Patent ID: 8425601

Claim:
A device to support first and second vertebral members comprising: a first anchor attached to the first vertebral member; a second anchor attached to the second vertebral member; an elongated member including a first longitudinal section mated to the first anchor and a second longitudinal section mated to the second anchor for sliding motion relative thereto; a first element connected to the elongated member on a first side of the second anchor between the first and second anchors; a second element connected to the elongated member at a second side of the second anchor; and the first and second elements each being tension members that are operative to apply tension forces in opposing directions that impede relative movement of the first and second vertebral members via sliding motion between the elongated member and the second anchor, the first element applying a first tension force in a first direction during movement of the elongated member relative to the second anchor in a first direction, and the second element applying a second tension force in a second opposing direction during movement of the elongated member relative to the second anchor in a second direction.