Patent ID: 8075595

Claim:
A system for stabilizing at least one spinal motion segment comprising a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, the system comprising: a left and a right superior bone anchor configured to couple to the superior vertebra, each superior bone anchor comprising a first strut having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first strut includes an abutment having a first engagement portion, and wherein at least the first struts move independently of one another; a left and a right inferior bone anchor configured for attachment to the inferior vertebra, each inferior bone anchor comprising a second strut having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the second strut includes a second engagement portion configured to slidably engage with the first engagement portion of the abutment of the distal end of the superior bone anchor, and wherein the configuration of the second engagement portion relative to the first engagement portion limits relative motion between the first and the second strut; and a tension band extending between the superior bone anchor and the inferior bone anchor.