Patent ID: 8118841

Claim:
A system for treating a spinal deformity in a skeletally mature or immature spine comprising: at least three vertebral anchor means for anchoring into three different vertebral bodies, two end vertebrae and at least one intermediate vertebral body respectively, wherein at least a first vertebral anchor means configured to be positioned on at least one end vertebrae, and at least a second vertebral anchor means configured to be positioned on at least one intermediate vertebral body are configured to be positioned non-linearly such that one of the at least first and the at least second vertebral anchor means is positioned closer to a posterior portion of a vertebral body, and the other of the at least first and the at least second vertebral anchor means is positioned closer to an anterior portion of an adjacent vertebral body, and wherein at least the first and at least a third vertebral anchor means each configured to be positioned on two end vertebrae includes a passage for the introduction of at least one flexible interconnection means, and a threaded passage for seating a blocking screw to secure flexible interconnection means by contact; and at least one flexible interconnection means attached to the at least three vertebral anchor means in a non-linear manner, wherein the flexible interconnection means are configured to constrain spinal growth, or permit deliberate intervertebral alignment changes by creating tension that causes a distraction of the at least first and at least third vertebral anchor means configured to be at the two end vertebrae, thereby causing a rotation of the at least one intermediate vertebrae due to interaction with the flexible interconnection means, and wherein the flexible interconnection means is attached through a gliding interconnection to the at least second vertebral anchor means for anchoring the at least one intermediate vertebral body, and the flexible interconnection means is rigidly attached to the at least first and the at least third vertebral anchor means for anchoring the two end vertebrae, the at least second vertebral anchor means comprising at least a head, a lower member positioned beneath the head, and a connecting passage provided by a bottom portion of the head and an upper portion of the lower member.