Patent ID: 8337528

Claim:
A method for stabilizing a spinal segment, comprising the steps of: providing first, second, third, and fourth anchors, wherein each anchor carries a first elongate cable having first and second ends that extend from each anchor and a second elongate cable having first and second ends that extend from each anchor; attaching the first anchor to a first vertebra, attaching the second anchor to the first vertebra, attaching the third anchor to a second vertebra, and attaching the fourth anchor to the second vertebra; and attaching each of the first and second ends of the first and second elongate cables of the first anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of one of the first or second elongate cables of the second, third, and fourth anchors, attaching each of the first and second ends of the first and second elongate cables of the second anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of one of the first or second elongate cables of the first, third, and fourth anchors, attaching each of the first and second ends of the first and second elongate cables of the third anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of one of the first or second elongate cables of the first, second, and fourth anchors, attaching each of the first and second ends of the first and second elongate cables of the fourth anchor to create an attachment with one of the first and second ends of one of the first or second elongate cables of the first, second, and third anchors, wherein each step of attaching is accomplished by welding.