Abstract: A surgical instrument for positioning a rod includes a rod holder, a sleeve, and a pusher rod. The rod holder is configured to releasably grip a first end of a rod therebetween. The sleeve is disposed about the rod holder and slideable between an extended position to hold the tines in a rod gripping position and a retracted position to permit release of the rod from the tines. The pusher rod is slidably disposed within the rod holder and has a plurality of rod receiving notches configured to engage the rod such that the rod is held at a selected angle with respect to the pusher rod.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low profile intervertebral implant (10) for implantation in an intervertebral disc space (D) in-between adjacent vertebral bodies (V). The intervertebral implant includes a plate (40) preferably coupled to a spacer (20). The plate is preferably formed from a first material and the spacer is preferably formed from a second material, the first material being different from the second material. The plate is preferably sized and configured so that the plate does not extend beyond the perimeter of the spacer. In this manner, the plate preferably does not increase the height profile (hs) of the spacer and the plate may be implanted within the intervertebral disc space in conjunction with the spacer.

Abstract: A surgical access system for providing access to a surgical site in a patient includes a surgical access device defining a port and a light emitter coupled to the surgical access device for illuminating the port. The light emitter preferably comprises an elongated shaft having a light transmitting element housed therein, which emits light transmitted to the elongated shaft from a light source. The elongated shaft is configured to be inserted in an elongated channel in the access device. The elongated channel has or forms a window for transmitting light emitted by the light emitter into the interior of the access device.

Abstract: An embolic coil deployment system for placing a coil at a preselected site within a vessel of the human body is provided. The deployment system includes a heating element at the distal end of a detachment member and a heat-responsive coupling attached to a delivery member for holding the coil during positioning of the coil. The heating element is heated to reduce the strength of and sever the heat-responsive coupling for releasing the coil at a desired position within the body vessel.

Abstract: An assembly tool for assembly of a first component of a prosthesis to a second component of the prosthesis for use in joint arthroplasty is provided. The tool includes a first member in contact with the first component and a second member connected to the second component. The first member defines a first member longitudinal axis. The first member and the second member provide for the assembly of the first component of the prosthesis to the second component of the prosthesis. The second member provides relative motion of the second member with respect to the first member when the second member is rotated relative to the first member about the first member longitudinal axis. The first member and the second member have relative motion features adapted to reduce friction that cooperate with each other to provide the relative motion of the first member with respect to the second member.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant component of an intervertebral implant includes an outer surface for engaging an adjacent vertebra and an inner surface. A keel extends from the outer surface and is designed to be disposed in a slot provided in the adjacent vertebra. This keel extends in a plane which is non-perpendicular to the outer surface; and preferably there are two of the keels extending from the outer surface which are preferably offset laterally from one another. In another embodiment, an anterior shelf is provided at an anterior end of the outer surface, and this anterior shelf extends vertically away from the inner surface in order to help prevent bone growth from the adjacent vertebra towards the inner surface. Further in accordance with disclosed embodiments, various materials, shapes and forms of construction of the component and/or keel provide various benefits.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a release mechanism for removing and/or releasing a locking cap from the head of a bone anchor in situ. The release mechanism includes a sleeve, an anchor coupling member and a knob. The anchor coupling member is located within the sleeve and the knob engages both the anchor coupling member and the sleeve. The distal end of the sleeve and anchor coupling member engage the bone anchor causing the bone anchor to splay from the locking cap. A driver may be inserted into the central bore of the release mechanism to release any further threaded engagement of the locking cap and the bone anchor.

Abstract: Various spinal plating systems for use in treating spinal pathologies are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, the spinal plating systems can be configured to allow a surgeon to select a bone screw construct having a particular range of motion for attaching a spinal plate to bone as needed based on the intended use. In one exemplary embodiment, the spinal plating system includes a first bone screw that is polyaxially movable relative to the spinal plate, and a second bone screw that has a range of motion that is substantially limited to a single plane.

Abstract: A dynamic stabilization system may include an elongated spinal rod, at least two bone anchors attached to the elongated rod, and a dynamic member. One of the bone anchors allows translation of the spinal rod with respect to the bone anchor. The dynamic member comprises a body and an elastomeric element coupled to at least one side of the body. The body of the element is capable of being attached to the elongated spinal rod between the two bone anchors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the medical field, in particular relates to the practice of percutaneous vertebroplasty where a pair of syringes in the distal extreme of a lengthened hydraulic device, are united by a camera of intermediate connection of larger diameter (pressure exerting body) or modified inverted syringe tube with a bolster, a hydraulic connecting tube of flexible material that transmits the pressure of the smaller diameter manual or impulsion syringe in the proximal extreme of the device toward the intermediate cylindrical larger diameter camera (pressure exerting body), this camera is in an inverted position with regard to the first syringe (fluid control), this intermediate camera has a moving piston longitudinal to the axis of the cylinder that is controlled with the first syringe (manual) and in cooperation with the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Spinal anchoring methods and devices are provided that are effective to correct spinal deformities while allowing some flexibility to the spinal. In particular, the methods and devices allow a spinal fixation element to mate to several adjacent vertebrae to maintain the vertebrae at a fixed distance relative to one another, yet to allow the orientation of each vertebrae relative to the fixation element to adjust as the orientation of the patient's spine changes.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis or disk prosthesis comprising a front side, a rear side, an upper side which can be placed on the base plate of vertebral body, a lower side which can be placed on the base plate of a vertebral body, a right side, a left side, a cavity which can receive a fluid hydraulic osteocementum, an opening in the cavity and several outlets out from the cavity. The total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SV on the front side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SH on the rear side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SR on the right side and the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets on the left side satisfy the following conditions: SL>SR or SR>SL or SH>SV or SV>SH.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant (10) includes a first member (20), a second member (40), and a collar operatively associated with the first and second members, wherein the collar includes a threaded mechanism so that rotation of the collar causes the second member to axially move with respect to the first member. The implant includes a ratchet mechanism (50, 80) so that when at least a predetermined amount of force is applied, the second member moves with respect to the first member in an axial, ratchet-type manner. The collar preferably includes a drive ring (60) rotatably attached to the first member and a ratchet ring (80) operatively associated with the drive ring. The ratchet ring includes an inner bore having at least one corresponding ratchet thread tooth form formed thereon for engaging a ratchet thread tooth form formed on the second member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an overlay image of an implant during a surgical procedure using a mobile computing device are provided herein. The implant may include radio-opaque internal markers adjacent to and defining edges of the implant. The method may include: capturing an image of a imaging display device screen; estimating a pose of the implant based on the relationship between the 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers and the 3-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers; retrieving or generating a 3-D model image of the implant at the determined pose using the 3-D implant data; and overlaying the 3-D model image onto the image of the implant. The captured image may include the implant and at least two of the radio-opaque internal markers being visible as fiducial markers within the image. The fiducial markers may be 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers in a 2-D plane.

Abstract: An expandable implant for treating bone preferably in a minimally invasive manner includes a preferably cylindrical core element extending along a longitudinal axis and preferably a plurality of nestable, expandable sleeves extending along a longitudinal axis for placement radially about the core element. The plurality of nestable sleeves are sequentially insertable over the core element in such a manner that a first nestable sleeve is inserted over the core element and each subsequently inserted nestable sleeve is received between the core element and the previously inserted nestable sleeve such that the insertion of each additional sleeve causes each previously inserted sleeve to outwardly expand.

Abstract: A medical device formed of a coil with repeating loops, each loop forming a polygon and each successive loop being slightly rotated with respect to its adjacent loops to form a spiral configuration. The polygon in a preferred embodiment is a triangle, and the repeating triangular loop coil can be used as a guidewire in a stent delivering catheter. The guidewire can further include a stiff core wire that is disposed within the triangular loop coil, where the stiff core wire includes tapered sections that reduce the stiffness in the distal direction. The coil can include multiple sections of different loop shapes, including circular, to alter the stiffness of the guidewire to meet the needs of the application.

Abstract: Facet fusion implants with various body geometries are provided. The bodies of the facet fusion implants can be configured to minimize migration of the implants when the implants are inserted into facet joints. Surgical methods and accompanying surgical instrumentation for inserting the facet fusion implants into facet joints are provided.

Abstract: An aiming arm can include at least a pair of radiographic markers that define a first radiographic image characteristic when a radiographic image source is not adequately aligned with the aiming arm, and a second desired radiographic image characteristic when the radiographic image source is adequately aligned with the aiming arm. Once the radiographic image source has been aligned with the aiming arm, the position of the aiming arm relative to an underlying implant can be visually inspected to determine whether the aiming arm is aligned with the underlying implant.

Abstract: Modular medical instruments and kits are provided, having, a tool body portion with a first mating element at one end. A removable and replaceable modular end effector having a second mating element is matable with the first mating element. The instrument further includes a selectively engageable locking mechanism having a lever arm with a first portion associated with the body portion and a claw portion matingly engageable with a portion of the second mating element of the end effector, the locking mechanism being effective to secure the end effector to the body portion of the modular medical instrument. The invention can be particularly useful for providing a secure connection between the modular end effector and the body portion, yet provide ease of interchangeability between modular end effectors.

Abstract: A method of delivering a fusion cage to an intervertebral disc space bounded by adjacent vertebral endplates, comprising the step of delivering the fusion cage into the disc space without contacting its teeth to the vertebral endplates during delivery, wherein a sheath is interposed between a cage surface and the endplates to prevent contact therebetween during delivery.