Abstract: A surgical tool for use in a system for removing bone from vertebrae to relieve stenosis is provided. In one embodiment, the surgical tool includes a drill bit having a proximal end and a distal end, a drive shaft having a proximal rod portion and a distal tubular portion, the drill bit and the drive shaft configured to rotate about a horizontal axis in a clockwise direction; and an engagement system disposed between the drill bit and the drive shaft; wherein the engagement system is configured to selectively engage the drill bit to the drive shaft for powered rotation when the drill bit contacts a first material at a first predetermined resistance and to disengage the drill bit from the drive shaft when the drill bit engages a second material at a second predetermined resistance; and wherein the first predetermined resistance is greater than the second predetermined resistance.

Abstract: A surgical tool for use in a system for removing bone from vertebrae to relieve stenosis is provided. In one embodiment, the surgical tool includes a drill bit having a proximal end and a distal end, a drive shaft having a proximal rod portion and a distal tubular portion, the drill bit and the drive shaft configured to rotate about a horizontal axis in a clockwise direction; and an engagement system disposed between the drill bit and the drive shaft; wherein the engagement system is configured to selectively engage the drill bit to the drive shaft for powered rotation when the drill bit contacts a first material at a first predetermined resistance and to disengage the drill bit from the drive shaft when the drill bit engages a second material at a second predetermined resistance; and wherein the first predetermined resistance is greater than the second predetermined resistance.

Abstract: A polyaxial spinal screw including a head and a threaded body. The head is defined by a portion of a first sphere that has a first center and a portion of a second sphere that has a second center, wherein the second center is approximately concentric with the first center. The threaded body extends from the portion of first sphere, wherein the portion of the first sphere is compressible approximately through the first center via compression of the portion of the second sphere.

Abstract: A method of using a plurality of blades within a fixation device to attach to a vertebra is provided. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within a housing of the fixation device, control openings on opposing sides of the central opening sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool, and at least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extending from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft, wherein upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.

Abstract: An intervertebral fixation device is disclosed, which includes a weight-bearing shell, a first anchor, a second anchor, and a key. The shell includes a first and second opposing sidewalls at a distance from one another, a keyway that extends along at least a portion of the distance, and a first axis of rotation and a different second axis of rotation that extend along at least a portion of the distance and are outside the keyway. The first anchor is rotatably coupled to the weight-bearing shell about the first axis of rotation, and the second anchor is rotatably coupled to the weight-bearing shell about the second axis of rotation. The key is insertable into the keyway such that the first anchor and the second anchor are securable in divergent orientations with respect to the weight-bearing shell.

Abstract: Corpectomy device including an outer component, an inner component and a riser. The outer component includes a first endplate and first structure. The first structure includes a window and seat in communication with the window. The inner component includes a second endplate and second structure at least partially disposed in the first structure in a first configuration, wherein the second structure defines a first terminal surface. The riser has a third tubular structure that defines a second terminal surface, wherein the riser is to be received through the window into the seat so that the second terminal surface engages at least a portion of the first terminal surface enabling the riser to support the inner component in a second configuration with respect to the outer component.

Abstract: A polyaxial vertebral assembly that includes a polyaxial vertebral anchor and an articulating connector. The anchor is configured to penetrate and secure to a vertebra, and includes a spherical head end. The connector includes a base, an extension, and a common trajectory split lock. The split lock includes a first lock and a second lock. The first lock is configured to engage rigidly the base in a selected pivotal configuration to the head end along the second axis of the extension, wherein the head end is disposed in the base in the selected pivotal configuration with respect to the first axis of the base. The second lock is configured to engage rigidly a stabilizing rod at selected configurable height and rotational configuration with respect to the polyaxial vertebral anchor along the second axis, wherein the pivotal configuration and the height and rotational configuration are independently adjustable along the second axis.

Abstract: Spinal disk including a shell, first endplate, second endplate and core. The shell includes sidewalls, back wall, front wall, top wall, and bottom wall defining a compartment. The first endplate includes a first base, first top and first attachment. The first base is retained in the compartment. The first top is disposed about a first opening in the top wall to form a top contact surface. The first attachment extends from the first top portion. The second endplate includes a second base, second top and second attachment. The second base is retained in the compartment. The second top is disposed about a second opening in the bottom wall to form a bottom contact surface. The second attachment extends from the second top portion. The core includes a material injectable into a constrained space in the compartment between the first base and the second base.

Abstract: A spinal plate assembly includes a spinal plate and a cap. The spinal plate includes an opening through the spinal plate and an associated recess in the spinal plate that is eccentric with the opening. The cap includes an alignment opening and is configured to be rotationally engaged in the recess between a first rotational configuration and a second rotational configuration. The first rotational configuration enables a threaded body of a screw to be thread into a vertebra in a selected trajectory through the alignment opening and the opening in the spinal plate, and further enables a portion of the opening to engage a head of the screw in the selected trajectory. The second rotational configuration enables the cap to compress the head of the screw approximately through its center into the engaged portion of the opening.

Abstract: A fixation device includes a housing, first and second shafts, first blade, and second blade. The housing includes a leading surface and trailing surface. The first and second shafts run from the leading surface to the trailing surface. The first blade has a first extension with a sharp edge extending from the first shaft in a first orientation about the first shaft. The second blade has a second extension with a sharp edge extending from the second shaft in a second orientation about the second shaft. The first blade is rotatable according to the first orientation and the second blade is rotatable according to the second orientation, such that the first extension and the second extension are enabled to break an endplate of a vertebra, hook into the vertebra, and rigidly secure the vertebra to the device to prevent separation of the vertebra from the device during spinal motion.

Abstract: Corpectomy device comprising outer component, inner component and riser. The outer component includes a first endplate and first structure. The first structure includes a window and seat in communication with the window. The seat defines an opening to be pre-packed substantially with first grafting material. The inner component includes a second endplate and second structure at least partially disposed in the first structure in a first configuration. The second structure is to be pre-packed substantially with second grafting material. The riser has a third tubular structure to be received through the window into the seat to engage at least a portion of the second structure that extends the second structure into a second configuration with respect to the first structure. The third structure is to be pre-packed substantially with third grafting material such that first, second and third grafting material remain pre-packed substantially and in communication in the second configuration.

Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a first component and second component. The first component includes a first top structure and outer wall. The first top structure has a first opening and first peripheral opening disposed about the first opening, wherein the first peripheral opening in communication with the first opening. The outer wall forms a second opening in communication with the first opening. The second component includes a second top structure and inner wall. The second top structure has a third opening. The inner wall forms a fourth opening in communication with the third opening, wherein the inner wall has a second peripheral opening in communication with the fourth opening. The second component is adjustable with respect to the first component such that second and fourth openings define a combined opening in communication with the third opening and the combined opening is in communication with the first and second peripheral openings.

Abstract: Spinal disk including a shell, first endplate, second endplate and core. The shell includes sidewalls, back wall, front wall, top wall and bottom wall defining a compartment. The first endplate includes a first base, first top and first attachment. The first base is retained in the compartment. The first top is disposed about a first opening in the top wall forming a top contact surface. The first attachment extends from the first top portion. The second endplate includes a second base, second top and second attachment. The second base is retained in the compartment. The second top is disposed about a second opening in the bottom wall forming a bottom contact surface. The second attachment extends from the second top portion. The core is disposed in the compartment between the first endplate and the second endplate.

Abstract: An intervertebral fixation device and system are disclosed, including a weight-bearing shell, first anchor, second anchor, and key. The shell includes a first and second opposing sidewalls, a keyway that extends between and through the first and second sidewalls, and a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation that extend between the first and second sidewalls. The first anchor is rotatably coupled to the shell about a first axis of rotation and is disposed in a first orientation. The second anchor is rotatably coupled to the shell about a second axis of rotation and is disposed in a second orientation. The second orientation is divergent from the first orientation. The key is configured to be disposed in the keyway to support the first anchor in a third orientation and the second anchor in a fourth orientation. The third orientation is divergent from the fourth orientation.

Abstract: A spinal plate assembly includes a spinal plate and a cap. The spinal plate includes an opening through the spinal plate and an associated recess in the spinal plate that is eccentric with the opening. The cap includes an alignment opening and is configured to be rotationally engaged in the recess between a first rotational configuration and a second rotational configuration. The first rotational configuration enables a threaded body of a screw to be thread into a vertebra in a selected trajectory through the alignment opening and the opening in the spinal plate, and further enables a portion of the opening to engage a head of the screw in the selected trajectory. The second rotational configuration enables the cap to compress the head of the screw approximately through its center into the engaged portion of the opening.

Abstract: A spinal plate system includes a screw, spinal plate and cap. A head of the screw includes a portion of a first sphere that has a first center and a portion of a second sphere that has a second center approximately concentric with the first center. A body of the screw extends from the first sphere. The spinal plate includes an opening through the spinal plate and an associated recess in the spinal plate that is eccentric with the opening. The cap includes an alignment opening and is configured to be rotationally engaged in the recess between a first rotational configuration and a second rotational configuration. In the first rotational configuration, the body threads into a vertebra in a selected trajectory through the alignment opening and the opening in the spinal plate and the head engages at least a portion of the opening in the selected trajectory.

Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first top structure and a conical outer wall. The first top structure has a first opening. The outer wall extends below the first top structure to form an ellipse-shaped second opening in communication with the first opening. The second component includes a second top structure and conical inner wall. The second top structure has a third. The inner wall extends below the second top structure to form an ellipse-shaped fourth opening in communication with the third opening. The second top structure of the second component is disposed at least partially inside the first top structure of the first component such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.

Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first top structure and a conical outer wall. The first top structure has a first opening. The outer wall extends below the first top structure to form an ellipse-shaped second opening in communication with the first opening. The second component includes a second top structure and conical inner wall. The second top structure has a third. The inner wall extends below the second top structure to form an ellipse-shaped fourth opening in communication with the third opening. The second top structure of the second component is disposed at least partially inside the first top structure of the first component such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.

Abstract: A plurality of blades for use in a fixation device, each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within a housing of the fixation device, control openings on opposing sides of the central opening sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool, and at least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extending from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft, wherein upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.

Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first top structure and a conical outer wall. The first top structure has a first opening. The outer wall extends below the first top structure to form an ellipse-shaped second opening in communication with the first opening. The second component includes a second top structure and conical inner wall. The second top structure has a third. The inner wall extends below the second top structure to form an ellipse-shaped fourth opening in communication with the third opening. The second top structure of the second component is disposed at least partially inside the first top structure of the first component such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.