Patent ID: 8617215

Claim:
A system for stabilizing a first vertebra with respect to a second vertebra, comprising: a. first and second anchor assemblies attachable to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, respectively; b. an elongated connecting element comprising: i. a first end member configured to engage with the first anchor assembly and a second end member configured to engage with the second anchor assembly, the first end member including an inner surface defining a first bore and the second end member including an inner surface defining a second bore, the first end member and the second end member substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis; ii. a resilient intermediate element positioned between the first end member and the second end member having an inner surface defining a third bore that is communication with the first and second bores; and iii. a flexible tether disposed in the bores; wherein the first end member comprises a first flange having at least one protuberance, the second end member comprises a second flange having at least one protuberance, and the resilient intermediate element including first and second axial ends and comprising a plurality of indentations configured to cooperate with the protuberances of the first flange and the second flange, each of the plurality of indentations extending inward from one of the axial ends and including an open end and an opposing closed end with the open end positioned farther from a longitudinal center of the resilient intermediate element, wherein a depth of the indentations is greater than a height of the protuberances of the first and second flange such that a distal surface of at least one of the protuberances is spaced apart from a bottom surface of a respective indentation when a respective protuberance is disposed in a respective indentation; and wherein the first end member and the second end member each engage the resilient intermediate element to dampen radial displacement of the resilient intermediate element with respect to the longitudinal axis when shear force is applied to the elongated connecting element.