Patent ID: 7942902

Claim:
A system for changing alignment of vertebrae of a spinal column, said system comprising: a plurality of elongate members, each of said members having a length sufficient to span at least one pair of vertebrae in the spinal column; and a plurality of anchors, each anchor including an elongate threaded shaft having a tip at one end adapted to enter bone and a head on the shaft at a position spaced from the tip, said head including a plurality of connector mounts spaced along the head, each of said mounts being adapted to connect one of said elongate members to the head; and wherein a first of said elongate members is slidably engaged with a first of said connector mounts in a first of said anchors to permit sliding motion between said first elongate member and said first anchor; and wherein a second of said elongate members is rigidly engaged with a second of said connector mounts in said first anchor to prevent sliding motion between said second elongate member and said first anchor, and wherein said second connector mount comprises a channel extending entirely through said head of said first anchor, and wherein said second elongate member is positioned within and extends entirely through said channel.