Abstract: A surgical treatment for restoring proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones including: determining an angular misalignment associated with adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a tapered porous spacer element into the intervertebral space between the corresponding adjacent vertebral bones; rotating the tapered porous spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered porous spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones; and stabilizing the adjacent vertebral bones to permit infused growth of bone into the tapered porous spacer element.

Abstract: A trial spacer kit has a plurality of trial spacers of varying heights. Each spacer includes a disc having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a height of said spacer, an annular groove formed in said disc that defines a central trunk of said spacer, the central trunk extending between the top and bottom surfaces of said spacer, a first radial flange provided at an upper end of the central trunk and a second radial flange provided at a lower end of the central trunk. The annular grooves of the spacers have a common dimension. The radial flanges of a first one of the spacers is thicker than the radial flanges of a second one of the spacers so that the first one of the spacers has a greater height than the second one of the spacers.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting and removing an intervertebral spacer into and out from an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones, the spacer having a trunk portion having a longitudinal axis and flange portions at each longitudinal end of the trunk, the instrument including: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end including a handle; and a holding structure provided at the distal end, which holding structure includes an enclosure within which the trunk of the spacer may be selectively introduced and maintained therein, the holding structure having an opening leading to the enclosure and through which opening the trunk of the spacer may be selectively passed to when forced therethough.

Abstract: An intervertebral space distraction assembly including: a plurality of sequentially axially wider disc spacer elements, the sequential insertion and removal of which, into an intervertebral space effects a widening of the intervertebral space, such that a desired anatomical spacing of adjacent vertebral bones may be restored.

Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacers elements, each spacer element having a cylindrical shape and an annular groove formed therein, each spacer element further having a different axial thickness from each other spacer; and an instrument for holding each of the intervertebral spacer elements during the insertion and removal thereof into and out from between adjacent vertebral bones; the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a spacer element holding structure formed at the distal end, which spacer element holding structure can hold the spacer at the annular groove thereof.

Abstract: A surgical treatment for restoring proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones including: determining an angular misalignment associated with adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element into the intervertebral space between the corresponding adjacent vertebral bones; rotating the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical porous spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones; and stabilizing the adjacent vertebral bon

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a spiral-shaped radially diminishing amplitude wave washer.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting and removing an intervertebral spacer into and out from an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones, the spacer having a trunk portion having a longitudinal axis and flange portions at each longitudinal end of the trunk, the instrument including: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end including a handle; and a holding structure provided at the distal end, which holding structure includes an enclosure within which the trunk of the spacer may be selectively introduced and maintained therein, the holding structure having an opening leading to the enclosure and through which opening the trunk of the spacer may be selectively passed to when forced therethough.

Abstract: An instrument for insertion, implanting, and removing a cylindrical inter vertebral spacer member having a deep circumferential groove, including: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end forming a handle and the distal end forming a spacer member engaging subassembly; said spacer member engaging subassembly including at least one selectively expanding and contracting enclosure into which a central core of the spacer member may be introduced when the engaging subassembly is in the expanded state, and which holds the spacer member so that it cannot move when the selectively expanding and contracting enclosure is rendered into the contracted state; and an actuating mechanism, extending from the proximal end to the distal end, by which the spacer member engaging subassembly may be selectively expanded and contracted.

Abstract: An intervertebral space distraction and implantable device assembly provides sequentially axially wider spacers that are to be sequentially inserted into and removed from an intervertebral space to widen the space until a desired anatomical spacing of the adjacent vertebral bones is restored. The set of spacers includes a porous spacer that is as wide as the spacer that restores the desired anatomical spacing. The porous spacer can therefore be left implanted in the intervertebral space to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebral bones.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a wave washer. In a first embodiment the wave washer is ring-shaped. In a second embodiment the wave washer is spiral-shaped.

Abstract: A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient including: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between the at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element into the intervertebral space between the corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; and rotating the diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment

Abstract: A surgical treatment for distracting vertebral bodies to their proper anatomical spacing including sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones until the distance between the vertebral bones is anatomically appropriate.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting and removing an intervertebral spacer into and out from an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones, the spacer having a trunk portion having a longitudinal axis and flange portions at each longitudinal end of the trunk, the instrument including: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end including a handle; and a holding structure provided at the distal end, which holding structure includes an enclosure within which the trunk of the spacer may be selectively introduced and maintained therein, the holding structure having an opening leading to the enclosure and through which opening the trunk of the spacer may be selectively passed to when forced therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention is an acetabular cup having at least one polyaxial locking screw for anchoring the cup in the desired bone site. The assembly includes an acetabular cup having at least one through hole having both threaded and tapered portions, into which holes a two-piece interlocking coupling element and a bone screw having a semi-spherical head may be inserted. The two-piece coupling element, including slideably joined socket and cap portions, is mounted about the semi-spherical head of the bone screw, which is inserted into the through hole and into the bone. The head of the screw is polyaxially mounted in the socket portions and as such may be inserted into the bone at a variety of angles. The socket portion of the coupling element has slots which permits crush locking of the head of the screw once the socket seats and is forceably driven into the tapered portion of the hole.

Abstract: A compression locking variable length cross-link device having a pair of rod hooking elements, each having coupling ends which are attachable to a rod. The opposing ends of the first of these elements includes a pair of extending members each having a hole; the holes being mutually co-linear. The opposing element of the second element includes a single extending member which has an elongated hole, such that when it is disposed between the pair of extending members of the first element, a linear passage is defined through the three holes. A hinge post is disposed in the co-linear passage; the post having a threaded top portion. The elongated hole permits the first and second elements to be translated relative to one another with the hinge post in place. A nut is engageable with the threaded top of the post, such that if tightened, the pair of extending members deflect inwardly into contact with the single extending member of the second element to crush lock the elements together.

Abstract: A modular spinal plate assembly for use with modular polyaxial pedicle screw implant devices includes a track portion having a pair of parallel rails and a multiplicity of compressible coupling elements which are slideably mounted about the rails. The compressible coupling elements each have a through hole through which a post portion of a modular polyaxial screw may be mounted. In addition, the coupling elements include slots, oppositely oriented, on either side of the element, which slots may be compressed to effectuate the deflection and compaction of the coupling element when a compressive load is applied. This load is applied by a top locking nut being advanced along the post portion of the modular polyaxial pedicle screw, downwardly onto the coupling element. The subsequent compaction causes the coupling element to be compression locked to the rails, thereby becoming rigidly fixed at a specific position along the axial extent of the track element.

Abstract: A polyaxial orthopedic device for use with rod implant apparatus includes a hook or a screw having a recess which includes a lower portion and an upper portion, the up per portion is curvate. A rod receiving head having a channel formed therein, and a central bore which is curvately tapered at the inside bottom, and equivalently curvately tapered on the exterior surface, is polyaxially seated in the upper portion of the recess while a post element is inserted down through the head into the lower portion of the recess. The upper portion of the post is widened and curvate so that it seats in the curved lower interior of the bore of the head. The insertion of a rod into the head, onto the top of the post and the subsequent application of a downward force thereon by a nut causes the assembly to lock together, independent of the polyaxial angle of the head to the post and hook, or screw.

Abstract: A modular polyaxial pedicle screw and orthopaedic rod implant device including same includes a shaft portion, a cuff, a stem portion, and a rod coupling sub-assembly. The shaft portion is designed to be inserted into the pedicle, has a hemispherical upper portion, and includes a second threading formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the hemispherical protuberance. The stem portion is a threaded post having an enlarged lower socket portion which includes a spherical recess formed at the base thereof, the recess being ideally suited to polyaxially rotate on the hemispherical upper portion of the shaft. The cuff is a cylindrical element designed to seat around the interface of the hemispherical portion of the shaft and the lower socket portion of the stem, initially so that the stem and shaft may polyaxially rotate relative to one another, and subsequently to hold the stem and shaft in final securement.

Abstract: A unitary locking cap mechanism, which is used with pedicle screws and other orthopaedic implant devices which couple bones to rods, includes rim and post portions which are rotationally freely coupled to one another to permit independent motion relative to one another. The rim element has a cylindrical body with an open end and a closed end; the closed end alternatively having a concentric hole defined by an inwardly directed flange. In one embodiment, the flange includes a series of slots, dividing into a plurality of wedge-shaped pie sections. In another embodiment, the sidewall of the cylindrical portion of the rim includes an annular recess. The post is a cylindrical shaft having surface elements at one end which provide for mutual engagement with the rim. These surface elements may be deflecting arms which seat into the annular recess of the rim, or an annular recess in the shaft into which the wedge-shaped pie sections of the flange portion may be resiliently snapped into.