Patent ID: 7563274

Claim:
A system for spinal stabilization, comprising: a first anchor engageable to a first vertebral body, wherein said first anchor includes a bone engaging portion for engaging the first vertebral body along a first engagement axis; a second anchor engageable to a second vertebral body, wherein said second anchor includes a bone engaging portion for engaging the second vertebral body along a second engagement axis; and a connecting element including an elongated body extending between opposite first and second ends and being positionable between and engageable to each of said first and second anchors, wherein said elongated body includes an anisotropic cross-sectional shape defining a first bending axis and a second bending axis transversely oriented to said first bending axis, said body including a first moment of inertia about said first bending axis and a second moment of inertia about said second bending axis that differs from said first moment of inertia, wherein a selected one of said first and second bending axes is aligned in the direction of said first and second engagement axes and said connecting element is engaged to said first and second anchors in said aligned orientation.