Patent ID: 8613760

Claim:
A longitudinal connecting member for a medical implant assembly having multiple bone attachment structures, including a first and a second bone attachment structure, the longitudinal connecting member comprising: a) an inner core having a outer surface and a slit being defined by a slit length and formed on the outer surface about a mid-portion of the inner core, the core being integral along a substantial length of the connecting member and being adapted to be secured between the first and second bone attachment structures; and b) an elastically compressible outer sleeve adapted for compressive engagement with a side surface of the first attachment structure, and completely covering the inner core in both flexion and extension, the sleeve being located outside of the inner core outer surface, so as to allow freedom of movement between the inner core and the outer sleeve respectively, the sleeve being adapted to be positioned entirely between the first and second bone attachment structures so as to be axially compressed with movement of the first and second bone attachment structures, so as to provide a dynamic tension-compression relationship between the axially compressed sleeve and the inner core slitted portion.