Spinal support members having varying stiffnesses are disclosed. In one embodiment, an elongated spinal prosthetic includes a pair of curved elongated portions. The portions are formed of materials having different stiffness characteristics such that the stiffness of the prosthetic varies along its length....http://www.google.de/patents/US7875059?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7875059 - Variable stiffness support members
