Patent ID: 8419772

Claim:
A system for the treatment of scoliosis, comprising: an elongate, bendable rod having a longitudinal axis and configured to apply a corrective force to the spine of a patient; a first retainer securely connectable to a first vertebral body having a coronal plane and a sagittal plane, the first retainer being connectable to the rod such that the rod is permitted to pivot in the coronal and sagittal planes but is substantially not permitted to rotate around the longitudinal axis, the rod being permitted to pivot in the coronal plane around an axis that intersects the rod; a second retainer securely connectable to a second vertebral body, the second retainer being connectable to the rod such that the rod is permitted to move longitudinally with respect to the retainer, rotate with respect to the retainer, and pivot in the sagittal and coronal planes, wherein the first and second retainers are configured as housings, and wherein the rod has an axle member and the first retainer is configured to receive the axle member in a first lumen.