Patent ID: 7621940

Claim:
A rod-shaped element having a rod axis, for use in spinal or trauma surgery, comprising: a first rigid section configured to connect to a first bone anchoring element; a sleeve configured to connect to a second bone anchoring element; a second rigid section inside the sleeve, the second rigid section having a first end and a second end; a first flexible element capable of elastic deformation when a force acts on said flexible element transversely to the rod axis; a second flexible element that dampens movement of the first rigid section relative to the second rigid section in a direction of the rod axis; wherein the first rigid section and the second rigid section are capable of constantly moving relative to each other in the direction of the rod axis; wherein said first flexible element is connected to the first rigid section on one end of the first flexible element and connected to the second end of the second rigid section on the other end of the first flexible element; wherein the sleeve is capable of shifting on said second rigid section a predetermined amount in the direction of the rod axis due to movement of the second flexible element when the sleeve is secured to the second bone anchoring element; and wherein most of the sleeve is disposed between the first end of the second rigid section and the second end of the second rigid section.