Patent ID: 8246659

Claim:
A method of stabilizing a region of a spinal column, the method comprising: securing a first vertebral anchor to a first vertebra through an incision; securing a second vertebral anchor to a second vertebra through the incision; assembling a flexible construct exterior of the incision, the flexible construct including a flexible cord extending through a lumen of a flexible spacer such that a first end portion of the flexible cord extends beyond a first end of the spacer and a second end portion of the flexible cord extends beyond a second end of the spacer; engaging the flexible spacer of the flexible construct with an engagement portion of an installation tool exterior of the incision; directing the flexible construct through the incision toward the first and second vertebral anchors with the installation tool engaged with the flexible spacer; positioning the spacer between the first vertebral anchor and the second vertebral anchor with the first and second ends of the spacer located between the first and second vertebral anchors; positioning the first end portion of the flexible cord in a U-shaped channel of the first vertebral anchor for securing the flexible construct to the first vertebral anchor; positioning the second end portion of the flexible cord in a U-shaped channel of the second vertebral anchor for securing the flexible construct to the second vertebral anchor; and securing the flexible construct to the first vertebral anchor and the second vertebral anchor.