Abstract: An artificial intervertebral disc assembly including upper and lower end plates, an expandable bladder carried by the end plates and circumscribing a containment area therebetween. A biocompatible fluid is disposed within the containment area. A cylinder having a plurality of apertures therein projects from the lower plate into the containment area. A piston having a curvilinear upper surface is reciprocally moveable within the cylinder and projects from the open end thereof. A cylindrical projection depending from the upper plate bears against and mates with the upper surface of the piston so as to allow relative rotational movement of the end plates into and out of parallel alignment. By varying the size of the apertures in the cylinder and the elasticity of the bladder, the amount of axial load necessary to effect inward movement of the end plates can be varied.

Abstract: A surgical implant assembly and a method for securing a fixation rod, where the assembly is capable of being secured to a bone structure are disclosed. The assembly includes at least two rigid structures configured to be secured to the bone structure. The structures include a distal portion for receiving a portion of the fixation rod therebetween, a tab positioned at a distal point of the distal portion, a screw compression nut and a distal expansion member coupled to the screw compression nut that are driven down the rigid structures, and a rod compression nut and a proximal expansion member coupled to the rod compression nut that engage the rigid structures so that the fixation rod is disposed between the combination the screw compression nut and the distal expansion member and the combination of the rod compression nut and the proximal expansion member.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices, systems and associated methods for use in rod reduction and set screw insertion for a bone/spinal fixation system.

Abstract: A spinal screw assembly providing an adjustable securement of a fixation rod across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion and a tool engagement surface in the head portion for use in driving the screw into a vertebrae. The head portion of the screw is positioned in a body member adjacent a curvilinear surface disposed about an aperture in the end of the body member such that the shaft portion of the screw extends therethrough and the curvilinear inner surface abuts and mates with the head portion of the screw so as to define a ball joint therewith. The body member additionally defines a pair of opposed parallel slots therein adapted to receive a portion of the fixation rod and a locking cap bears against the fixation rod to releasably secure the rod within the assembly.

Abstract: A curvilinear spinal access device for performing a procedure on a spine of a patient is disclosed. The device includes a working portal configured to be advanced toward a surgical site located at the spine of the patient. The working portal includes a distal end and a proximate end, a working portal housing having an open interior channel disposed between the distal end and the proximate end, an exterior channel disposed on an outside surface of the working portal housing and between the distal end and the proximate end. The distal end is configured to be disposed at the surgical site and the proximate end is disposed away from the surgical site. The housing has a curved shape defined between the proximate end and the distal end, wherein the proximate end is disposed with respect to the distal end. The working channel is configured to allow advancement of at least one surgical tool and/or at least one implant toward the surgical site.

Abstract: A spinal screw assembly providing an adjustable securement of a fixation rod across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion and a tool engagement surface in the head portion for use in driving the screw into a vertebrae. The head portion of the screw is positioned in a body member adjacent a curvilinear surface disposed about an aperture in the end of the body member such that the shaft portion of the screw extends therethrough and the curvilinear inner surface abuts and mates with the head portion of the screw so as to define a ball joint therewith. The body member additionally defines a pair of opposed parallel slots therein adapted to receive a portion of the fixation rod and a locking cap bears against the fixation rod to releasably secure the rod within the assembly.

Abstract: A retractor device for spearing the body tissue apart is provided. The retractor includes a housing configured to include a plurality of sections, wherein each section is configured to accommodate placement of at least one blade, a blade holding mechanism configured to secure the at least one blade within the housing, a translation mechanism configured to provide translation movement of at least one of the sections, and a rotation mechanism configured to provide rotation movement of at least one blade.

Abstract: A multi-axial rod connector for connecting spinal rods is provided. The rod connector includes a poly-axial rod assembly configured to include a lateral translation mechanism and a fixed hook configured to be rigidly coupled to one end of the poly-axial rod assembly. The fixed hook includes a fixed hook cavity configured to secure a spinal rod. The rod connector also includes a variable hook configured to be rotatably coupled another end of the poly-axial rod. The variable hook includes a variable hook cavity configured to secure another spinal rod. The lateral translation mechanism is configured to change distance between the fixed hook and the variable hook.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to bone alignment rod connectors, and more particularly to traverse rod connectors. In one embodiment, the connector includes a housing having an opening configured to accommodate at least one rod, a setscrew assembly configured to secure the at least one rod when the at least one rod is placed in the opening. The setscrew assembly includes a setscrew and at least one circular/spherical object configured to interact with the setscrew when the setscrew is inserted in the housing. Upon insertion of the setscrew, the at least one spherical object is configured to laterally move towards the at least one rod to secure the at least one rod inside the housing.

Abstract: A spinal screw assembly adapted to be secured to a vertebrae for providing securement across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a substantially spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion, and an engagement surface in the head portion for driving said screw into the vertebrae, and a body member comprising a tower portion having an open top, a break-away section for manipulation of the screw upon implantation into the vertebrae, a base body at a proximal region of the body member and a break zone which acts as a transition between the base body and the tower portion. A resealably securable setscrew within the body member secures and fully contains the rod within said assembly. The break-away section remains completely outside a wound and is removed or broken off once the screw has been fully assembled inside the vertebrae.

Abstract: A spacer for use in spine fusion surgical procedures is disclosed. The spacer includes an enclosure having a wall that is configured to enclose a hollow interior. The wall is further configured to include a plurality of openings spaced throughout the wall. The openings are configured to connect an exterior of the enclosure to the hollow interior. The enclosure further includes an indication cutting line configured to allow adjustment of a height of the enclosure.

Abstract: A spinal spacer assembly is provided. The spinal spacer assembly includes a spinal spacer having a wall configured to enclose a hollow interior, wherein the wall is further configured to have a top portion and a bottom portion. The top and bottom portions are configured to include a plurality of protrusions configured to protrude away from the top and bottom portions. The wall is further configured to have a variable degree curvature and include a plurality of grooves and an opening.

Abstract: Embodiments of an adjustable occipital plate is provided. The plate includes a fixation plate, at least one lateral rod configured to be coupled to the fixation plate, at least one sliding link configured to be coupled to the at least one lateral rod, and at least one posterior cervical rod configured to be coupled to the at least one sliding link using at least one rod connector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a retractor which may include a housing, at least one blade holder configured to be slidably coupled to the housing, and an actuator handle configured to control sliding movement of the at least one blade holder. The at least one blade holder and the actuator handle are configured to hold at least one blade.

Abstract: A cage assembly adapted to be implanted in a spinal column for treating degenerative or ruptured discs and replacing damaged vertebral bodies. The assembly includes one or more rigid cages formed in an annular configuration and having opposed upper and lower perimeter surfaces, an annular side wall extending between said surfaces, a transverse inner wall extending across said cage, a plurality of raised ridges projecting outwardly from each of said perimeter surfaces for engaging the spinal column and securing the assembly therein. Apertures are provided in the side wall for use in positioning said cage in the spinal column and a pair of aligned openings extend axially through the cage for packing the cage with bone graft material. At least one spacing element having the same annular configuration as the cages can be provided to effect the stacked attachment of one cage with another in rigid axial alignment.

Abstract: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and methods for a communications signal distribution system, such as a cable television (CATV) signal distribution system that distributes a communication signal and an Alternating Current (AC) power over a coaxial cable having a conductor and a sheath, include an input neutral line and an input voltage line. A first circuit is configured to convert an input voltage between the input neutral line and the input voltage line into first and second complementary Direct Current (DC) voltages. A second circuit is configured to convert the first and second complementary DC voltages into an AC voltage between an output neutral line and an output voltage line, and to connect the output neutral line to a coaxial cable sheath and the output voltage line to a coaxial cable conductor. The first and second circuits are configured to connect the input neutral line to the output neutral line without an intervening transformer winding.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate is disclosed, along with threaded fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The cervical plate has several pockets or apertures, preferably at least four, to receive a corresponding number of the fasteners. The pockets have spherical surfaces, and the fasteners have heads with similarly sized spherical surfaces, which when engaged permit each of the fasteners to be oriented at a variety of projection angles with respect to the plate. In connection with each pocket, the cervical plate incorporates a fastener retaining feature. The feature can take the form of a cantilevered tab or a beam supported at its opposite ends, in each case plastically deformable between an open position for admitting the fastener and a closed position for preventing retraction.

Abstract: A natural-resource-conservative, environmentally-friendly, cost-effective, leadless semiconductor packaging apparatus, having superior mechanical and electrical properties, and having an optional windowed housing which uniquely seals and provides a mechanism for viewing the internally packaged integrated semiconductor circuits (chips/die). A uniquely stamped and/or bent lead-frame is packaged by a polymeric material during a unique compression-molding process using a mold, specially contoured to avoid the common “over-packaging” problem in related art techniques. The specially contoured mold facilitates delineation of the internal portions from the external portions of the lead-frame, as the external portions are the effective solderable areas that contact pads on a printed circuit board, thereby avoiding a laborious environmentally-unfriendly masking step and de-flashing step, streamlining the device packaging process.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate is disclosed, along with threaded fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The cervical plate has several pockets or apertures, preferably at least four, to receive a corresponding number of the fasteners. The pockets have spherical surfaces, and the fasteners have heads with similarly sized spherical surfaces, which when engaged permit each of the fasteners to be oriented at a variety of projection angles with respect to the plate. In connection with each pocket, the cervical plate incorporates a fastener retaining feature. The feature can take the form of a cantilevered tab or a beam supported at its opposite ends, in each case plastically deformable between an open position for admitting the fastener and a closed position for preventing retraction.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable, self-centering spine screw including a bone screw with an beveled head. A series of lateral grooves are disposed on the bone screw head that mesh with similar grooves on an adapter. The second side of the adapter has radial splines that mesh with similar radial grooves on a spacer. This configuration gives the surgeon a self-centering bone screw with adjustment in both the lateral and angular directions.