Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes an implant body dimensioned for positioning within an intervertebral space between upper and lower vertebrae to maintain the vertebrae in desired spaced relation to facilitate fusion thereof. The implant body includes lower and upper surfaces for engaging the respective lower and upper vertebrae and first and second side wall portions extending between the upper and lower surfaces. The first and second side wall portions are substantially solid. At least one of the first and second side wall portions have a substantially narrow longitudinal slit defined therein arranged to enhance flexibility of the one side wall portion. Preferably, each of the first and second side wall portions includes a longitudinal slit. The implant body may define an internal chamber dimensioned for reception of bone growth inducing substances.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes a retractor and a retractor introducer. The retractor includes a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal passageway for reception of surgical instrumentation. The retractor sleeve has first and second retractor arms extending distally therefrom in a general longitudinal direction. Each retractor arm has first and second opposed supporting surfaces for engaging respective adjacent opposed vertebrae. Each retractor arm defines a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebrae upon insertion thereof. The retractor introducer is positionable within the longitudinal passageway of the retractor sleeve. The retractor introducer includes an elongated member defining proximal and distal ends and having a distal introducer head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for spinal fusion includes an implant having a plurality of side walls connected to each other to define an enclosed structure. The implant is advantageously dimensioned to facilitate insertion and retention between adjacent vertebrae, and enhance fusion with adjacent vertebral bones.

Abstract: An implant insertion apparatus for guiding surgical instrumentation and facilitating insertion of surgical implants into an intervertebral space, including a retractor having an internal opening for introduction of a surgical instrument and positionable with respect to adjacent vertebrae in the intervertebral space, and a guide bar mounted to the retractor. The guide bar includes a longitudinal guide shaft dimensioned to guide introduction of surgical instrumentation through the internal opening of the retractor. The apparatus further includes a guide member mounted to the surgical instrument for providing the guidance thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bony structures includes an implant body dimensioned for positioning between adjacent bone structures to maintain the bone structures in desired spaced relation during interbody fusion. The implant body has an outer wall and an external threaded configuration disposed on the outer wall. At least one concave surface at least partially extends along the implant body. The concave surface advantageously reduces the transverse cross-sectional dimension of the implant member thereby facilitating placement of the implant member in restricted intervertebral areas. In addition, the concave surface enables placement of a pair of implants in nested side-by-side relation. Preferably, the threaded configuration has portions removed along an arc section of the outer wall thereby defining a series of generally longitudinally aligned concave surfaces in individual turns thereof. A system and method for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tensioned cord (208) formed into a closed loop is secured to adjacent bone structures (201, 203), and a flexible patch (236) is secured to the cord in tension so that the combined, predetermined tension is applied between the adjacent bones structures (201, 203). The tensioned cord (203) and patch (236) may be used with or without a fusion implant device (206) in order to, in the former instance, contribute to compressive forces applied to the fusion device by the surrounding bone structures. The patch (236) may also be used as a delivery medium for a substance such as bone graft (241).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to one piece connector for connecting angularly misaligned implanted pedicle screws to transverse spinal rods in spinal fixation systems. The body portion includes a bore having an inside diameter and a longitudinal axis, with the longitudinal axis of the bore being positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The leg portion includes a slot placed through a section of the leg portion, along the transverse axis of the leg portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The slot intersects the bore of the body portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore. The slot allows the one piece connector to be securely clamped around a longitudinal spinal rod when a pedicle screw is implanted at variable distances from the longitudinal spinal rod.

Abstract: A novel system and method for use for ensuring appropriate positioning of a cable about bone portions, particularly, vertebral bone, for stabilization of the spine during spinal reconstructive and fusion procedures is disclosed. The system includes cabling uniquely adapted for spinal reconstruction processes, ligature passers and hook passers of varying sizes to facilitate looping of the cable about the spinal/vertebral bone, and a tensioning apparatus which secures the cable at a predetermined tensioned value about the vertebral bone. A novel method for applying a cable about vertebral bone for spinal stabilization is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures includes a threadless implant member which is positioned between adjacent opposed bone structures. The implant member defines a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends and has an outer wall which is dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith. The outer wall defines an internal cavity for the reception of bone growth inducing substances and includes a plurality of apertures which extend therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The implant member also includes an intermediate portion which defines a cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the respective cross-sectional dimensions of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for connecting first and second elongated spaced apart spinal rods to one another which includes an elongated body portion, a clamp portion depending from the body portion for engaging a spinal rod, the clamp portion defining a deformable clamp body having opposed clamp arms configured for movement between a first position wherein a spinal rod is received between the opposed clamp arms of the clamp body and a second position wherein the spinal rod is securely engaged by the opposed clamp arms of the clamp body, and structure operatively associated with the clamp body which is configured to effectuate movement of the opposed clamp arms of the clamp body between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures includes n implant member for positioning between adjacent opposed bone structures. The implant member defines a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends and has an outer wall dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith. The outer wall includes at least one thread for facilitating positioning between the opposed bone structures. The implant member has an intermediate portion which defines a cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is greater than respective cross-sectional dimensions of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, includes a disc member having sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation. The disc member defines a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The disc member includes an exterior wall portion having a first slit with a longitudinal component of direction and a second slit with a lateral component of direction. The first and second slits are dimensioned to extend sufficiently within the exterior wall portion and are arranged relative to the longitudinal axis whereby upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space forces exerted on the disc member are transferred along the exterior wall portion as facilitated by the slit arrangement.

Abstract: A transverse connector clip for connecting cylindrical rods to each other in a spinal fixation system, comprising a clip body having two sides. The first side of the clip body has a longitudinal axis and a pair of mirror image hemi-cylindrical shells. These hemi-cylindrical shells have an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of a cylindrical rod.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom. The disc member has sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, and defines a longitudinal axis extending the height of the disc member and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The disc member includes an exterior wall which has a slit defined therein. The slit defines a longitudinal component of direction and a lateral component of direction. Preferably, the exterior wall includes a plurality of helical slits, adjacent slits being disposed in at least partial overlapping relation to define an overlapping region.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes a retractor and a retractor introducer. The retractor includes a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal passageway for reception of surgical instrumentation. The retractor sleeve has first and second retractor arms extending distally therefrom in a general longitudinal direction. Each retractor arm has first and second opposed supporting surfaces for engaging respective adjacent opposed vertebrae. Each retractor arm defines a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebrae upon insertion thereof. The retractor introducer is positionable within the longitudinal passageway of the retractor sleeve. The retractor introducer includes an elongated member defining proximal and distal ends and having a distal introducer head.

Abstract: A spinal fixation plate is disclosed which includes an elongated plate body having a central longitudinal axis, opposed top and bottom surfaces and an outer periphery, the outer periphery of the plate body is defined in part by opposed first and second lateral edges. A plurality of flexure slots extend inwardly from the first lateral edge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate body, and a plurality of flexure slots extend inwardly from the second lateral edge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate body. The flexure slots terminate at locations axially spaced from one another relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate body.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes an implant member dimensioned to be at least partially positioned within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae. The implant member includes first and second vertebral engaging plates operatively connected to each other for respectively engaging vertebral end plates of the adjacent vertebrae and having discontinuous surfaces to engage the vertebral end plates and promote bone ingrowth. A displacement member is associated with the engaging plates and is deployable to cause relative movement of the engaging plates to thereby at least laterally displace the engaging plates whereby in a deployed position the engaging plates are in supportive engaged relation with the adjacent vertebrae. The first and second engaging plates are preferably pivotally connected to each other at respective end portions thereof to define a reduced entry profile to facilitate insertion within the intervertebral space.

Abstract: An implant for forming an intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus prosthesis includes a conformable material adapted to fill cavities within the disc and to at least partially polymerize in-situ to form a shaped, resiliently deformable prosthesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an artificial bone graft implant for use as a replacement for living bone material in surgical procedures requiring the use of bone graft material. The implant has a body configured to be implanted into a prepared site in a patient's bone tissue, with the body having a pair of opposed outer surfaces defining the body. A first and a second porous portion form the body with the first and second porous portions having pores of different sizes such that the average pore size of the first porous portion is greater than the average pore size of the second porous portion. The first porous portion of the body is formed in the shape of a core, with the core being in contact with the opposed outer surfaces of the body, and the second porous portion of the body is formed in the shape of an outer shell.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom, includes a disc member having sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation. The disc member defines a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The disc member includes an exterior wall portion having a first slit with a longitudinal component of direction and a second slit with a lateral component of direction. The first and second slits are dimensioned to extend sufficiently within the exterior wall portion and are arranged relative to the longitudinal axis whereby upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space forces exerted on the disc member are transferred along the exterior wall portion as facilitated by the slit arrangement.