Patent ID: 8500781

Claim:
A method of stabilizing a pair of adjacent spinal vertebrae, comprising the steps of: implanting first and second pedicle screws to the adjacent spinal vertebrae; and coupling a dynamic stabilization device with respect to attachment members associated with said first and second pedicle screws, said dynamic stabilization device including an elongate element that defines (i) a bounded region between said first and second pedicle screws, and (ii) an extension region extending beyond at least one of said first and second pedicle screws, wherein said dynamic stabilization device includes a first dynamic element mounted with respect to said elongate element in the bounded region between said first and second pedicle screws and a second dynamic element mounted with respect to said elongate element in the extension region, wherein the first and second dynamic elements are arranged to create a compressive preload across the dynamic stabilization device, and wherein the dynamic stabilization device delivers an axial, non-bending force with respect to the attachment members associated with the first and second pedicle screws.