Abstract: Connectors for connecting or linking one instrument or object to one or more other instruments or objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a connector can include a first arm with a first attachment feature for attaching to a first object, such as a surgical access device, and a second arm with a second attachment feature for attaching to a second object, such as a support. The connector can have an unlocked state, in which the position and orientation of the access device can be adjusted relative to the support, and a locked state in which movement of the access device relative to the support is prevented or limited. Locking the connector can also be effective to clamp or otherwise attach the connector to the access device and the support, or said attachment can be independent of the locking of the connector.

Abstract: Connectors are disclosed herein that can be used to attach a rod to a bone anchor assembly that is already occupied by a separate rod. Various ways of attaching the connector to the bone anchor assembly are disclosed, including arrangements in which the connector is locked to the bone anchor, arrangements in which the connector is constrained in one or more degrees of freedom relative to the bone anchor, arrangements in which the connector is adjustable in one or more degrees of freedom relative to the bone anchor, and arrangements that include a spherical articulation joint. In some embodiments, attachment of the connector to a bone anchor can be aided with the use of a positioner. The geometry of the connector can be selected to minimize the offset between a first rod received in the bone anchor assembly and a second rod received in the connector, for example using an angled or curved rod recess and/or a fastener, or set screw, that is offset from the center of the rod or angled relative to the bone anchor.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.

Abstract: A flexible auger design for low-torque transmitting drive shafts, which allows effective tissue material transport through curved, flexible tubes and channels. A hollow auger has a hollow center, so that the helical member hugs the inner wall of the tube and material is transported along the center axis and the inner wall of the tube. The hollow flexible auger allows for transportation of material from an operative location in the patient (material removal) as well as to operative location in the patient (material delivery).

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.

Abstract: A device having one or more adjustable loops or coils associated with an implant body for use in soft tissue reconstructions is provided. One exemplary embodiment of a device includes a body and a suture filament, with the filament being used to form a self-locking sliding knot disposed on a top side of the body and a plurality of adjustable coils that are substantially disposed on the body's bottom side. Terminal ends of the filament located above the body's top side can be passed through an opening of a Lark's Head knot from opposite sides, thus forming a self-locking sliding knot, and then the terminal ends can be tensioned to adjust a circumference of the coils. Changing a coil's circumference changes a location of a ligament graft disposed on the coil. Other configurations of devices and systems, as well as methods for performing ACL repairs, are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a biceps tenodesis system is provided and includes a sheath inserter tool, an expandable sheath configured to couple to the sheath inserter tool, an expander inserter tool, and an expander configured to couple to the expander inserter tool. The sheath inserter tool is configured to advance the expandable sheath, with a tendon disposed therearound, into a bone hole, and the expander inserter tool is configured to advance the expander through an outer shaft of the sheath inserter tool and to drive the expander into the sheath. The expander is configured to be received within a lumen extending at least partially through the expandable sheath to thereby expand the sheath. In this way, the system delivers the tendon or ligament into the bone hole and locks the sheath and tendon within the bone hole.

Abstract: Various bone screws configured to be implanted into bone and methods of use are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a bone screw is provided with an elongate shank having at least two threads thereon, and having a distal facing surface with at least two cutting edges. The cutting edges can be configured to cut bone as the bone screw is rotated into bone, thereby forming a path for the threads.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and methods for providing a scope having an imaging sensor which provides a two thousand pixel by two thousand pixel array of pixels. The imaging sensor allows for an angle of view to be changed within a field of view by selecting a one thousand pixel by one thousand pixel array within the two thousand pixel by two thousand pixel array of pixels containing imaging data that corresponds to a desired angle of view.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for the alignment of implants or fastener members. For example, a surgical driver device is provided that has a driver head with a sidewall, a bore extending into a distal end of the driver head that is configured to receive an implant therein, and an alignment post that is disposed within the bore and extends distally beyond a distal opening of the bore. A retention member is disposed along a perimeter of the driver head and is configured to provide an interference fit between the driver head and an implant. A surgical caddie is also provided that has a housing, a plurality of implants on a mounting station, and a removal post that external threads that are matable with internal threads on each of the plurality of implants.

Abstract: An adjustable anchor system provides for securing tissue to bone and includes an anchor with a collapsible suture loop affixed thereto and a tissue suture connected to the collapsible suture loop. After the tissue suture is loaded into the tissue and the anchor implanted into the bone the collapsible loop is collapsed to tension the tissue suture.

Abstract: Reamer instruments and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for reaming bone to facilitate in situ assembly of a bone anchor. In some embodiments, the instrument can include a feedback mechanism configured to alert the user when sufficient bone has been removed to facilitate assembly of the bone anchor. The feedback mechanism can be triggered by a movable shaft of the instrument that is displaced by the shank portion of the bone anchor as the surrounding bone is reamed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for anatomical alignment are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the systems and methods can provide accurate and continuous intraoperative validation of anatomical alignment, e.g., of the spine, hips, pelvis, and/or shoulders. An exemplary system can include a sensor and marker arrangement for measuring coronal imbalance. Another exemplary system can include a sensor and marker arrangement for shoulder or pelvic leveling. Yet another exemplary system can include a mechanical frame for establishing a simulated ground plane and projecting a plumb line from the simulated ground plane.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods, systems, and devices for instability repair are provided. In general, a surgical device can be configured to drill a hole in bone and to deliver a suture anchor into the hole. In this way, a single surgical device can drill the hole and deliver the anchor into the hole for securing soft tissue to the bone. The anchor can be configured to allow the soft tissue to be secured to the bone using a suture coupled to a suture anchor without the need to knot or otherwise tie the suture to secure the soft tissue in place relative to the bone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an impact absorber attaches a reference array of a computer-assisted surgery system to a medical implant. The impact absorber has a coupler that couples the reference array to the implant such that the reference array is rotatable relative to the implant from an undeflected orientation to a deflected orientation when an external impacting force is applied to the reference array, and from the deflected orientation to the undeflected orientation when the external force is removed. The impact absorber has an alignment feature that 1) engages with a corresponding alignment feature so as to align the reference array with the undeflected orientation and 2) disengages from the corresponding alignment feature when the reference array is rotated from the undeflected orientation to the deflected orientation. Allowing the reference array to be returned to the undeflected orientation after it is impacted can avoid a need to recalibrate the system.

Abstract: Instruments and related methods for breaking reduction tabs are disclosed herein, e.g., for breaking reduction tabs of a bone anchor or other implant. In some embodiments, the instrument can be configured to minimize the space needed to operate the instrument. For example, the instrument can be configured to receive a reduction tab that is to be broken while the instrument is coaxially positioned with respect to a bone anchor receiver to which the reduction tab is attached. As another example, the instrument can have a maximum outer transverse dimension that is less than, equal to, or only slightly greater than a corresponding dimension of a bone anchor from which a reduction tab is to be broken. Guide rods for positioning a tab breaker instrument over a reduction tab are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for trajectory guidance using instrument position data and planned trajectories into or through a patient's body or an object. Lasers are emitted from a laser system toward the patient's body or object at an area within or proximate to the instrument operator's line of sight. Information about the instrument, including the position of its proximal and distal ends, and the position of the patient's body or object, are used to direct the emission of the lasers in real-time during operation of the instrument. The emitted lasers function as visual cues indicating the manner in which to position the distal and proximal ends of the instrument to properly align with the planned trajectory. A guidance map on the instrument can be used to output visual cues about the position of the distal and proximal ends of the instrument relative to a planned trajectory.

Abstract: A discectomy tool comprising: a) a cannula having an outer surface having a longitudinal bore therein, a proximal end and a distal end; b) a steering wire disposed in the longitudinal bore; c) a flexible, hollow transmission shaft disposed in the cannula, the shaft having a throughbore, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an outer surface having a thread extending therefrom; d) an irrigation source fluidly connected to the throughbore; e) a cutting tip attached to the distal end portion of the transmission shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at minimally invasive systems in which the proximal end portion of the working channel has either zero or a limited range of movement in the lateral direction. A first embodiment has a slidable collar attached to a pair of flanges, wherein movement of the collar is bounded by an annular frame. A second embodiment has a substantially spherical element attached to the tube. A third embodiment has a plurality of caps. A fourth embodiment is adapted for a larger working channel.

Abstract: A bone anchor assembly includes a bone anchor, a receiver member for receiving a spinal fixation element to be coupled to the bone anchor, a compression member positioned within the receiver member, and a closure mechanism including an outer set screw and an inner set screw. The outer set screw delivers a distal force to the compression member to fix the bone anchor relative to the receiver member. The proximal surface of the compression member has a shape configured to restrict deformation of the compression member arms including motion of the compression member arms relative to each other. The distal surface of the outer set screw has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the proximal surface of the compression member.