Patent ID: 8292927

Claim:
A flexible spinal rod comprising: a retainer with a first end coupled with a first pedicle screw and an opposite second end; a flexible shaft with a first end coupled with a second pedicle screw and an opposite second end slideably coupled through the second end of the retainer; and a shoulder near the second end of the flexible shaft configured to prevent sliding of at least a portion of the flexible shaft; wherein the flexible shaft is configured to bend to change curvature along at least a portion of a length of the flexible shaft in response to normal physiological loads applied to the flexible spinal rod through the first end of the retainer and the first end of the flexible shaft; wherein the flexible shaft and retainer are curved when in an unloaded state; wherein the opposite second end of the flexible shaft is a portion of the flexible shaft that is configured to bend to change curvature in response to normal physiological loads applied to the flexible spinal rod through the first end of the retainer and the first end of the flexible shaft; and wherein the retainer includes a spherical coupling mechanism configured to couple with the first pedicle screw that allows one or more degrees of rotational freedom between the retainer and the first pedicle screw.