Patent ID: 8808332

Claim:
A method for stabilizing the spine, comprising the steps of: positioning a first set of least two bone anchors on a first side of the spine; positioning a second set of least two bone anchors on a second side of the spine; positioning a first elongated rod of a stabilization member into the first set of at least two bone anchors; pivoting the first elongated rod to position a second elongated rod of the stabilization member into the second set of at least two bone anchors; locking the first elongated rod within the first set of at least two bone anchors; locking the second elongated rod within the second set of at least two bone anchors; wherein the first and second elongate rods are interconnected by a connector portion, the connector portion extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis from a first lateral end to a second lateral end; wherein the connector portion is integrally connected to the first and second elongate rods.