Abstract: A method for accessing an intervertebral disc space in a patient's body involves making an incision in a region of the patient's body that permits access to the psoas muscle, directing a blade of a first dissecting refractor through the incision and such that a distal end of the first dissecting retractor blade is positioned proximate the intervertebral disc space, and directing, independently of the first dissecting retractor blade, a blade of a second dissecting retractor through the incision and such that a distal end of the second dissecting retractor blade is positioned proximate the intervertebral disc space. During their placement within the patient's body, the first and second dissecting retractor blades are employed in a tissue dissection process. Following the positioning of the distal ends of the first and second dissecting retractor blades proximate the intervertebral disc space, the first and second dissecting refractors are coupled to one another.

Abstract: A stabilization system for implantation in a patient includes: a bone anchor including a head and a shaft, the shaft extending away from the head in a bone insertion direction and being operable for connection to a bone of the patient; and a tulip including: at least one channel having an opening for receiving an elongate member, the opening being oriented in a receiving direction having at least a component thereof substantially opposite to the bone insertion direction of the anchor, and (ii) a fastening mechanism operable to apply a tangential load on the elongate member to maintain the elongate member within the channel, wherein the tangential load is transverse to at least the receiving direction.

Abstract: A tulip-shaped rod-receiving member in a spinal rod system is provided with a transverse slot accessible from the top of the tulip member for placing the rod therein until the rod seats. A locking assembly includes a cap having inclined surfaces that cooperate with inclined surfaces on the rod-receiving member to lock and bias inwardly the rod-receiving member relative to the cap. A novel seating ring is provided for the bone screw to be supported in the tulip in a manner that maximizes support and optimizes axial alignment of forces.

Abstract: A skeletal fixation apparatus includes: a plate having first and second spaced apart surfaces and a plurality of apertures extending through the surfaces of the plate, each aperture for receiving a respective fixation element for coupling the plate to one or more bones of a patient; and at least one retention element having an elongate member coupled to the plate at first and second ends thereof, wherein the first end of the elongate member is fixed in position and the second end of the elongate member is operable to rotate about the first end such that: (i) at least a portion of the elongate member overlies at least a portion of a first of the apertures when the second end is in at least one first rotational position to retain a first fixation element in the first aperture, and (ii) the elongate member does not substantially overlie the first aperture when the second end is in at least one second rotational position to permit the first fixation element to enter or exit the first aperture.

Abstract: A system of reconstruction for a spinal joint is directed to a modular implant assembly that includes an upper part and a lower part. The upper and lower parts each comprise a unitary body having an approximately ninety degree bend defining vertical and horizontal components. Each vertical component has a fastener hole for attaching it to a bone segment using a bone fastener. The horizontal sections each have a complementary contact surfaces in order to transmit compressive load therebetween and to accommodate sliding and pivoting relative movement therebetween. The vertical sections of each of the upper and lower part are offset with respect to a vertical centerline so that successive assemblies bridging more than one adjacent vertebral space can have an upper part and a lower part according to the present invention coexist on a single vertebra in a space-efficient manner wherein the vertical sections nest spatially.

Abstract: An intervertebral stabilizer includes: a first member operable to engage an endplate of a vertebral bone of a spine, the first member having top and bottom surfaces defining a thickness therebetween; a second member spaced apart from the first member and operable to engage an endplate of an adjacent vertebral bone of the spine; a connecting element located substantially between and connecting the first and second members; and the first member having at least one slot extending through a portion thereof through its entire thickness and top and bottom surfaces, creating first and second portions of the first member, wherein the slot imparts compressibility and/or expandability to the intervertebral disc replacement device.