Patent ID: 8048121

Claim:
A deflection rod system adapted to be mounted to a bone anchor implanted in a spine, the deflection rod system comprising: a shield having a shield cavity having a shield cavity axis; a deflectable rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the deflectable rod being disposed in the shield cavity aligned with the shield cavity axis such that the proximal end extends out of the shield cavity and the distal end is connected to said shield; wherein a proximal portion of the deflectable rod is spaced from the shield within the shield cavity such that the proximal portion of the deflection rod can deflect within said shield cavity transverse to the shield cavity axis thereby permitting the proximal end of the deflection rod to deflect; a connector rod that is attached to said proximal end of said deflectable rod with a connector; and a mount connected to said shield that mounts said deflection rod system relative to said bone anchor in one of a plurality of positions.