Patent ID: 8690922

Claim:
A vertebral implant assembly for posterior attachment to a first vertebra and an adjacent second vertebra of a spine of a patient to allow controlled bending of the first vertebra relative to the adjacent second vertebra, comprising: a first pedicle screw adapted for posterior attachment to the first vertebra, and a second pedicle screw adapted for posterior attachment to the adjacent second vertebra; a first connector interconnectable to the first pedicle screw and a second connector interconnectable to the second pedicle screw; and a dynamic fixation member, comprising: a first rod arm interconnectable to the first pedicle screw by the first connector, and a second rod arm interconnectable to the second pedicle screw by the second connector; and a deformable portion connected to the first and second rod arms, the deformable portion including an upper member with a first void space and a lower member with a second void space, the first void space and second void space each including at least two rounded inner corners, wherein the upper member and the lower member further comprise a variable thickness, and wherein a connecting member interconnects the upper member to the lower member; a gap located between a lower surface of the first rod arm and an upper surface of the second rod arm, wherein the gap extends anteriorly between the upper member and lower member to a posterior side of the connecting member, and wherein a first gap height is greater adjacent the connecting member than a second gap height located between the lower surface of the first rod arm and the upper surface of the second rod arm.