Abstract: A modular polyaxial bone screw includes a poly-axial bone screw, a polyaxial tulip head, and a collet disposed within the tulip head, the collet interacting with the bone screw and tulip head providing an interference fit with the bone screw head to lock orientation of the tulip head on and relative to the bone screw. Inner configurations of the tulip head interact with outer configurations of the collet to lock axial and/or rotational position of the collet within and relative to the tulip head, and thus about the bone screw head. The collet also has a resilient, tapered base with a plurality of slots in and about its end that allow the end to splay outwardly over and upon the head of the bone screw to create a snap or frictional interference fit between the splayed collet and the bone screw head when a spine rod is fixed in the tulip head.

Abstract: A lumbar spine implant has a body with bone screw bores that angle from a metal faceplate situated at an end of the body, the bone screw bores sized such that the bone screw bores become threaded during introduction of a bone screw thereby providing a locking mechanism to prevent the bone screw from backing out. The faceplate also provides a pocket for each bone screw that prevents the bone screw head from advancing through the implant body. The lumbar spine implant has four bone screw bores, two of which extend from the faceplate to the upper side of the body, and two of which extend from the faceplate to the lower side of the body. More or less bone screw bores may be provided. Preferably, but not necessarily, the direction of the bone screw bores are staggered from one lateral side to another lateral side of the body.

Abstract: An implant and method for spinal facet joint stabilization uses a wedge and plate adapted to accept prongs of a surgical instrument for installing the implant into a posterior spinal facet joint. The wedge has an anterior end with a threaded bore. A notch in each lateral side of the plate aligns with a groove in each lateral side of the wedge. Each notch and groove pair receives a prong of the surgical instrument to hold the wedge and plate during implantation. A superior tube of the surgical instrument supports a superior rod having an end configured for installing a bone screw attaching the plate to the superior vertebra of the spinal facet joint. An inferior tube of the surgical instrument supports an inferior rod having an end configured to attach to the threaded bore of the wedge along with the plate during introduction of the implant into the spinal facet joint, and installing the set screw to attach the plate to the wedge.

Abstract: A laminar fixation clamp has a body that utilizes a clam-shell style pivot controlled by a set screw, to grasp and attach to a spine rod, while receiving a laminar fixation band that can loop around a lamina of a vertebra in order to hold the laminar fixation clamp onto the vertebra. One form comprises a two-piece structure while another form comprises a single-piece structure. In each case, an upper and lower clamping structure situated at a front of the laminar fixation clamp, is received over and onto the spine rod, while a laminar fixation band is received through clamp. The set screw controls the amount of pivoting and thus the clamping force exerted onto the spine rod.

Abstract: A foot bone plate provides both fixation of two bones or bone portions and compression across their juncture. The foot bone plate has a plurality of bone screw bores positioned to receive and hold a bone screw on both sides of the two bones/bone portions (i.e. fixation), and a lateral flange positioned to receive and hold a bone screw across the foot bones/foot bone portions juncture (i.e. compression). The foot bone plate has an elongate body having a plurality of bores along its length configured to receive and hold a bone screw generally perpendicular to the foot bone plate and into the two foot bone portions. A flange is positioned at a side of the plate and includes a bore to receive and hold a bone screw. The flange and flange bore positions and holds the bone screw such that it extends through the juncture of the two bones/bone portions.

Abstract: Arthroplasty implants replace an articulating surface of a bone joint such as bone joints of the foot, and is characterized by a three-component device comprising a bone screw, a button, and a cap. The button incorporates knurling on its distal end to fixate onto bone, a center hole, a spherical pocket to mate with the bone screw for stabilization, and a proximal retention structure to mate with the cap. The bone screw incorporates distal bone (cortical) threads or threading, a spherical head, and a drive structure used to insert the bone screw through the hole of the button and into the bone (e.g. a distal segment of the first metatarsal). The cap incorporates a distal mating structure that retains the cap onto the button, a proximal smooth spherical head that mates with the distal surface of the bone (e.g. a phalange bone), and a tang that prevents rotation after implantation.

Abstract: A spine implant for a TLIF surgical procedure is configured to be steered into place during implantation in conjunction with a complementary insertion instrument. The cage of the implant is constrained to a limited range of rotation about a post carried by the cage. The insertion instrument is configured to hold the post while controllably rotating the cage relative to the post in order to angularly position the implant during implantation. Range of rotational motion is controlled by the configuration of a groove in the post. A retaining pin of the implant extends from the cage into the groove of the post to rotationally connect the cage to the post.

Abstract: A modular polyaxial bone screw includes a poly-axial bone screw, a polyaxial tulip head, and a collet disposed within the tulip head, the collet interacting with the bone screw and tulip head providing an interference fit with the bone screw head to lock orientation of the tulip head on and relative to the bone screw. Inner configurations of the tulip head interact with outer configurations of the collet to lock axial and/or rotational position of the collet within and relative to the tulip head, and thus about the bone screw head. The collet also has a resilient, tapered base with a plurality of slots in and about its end that allow the end to splay outwardly over and upon the head of the bone screw to create a snap or frictional interference fit between the splayed collet and the bone screw head when a spine rod is fixed in the tulip head.

Abstract: A kit for installing a spine implant includes an installation tool and a spine implant. The spine implant includes a body having a cavity extending through the body, a channel extending a first length along the first lateral side, a bore in communication with the cavity, a superior blade guide, and an inferior blade guide. The body also includes a first blade situated on the superior blade guide and movable along the superior blade guide after implantation of the, and a second blade situated on the inferior blade movable along the inferior blade guide after implantation of the body. The installation tool includes a handle, a hollow shaft connected to the handle, a pusher rod configured to extend through the hollow shaft and extend the first and second blades, and a graft rod configured to extend through the hollow shaft and introduce graft material into the spine implant.

Abstract: An adjustable spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume and/or cross sectional area in the spinal canal and/or neural foramen. The adjustable implant provides a spinal extension inhibitor. The implant includes elliptical or oval shaped adjustable member or spacer for positioning between and adjustably spacing apart the spinous processes.

Abstract: An interbody spine implant has a PEEK body/cage and removable front, the body with bone screw holes of a diameter smaller than a greatest diameter of an associated bone screw such that received bone screws cut into the PEEK thus locking the bone screws to the body. A major diameter of a bone screw increases towards the head of the screw to cause interference between the PEEK body and the screw. This aids in preventing the screw from backing out of the body. Bone screw holes are angled to project the bone screw from either the top or the bottom of the body for receipt in upper and lower vertebral bone. Preferably, but not necessarily, the direction of the bone screw bores are staggered from one lateral side to another lateral side of the body.

Abstract: A system for providing access to a surgical site includes a first dilator; a second dilator slidably couplable to a first side of the first dilator and including a first interface portion; a plurality of additional dilators slidably couplable to a second side of the first dilator in a nested manner; and at least one retractor member including a second interface portion removably couplable to the first interface portion. When the first interface portion is coupled to the second interface portion, and the second dilator and the plurality of additional dilators are coupled to the first dilator, the second dilator and the at least one retractor member form a retractor wall extending about the first dilator and the plurality of additional dilators.

Abstract: ALIF spine implants, ALIF installation instruments/tools, and ALIF procedures using the present ALIF implants and present ALIF installation instruments for an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) surgical procedure are provided. The ALIF implants are characterized by an ALIF cage and anchoring members. The ALIF installation instruments are characterized by a shaft having an inserter on one end that receives and holds an ALIF cage and anchoring members. The installation instrument allows insertion of the ALIF cage into a vertebral space, the anchoring members to be received in the ALIF cage, and then into vertebral bone. The ALIF cage is preferably, but not necessarily, 3-D printed having a central cavity, an end configured to accept a plurality of anchoring members and direct a portion of the anchoring members up and out of the cavity, a cutout configured to receive an anchoring member retention component, and an anchoring member retention component.

Abstract: A dynamic strut for external fixation constructs has first and second sub-struts that are axially adjustable in length and rotational position relative to one another, with the first sub-strut supporting a first dual universal joint with a first attachment peg for connection to an external fixator, and the second sub-strut supporting a second dual universal joint with a second attachment peg for connection to an external fixator. The first and second dual universal joints each include first and second ball-and-socket joints, whereby the associated attachment peg is adjustable in orientation. Set screws fix orientation of the attachment peg relative to the first ball-and-socket joint and the housing. Angular orientation of the first dual universal joint is fixed while angular orientation of the second dual universal joint is adjustable. The second sub-strut supports an axially movable shaft that supports the second dual universal joint.

Abstract: A bone screw for sacroiliac joint fusion is characterized by a longitudinal bone screw and a cylindrical sleeve received on a proximal end of the bone screw. The sleeve has axially extending fins or flutes on its outer surface that extend generally from one end of the sleeve to the other end of the sleeve. This feature allows the sleeve to resist reverse rotation which, in turn, aids in preventing back-out of the bone screw once installed. The bone screw has a self-tapping tip that allows the bone screw to be installed without need for a pilot hole, and self-harvesting geometry that gathers and retains bone shavings in and along the bone screw that are produced by bone screw installation for use as graft for bone fusion.

Abstract: A spinal implant for immobilizing the C1 vertebra with respect to the C2 vertebra of the spine provides controlled coupling between the C1 and C2 vertebrae, and includes a C1 component attachable to the C1 vertebra, two C2 components attachable to the C2 vertebra, and a transverse element. The C1 component has two wings each of which retains a rod holder that rotates and translates for capturing a C2 component rod. Each C2 component has a hook for connection with a side of the C2 vertebra lamina and a rod for attachment to one of the rod holders of the C1 component. Each C2 component receives and secures the transverse connector which holds position of the C2 components relative to one another. Each C2 component may include a plate configured for compression against the C2 vertebra spinous process, with each plate including spikes to aid in preventing construct migration.

Abstract: An expandable implant includes a top support configured to engage a first portion of vertebral bone, a bottom support configured to engage a second portion of vertebral bone, and a control assembly coupled to the top support and the bottom support and configured to control relative movement between the top support and the bottom support. The control assembly includes a control member including a head and a body portion. The head includes a recess and the body portion includes at least one access port in fluid communication with the recess to enable delivery of fluid to an interior of the implant via the recess and at least one access port.

Abstract: A transforaminal lumbar interbody (TLIF) implant, installation tool, and method of use includes a TLIF implant having a cavity, a first slot extending along an outside surface of a first lateral wall, and a second slot extending along an outside surface of a second lateral wall, the slots configured to receive an installation tool for holding the TLIF implant. The cavity houses a first impacted blade and a second impacted blade. When driven by the installation tool, guides in the walls of the cavity direct the impacted blades along the inside of the cavity such that ends of the blades extend from the cavity and beyond the implant body. The end of the first impacted blade extends from an upper side of the cavity and beyond the implant body, while the end of the second impacted blade extends from a lower side of the cavity and beyond the implant body.

Abstract: A spine implant for a TLIF surgical procedure is configured to be guided into place during implantation in conjunction with a complementary insertion instrument. The cage of the implant is constrained to a limited range of rotation about a pivoting post carried by the cage. The insertion instrument is configured to hold the post while controllably rotating the cage relative to the post in order to angularly position the implant during implantation. Range of rotational motion is controlled by the configuration of an opening in and end of the cage and a groove in the pivot post. A retaining pin of the implant extends from the cage into the groove of the post to rotationally connect the cage to the post.