Patent ID: 8092528

Claim:
An intervertebral connection system comprising: a) a conformable synthetic ligament having a first end portion and an intermediate portion, b) an anchor having a central axis which is axially implantable into a bone in a patient's body, said anchor comprising: i) a distal head portion having a body portion that extends transverse to the central axis of the anchor, a proximal surface, a distal surface, and an axially extending throughhole; ii) a first helix extending axially from the body portion of the distal head portion and transversely engageable with the bone, the first helix having a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion having a lateral helical opening, wherein the first end portion of the ligament extends through the throughhole of the distal head portion of the anchor, wherein the intermediate portion of the ligament extends through the lateral helical opening within the intermediate portion of the helix, and wherein after a few rotations of the anchor, the ligament is forced into the throughhole of the anchor by the rotations thereof.