Patent ID: 8029544

Claim:
A spinal stabilization system comprising: a first and a second vertebral anchor each adapted to be coupled to one of a first and a second vertebrae, each vertebral anchor including a U-shaped channel defined between first and second receiving arms; a flexible connecting element coupled to each of the first and second vertebral anchors and extending between the vertebral anchors, the connecting element including a central member; a brace positioned about the central member; a first and a second flange on the connecting element, the flanges being spaced on opposite sides of the brace; a first and a second shank extending in opposite directions from the first and second flanges, respectively, the first shank being coupled in the U-shaped channel of the first vertebral anchor with a first securing member threadedly engaging threads of both receiving arms of the first vertebral anchor and the second shank being coupled in the U-shaped channel of the second vertebral anchor with a second securing member threadedly engaging threads of both receiving arms of the second vertebral anchor; a third securing element engaging the central member to secure the central member to the first shank.