Patent ID: 7896904

Claim:
A vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening device comprising: first and second screws each including a ball head and a screw body; first and second screw head portions each including an internal threaded bore and a shoulder therein, said first screw being inserted into the internal bore of the first screw head portion so that the ball head of the first screw is pivotally mounted on the shoulder of the first screw head portion so that the orientation of the first screw can be set relative to the first screw head and said second screw being inserted into the internal bore of the second screw head portion so that the ball head of the second screw is pivotally mounted on the shoulder of the second screw head portion so that the orientation of the second screw can be set relative to the second screw head; a connector coupled to the first and second screw head portions at a connector contact region; and a spring member positioned between and in contact with the first and second screw head portions at a spring contact region, said spring member being anteriorly offset from the connector, and configured so that spring member applies a bias force to the first and second screws that causes the screw body portions to separate at the spring contact region while the first and second screw head portions are held in place by the connector at the connector contact region.