DYNAMIC MOTION SPINAL STABILIZATION SYSTEM AND DEVICE

1 . A dynamic motion component system for controlling spinal movement, the system comprising:

a first rod member coupled to an enclosure at a first rod end, wherein the first rod member extends from the enclosure in generally a first direction;

a second rod member having a second end, wherein the second rod end is captured within a cavity in the enclosure and the second rod member extends out from the enclosure through an opening in generally a second direction opposite from the first direction;

a dampener unit surrounding a captured portion of the second end and positioned within the enclosure between the first rod member and the second rod member;

wherein, in response to pivotal or translational movement of the second rod member relative to the first rod member, the second end of the second rod member compresses one or more portions of the dampener unit against one or more inner surfaces of the cavity to provide progressive resistance to movement of the second rod member.

2 . A dynamic motion component system for controlling spinal movement, the system comprising:

a first spring member positioned between a first end of a first rod member and a second end of a second rod member, wherein the first spring member, the first end, and the second end are configured to extend within an enclosure along a longitudinal axis of the enclosure in at least a first position;

a second spring member adjacent to the first spring member positioned on an opposite side from the first end of the first rod member and extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the second spring member comprises one or more first shoulders positioned between the second end of the second rod member and a first inner surface of the enclosure;

wherein, in response to longitudinal relative movement of the second end of the second rod member towards the first end of the first rod member, the second end is positioned to compress at least a portion of the first spring member against the first end to provide progressive resistance to the movement of the second rod member towards the first rod member; and

wherein, in response to longitudinal relative movement of the second end of the second rod member away from the first end of the first rod member, the second end is positioned to compress against the first shoulder of the second spring member and against the first inner surface of the enclosure to provide progressive resistance to the movement of the second rod member away from the first rod member.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a first bushing coupled to the second spring member for pivotal movement with the second spring member and positioned between the first shoulder of the second spring member and the first inner surface of the enclosure, wherein the first bushing comprises at least a first outer surface configured to make contact with the first inner surface of the enclosure; and

wherein, in response to pivotal movement of the second rod member relative to the longitudinal axis, the first outer surface of the first bushing pivots with the second rod member to make contact against the first inner surface of the enclosure and the second spring member is compressed by the second rod member against one or more second inner surfaces of the enclosure to provide progressive braking of the pivoting of the second rod member.

4 . A spinal dynamic implant for controlling spinal movement, the implant comprising:

an enclosure having a cavity for coupling a first end of a first rod member and a second end of a second rod member, wherein the first rod member and the second rod member extend away in substantially opposite directions from the enclosure and are configured to couple to one or more bone anchors;

a first dampener positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein the first dampener, the first end, and second end are configured to extend within the enclosure along a longitudinal axis of the enclosure in at least a first position;

a second dampener surrounding the second end and positioned adjacent to the first dampener on a side opposite from the first end of the first rod member and extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the second dampener comprises one or more first shoulders positioned between the second end of the second rod member and a first inner surface of the enclosure;

a first bushing surrounding the second end positioned adjacent to the second dampener between the second dampener and the first inner surface of the enclosure, wherein the first bushing comprises at least a first outer surface configured to make contact with the first inner surface of the enclosure;

wherein, in response to linear translation of the second rod member towards the first rod member, the first dampener is compressed to provide a first soft stop;

wherein, in response to linear translation of the second rod member away from the first rod member, the second dampener and the first bushing are compressed against the first inner surface of the enclosure to provide a second soft stop; and

wherein, in response to pivotal movement of the second rod member relative to the longitudinal axis, the first outer surface of the first bushing pivots with the second rod member to make contact against the first inner surface of the enclosure and the second dampener is compressed against one or more second inner surfaces of the enclosure to provide a third soft stop to provide progressive braking of the pivoting of the second rod member.