Abstract: A percutaneous tube assembly is provided for performing minimally invasive surgery, the system comprising a percutaneous tube comprising a translucent main body; an external attachment fixture attached to the main body; an access channel longitudinally bored through the main body; an internal attachment channel longitudinally bored through the main body, wherein the internal attachment channel comprises a partially smooth inner surface adjacent to a partially rough inner surface; and an internal attachment, mating with the internal attachment channel.

Abstract: A surgical implant insertion device including an inner shaft; shaft threading coupled to the inner shaft; a rotating knob including a channel bored therethrough and internal threading lining the channel, where the internal threading configured to mate with the shaft threading; an actuator including an actuator body and a translation cavity cut through the actuator body and an inner shaft cavity cut through the actuator body, where the inner shaft cavity wraps around the inner shaft; an outer sleeve covering the inner shaft and coupled to the rotating knob; and a base connector wrapping around the outer sleeve, the base connector comprising a pair of connecting arms configured to loosely mate with the translation cavity of the actuator and pivoting and translating the actuator in response to a linear force.

Abstract: A method includes positioning a load sharing mechanism in between a screw head and a bone fixator component; attaching the screw head to the bone fixator component such that the load sharing mechanism provides tensile resistance to the screw head; securing the bone fixator component in a bone; securing a locking pin in the screw head; engaging the locking pin with the bone fixator component; inserting a longitudinal member in the screw head; and inserting a blocker in the screw head. The method may further comprise positioning a longitudinal member in a slot configured in the screw head.

Abstract: A method of operating a rod reducer includes connecting a cam coupling rod reducer to a screw head of a pedicle screw assembly, wherein spaces in between prongs at a second end of an inner tube of the rod reducer are positioned parallel to a rod of the pedicle screw assembly, and wherein the connection of the cam coupling rod reducer to the screw head indicates a first position of operation; rotating a lever cam of the cam coupling rod reducer until an indication line marked on an outer body of the cam coupling rod reducer moves to a second position of operation; and rotating the lever cam to a third position of operation, wherein the third position of operation indicates that the rod is optimally seated in the pedicle screw assembly, and that the pedicle screw assembly is ready to accept a blocker screw.

Abstract: A rod-to-rod connector assembly comprising a longitudinal member, which may be straight or S-shaped or have some other configuration; and a connecting member connected to a first end of the longitudinal member, wherein the connecting member comprises a pair of threaded opposed ends defining a channel therebetween. The assembly may further comprise a threaded blocking mechanism that engages the pair of threaded opposed ends of the connecting member. Preferably, the longitudinal member connects to only one of the opposed ends of the connecting member. The longitudinal member may comprise a first elongated portion comprising a first longitudinal axis; a second elongated portion comprising a second longitudinal axis; and a curved portion connecting the first elongated portion to the second elongated portion, wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are parallel to one another.

Abstract: A method includes loading a longitudinal member comprising holes located at distal ends of the longitudinal member into a holder, the holder comprising a tip end comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein any of the first portion and the second portion comprise a prong tip; a handle end located distally away from the tip end, wherein the handle end comprises a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm; and an engaging member operatively connecting the first gripping arm to the second gripping arm, wherein the engaging member comprises tooth-like features. The method further comprises engaging the tooth-like features of the engaging member with the second gripping arm; and fitting the prong tip of any of the first and second portions of the tip end of the holder into a hole of the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A pedicle fixation assembly and method for assembly comprises a screw head comprising a male bulbous end; a bone fixator component comprising a female concave semi-spherical socket for receiving the screw head; a locking saddle pin for engaging the screw head and the bone fixator component; and a blocker for engaging the screw head and for securing the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A screw assembly and method includes a coupling member comprising a semi-bulbous end; a fixator component that receives the semi-bulbous end of the coupling member; a resisting member mounted in the coupling member and comprising a mating member; a connection pin comprising a resisting member socket operatively connected to the mating member of the resisting member; and a blocker that engages the coupling member.

Abstract: A sliding intervertebral implant method includes a first member that connects to an intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae. The first member includes a pair of curved side walls connected to each of a front wall, an upper curved wall, and a lower curved wall, wherein a length of a first curved side wall is less than a length of each of a second curved side wall, the upper curved wall, and the lower curved wall, and wherein an edge of the second curved side wall is offset from an edge of the front wall. A second member is slidably attached to the first member, and includes a top and bottom curved wall each connected to an inclined side wall and a guide wall, wherein the guide wall comprises grooves, wherein the second curved side wall of the first member slides in the grooves of the guide wall.

Abstract: An assembly and method thereof comprising a screw head comprising an expandable bulbous end; a fixator component configured for receiving the bulbous end of the screw head; a load sharing mechanism positioned in between the bulbous end of the screw head and the bone fixator component, wherein the load sharing mechanism provides tensile resistance to the screw head; a pin mounted in the screw head; and a blocker adapted to engage the screw head. The screw head comprises a slot configured for receiving a longitudinal member. The load sharing mechanism may comprise any of a wave washer, a collapsible hollow washer, a coiled spring, and a flexible washer. Furthermore, the load sharing mechanism may comprise a washer having an outer surface with a plurality of cutout portions configured therein.

Abstract: A method comprising attaching a screw head to a bone fixator component, wherein the screw head comprises a first portion comprising a slot and an inwardly curved bottom portion; and a second portion comprising an outwardly protruding and expandable bulbous end extending from the inwardly curved bottom portion; and wherein the bone fixator component comprises a concave socket adapted to receive the screw head; securing the bone fixator component in a bone; securing a locking pin in the screw head; engaging the locking pin with the bone fixator component; inserting a longitudinal member in the screw head; and inserting a blocker in the screw head.

Abstract: A rod inserter and method of inserting a rod into a vertebral body, wherein the rod inserter holds a rod in a vertical or semi-vertical position from one end and allows the rod to be inserted and then rotated into its final horizontal position inside a wound. The device comprises a longitudinal member comprising holes located at distal ends of the longitudinal member; and a holder comprising a tip end comprising a first and second portion any of which comprise a prong tip. The holder also includes a handle end located distally away from the tip end, wherein the handle end comprises a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm; and an engaging member comprising tooth-like features connecting the first gripping arm to the second gripping arm, wherein the tooth-like features engage the second gripping arm, and wherein the prong tip fits into a hole of the longitudinal member.

Abstract: An adjustable polyaxial tissue retractor includes a retraction bar including a plurality of etched teeth, a retraction blade coupled to the retraction bar, a connector including a quick release component cavity and an outwardly protruding and expandable round bulbous body, a quick release component engaged with at least one tooth of the retraction bar via a retraction bar cavity, where the quick release component is configured to loosely mate with the quick release component cavity, a saddle pin engaged within the connector via a first channel bored through the connector and contacting the bulbous body causing the bulbous body to outwardly expand, and a base including a plurality of embedded sockets and directly connected to the bulbous body, where the base receives the connector.

Abstract: A pedicle fixation assembly and method for assembly comprises a screw head comprising a male bulbous end; a bone fixator component comprising a female concave semi-spherical socket for receiving the screw head; a locking saddle pin for engaging the screw head and the bone fixator component; and a blocker for engaging the screw head and for securing the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A sliding intervertebral implant and method includes a first member that connects to an intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae. The first member includes a pair of curved side walls connected to each of a front wall, an upper curved wall, and a lower curved wall, wherein a length of a first curved side wall is less than a length of each of a second curved side wall, the upper curved wall, and the lower curved wall, and wherein an edge of the second curved side wall is offset from an edge of the front wall. A second member is slidably attached to the first member, and includes a top and bottom curved wall each connected to an inclined side wall and a guide wall, wherein the guide wall comprises grooves, wherein the second curved side wall of the first member slides in the grooves of the guide wall.

Abstract: A polyaxial screw connection assembly includes a first longitudinal member comprising a bored fastener channel and a first bulbous body; a second longitudinal member comprising a cylindrical body to fit within the fastener channel, and a second bulbous body; a fastener with a bored cylindrical channel, connected to the first longitudinal member and the cylindrical body and securely couples the first longitudinal member to the second longitudinal member; a first fixation component directly connected to the first bulbous body; a second fixation component directly connected to the second bulbous body; a first pin engaged within the first longitudinal member via a bored first channel and contacting the first bulbous body causing the first bulbous body to outwardly expand; and a second pin engaged within the second longitudinal member via a bored second channel and contacting the second bulbous body causing the second bulbous body to outwardly expand.

Abstract: A multi-level polyaxial screw connection mechanism includes a bone fixation component and a head component directly connected to the bone fixation component. The head component includes a lower portion comprising at least one lower portion concave socket configured and an upper portion elevated compared with the lower portion. The upper portion comprises at least one upper portion concave socket configured and the lower portion(s) concave socket comprises a volume substantially equal to a volume of the upper portion(s) concave socket.

Abstract: A headless polyaxial screw system comprises a longitudinal member comprising an outwardly protruding and expandable round bulbous body, a fixation component directly connected to the bulbous body, where the fixation component receives the bulbous body, and a pin engaged within the longitudinal member via a first channel bored through the longitudinal member and contacting the bulbous body causing the bulbous body to outwardly expand.

Abstract: A polyaxial auxiliary connector assembly and method includes a first component comprising a base comprising at least one female socket; and a member connected to the base, wherein the member comprises at least one aperture. A second component is operatively connected to the base and comprises a seat portion; a pair of upright arms extending from the seat portion and defining a first channel therebetween; an outwardly protruding and expandable bulbous male end positioned adjacent to the seat portion and in the female socket of the base; and a second channel positioned through the seat portion and the male end, wherein the first and second channels each comprise a longitudinal axis that are positioned orthogonal to one another; a pin positioned through the second channel causing the bulbous male end of the second component to outwardly expand in the female socket; and a blocker mechanism engaged with the second component.

Abstract: A polyaxial dental implant includes an abutment member that includes a channel bored through a longitudinal axis of the abutment member, and an outwardly protruding and expandable round bulbous body coupled to an end of the abutment member. The implant includes a fixture member coupled to the bulbous body, where the fixture member receives the bulbous body; and a pin engaged within the abutment member via the channel and contacting the bulbous body causing the bulbous body to outwardly expand into the fixture member.