Patent ID: 8617214

Claim:
A medical apparatus comprising: an elongated flexible element in the form of a closed circular structure, and having a first end and a second end formed by hairpin loops when the closed circular structure is flattened, and a mid-portion between the first end and the second end; a single first connector configured to secure the hairpin loops of the first end and the second end of the elongated flexible element to a first vertebra; wherein the first vertebra is disposed above or below a second vertebra; the first and second vertebrae comprising a first transverse process and a second transverse process and a spinous process; the mid-portion of the elongated flexible element is configured to be disposed at least partially around the first transverse process and the second transverse process and beneath the spinous process of the second vertebra, and a tension in the elongated flexible element is adjustable to restrict the motion of the second vertebra; wherein the elongated flexible element is formed from a combination of materials having different elasticities, so that the tension in the elongated flexible element can be adjusted.