Patent Document ID: 8828058
Application ID: 12873582

Base Claim:
1. A system for growth directed correction of a spine via apical vertebral control, the system comprising: a first rod extending from a first end to a second end, the first rod having a central longitudinal axis that defines a first correction axis, the first rod being adapted to be secured to a first vertebra proximate the first end of the first rod; a second rod extending from a first end to a second end and being adapted to be secured to a second vertebra proximate the first end of the second rod; a hosting connector assembly adapted to combine with the first rod and the second rod, the hosting connector having a central longitudinal axis that defines a second correction axis laterally offset from the first and second rods that extends adjacent the spine, the hosting connector assembly including: a first connector slidably connected to the second end of the first rod, the first connector including a first locking member for selectively locking an axial position of the first rod relative to the first connector, the first connector being transitionable between an unlocked state where the first connector allows the first rod to slide freely longitudinally in two directions relative to the first connector when a longitudinal force is applied to the first rod and a locked state where the first connector substantially prevents the first rod from sliding freely longitudinally relative to the first connector when a longitudinal force is applied to the first rod; a second connector connected to the second end of the second rod; and a middle assembling segment extending through the first and second connectors and extending substantially parallel to and laterally offset from the first and second rods to define the second correction axis that is laterally offset from the first correction axis, an intermediate connector that is secured to the hosting connector assembly and extends in a substantially transverse direction away from the first and second correction axes of the system, the intermediate connector being adapted to be secured to a single vertebra located between the first and second vertebrae to selectively lock a distance between the intermediate vertebra and the correction axis; a first stop feature positioned between the first and second ends of the first rod and to limit axial travel of the first rod through the first connector in a first direction of travel; and a second stop feature positioned between the first and second ends of the second rod and to limit axial travel of the second rod through the second connector in a second direction of travel that is generally opposite to the first direction of travel, the first and second stops features establishing a minimum overall system length by limiting sliding of the first and second rods toward one another.

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Claim 8:
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate connector that is secured to the hosting connector assembly and extends in a substantially lateral direction away from the first and second correction axes of the system and toward an intermediate vertebra.