member, and wherein the upper rounded portion has a threaded inner cylindrical surface; a screw head member receivable within the upper rounded portion of the screw shaft member, wherein the screw head member includes threads on an outer surface thereof designed to engage the threads on the inner cylindrical surface of the upper rounded portion of the screw shaft member; wherein the at least one bone screw assembly is disposed at the end of at least one rod member of the rod assembly such that the tether may be anchored in place between the screw shaft member and the screw head member, thereby connecting the at least one bone screw assembly and the rod assembly.