Patent ID: 7582106

Claim:
A prosthetic stabilization system for subcutaneous assembly within a patient's body, the system comprising: a first pair of bone anchors, each comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion having a portal extending therethrough; a second pair of bone anchors, each comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion having a portal extending therethrough; a first elongated support structure, sized to extend between a first vertebra and a second vertebra and through the portals in the first pair of bone anchors; a second elongated support structure, sized to extend between the first vertebra and the second vertebra and through the portals in the second pair of bone anchors; and an inflatable crossbar extending between the first and second elongated support structures, the crossbar having a deflated insertion configuration and an inflated fixation configuration such that in the inflated fixation configuration the first and second support structures and the crossbar are connected to form an orthopedic fixation structure for supporting at least the first and second vertebrae.