Patent ID: 7927356

Claim:
A spinal stabilization construct, comprising: first and second anchors, said first and second anchors each including a proximal head and a distal portion engageable to respective ones of first and second vertebral bodies, wherein said head of said second anchor includes a coupling element defining a passage therethrough; a connector assembly extending along a longitudinal axis between said proximal heads of said first and second anchors, said connector assembly including: an elongated connecting element including a rigid body extending between opposites ends in a passage through said head of said first anchor and through said passage of said coupling element of said second anchor, wherein said rigid body of said connecting element is configured so that when subjected to spinal column loading said rigid body retains its shape and length; a flexible bumper element positioned about said connecting element, said bumper element extending between opposite ends thereof in abutting engagement with said proximal heads and said bumper element compresses in response to and to dynamically resist movement of said heads toward one another; and an engagement member coupled to said proximal head of said first anchor, said engagement member securing said respective opposite end of said connecting element in said passage of said proximal head of said first anchor, wherein the other of said opposite ends of said connecting element is captured in said passage of said coupling element of said second anchor and is configured with said proximal head so that said connecting element moves along said longitudinal axis relative to said second anchor and said coupling element is engaged with one of said opposite ends of said bumper element and pivots about said connecting element in response to movement of the first and second vertebrae along the longitudinal axis, and further wherein said coupling element pivots about said connecting element to contact said connecting element to limit movement of the second vertebra relative to the first vertebra.