Abstract: Provided herein are 3D-printed patient-specific surgical guides and methods for making and using the same. In at least one embodiment, the guides include a first and second end, a first and second side, a conformal bone engaging surface, a front surface, one or more porous regions, one or more walls, and a plurality of openings. At least one of the plurality of openings extends through the guide between the conformal bone engaging surface and the front surface. The conformal bone engaging surface is contoured to a patient's anatomy. The first and second end, and the first and second side are contoured to avoid soft tissues of the patient.

Abstract: An expandable fusion device is capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. The fusion device may include a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a member including a body engageable with a longitudinal element to fix the longitudinal element with the body. The member further includes a distal portion having a guide including an arcuate surface being engageable with the longitudinal element. An actuator is connected with the member to incrementally tension the longitudinal element. Surgical systems, implants, spinal constructs and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail system is provided with at least one resilient, elongate nail body configured to extend axially along a medullary bone cavity, and at least one bone anchor. The bone anchor includes a distal bone engagement portion configured to secure the anchor to a bone, a proximal nail engagement portion configured to receive a portion of the nail body therethrough, and a tightening mechanism configured to move from a movable state in which the nail body may slide axially and rotate through the engagement portion and a fixed state in which the nail body is prevented from moving relative to the engagement portion. Methods of use and surgical kits are also provided.

Abstract: A method of implanting an intervertebral spacer may include positioning the intervertebral spacer within an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral spacer may include a plurality of bores, and each of the plurality of bores may be configured to receive either a linear fastening element or a curvilinear fastening element. The method also may include selecting a first fastening element from a group including linear fastening elements and curvilinear fastening elements, and inserting the first fastening element into a first bore of the plurality of bores such that the first fastening element is inserted into one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to secure the intervertebral spacer within the intervertebral space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrumentation with a navigation system which comprises an optical detection unit comprising a camera, and a data processing unit coupled to the detection unit, with a stabilization element of a surgical fixation system and with a medical marking device which is held in a defined spatial arrangement on or is comprised by or formed by the stabilization element, the location and orientation of the marking device in space being determinable with the navigation system, it being possible for at least two images of the stabilization element and the marking device to be taken from a different orientation by means of the detection unit and for the shape of the stabilization element to be determined by the data processing unit on the basis of the two or more images. The invention also relates to a method for determining the shape of a surgical stabilization element.

Abstract: A spinal fusion device that is expandable along a side edge. The device features a top and bottom surface for engaging adjacent vertebrae, a hollow center for stacking of bone or bone growth material, and a slidable mechanism with grooves for expanding or contracting the device along a side edge.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising: a tulip including a slot to receive a linkage, first and second side walls that define a portion of the slot, and a ring that couples the first side wall to the second side wall; wherein the ring couples to the first side wall at a thinned first proximal fulcrum and to the second side wall at a thinned second proximal fulcrum and the ring pivots about the first and second proximal fulcrums when the ring is forced proximally; wherein the first side wall includes a first sidewall projection that projects past the first proximal fulcrum and the second side wall includes a second sidewall projection that projects past the second proximal fulcrum. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An implant composed of a plurality of parts placed within a vertebral body such that the vertebral body can be displaced, altering the angle between the superior endplate and the inferior endplate resulting in correction of the vertebral alignment in the coronal plane.

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: An orthopedic locking screw is be configured to be retained inside the bore of an orthopedic implant provided as part of an orthopedic fastening system. The orthopedic locking screw includes a shaft extending axially, a drive member, and a casing secured around an outer surface of the shaft. The casing is formed of a plastically deformable material. The casing has an outer cross-sectional width that is larger than a cross-sectional width of the shaft adjacent the casing. When operably disposed in the bore, an axial and/or radial press-fit pressure is formed between the casing and the bore. A method of securing an orthopedic screw in a bore of an orthopedic implant is provided, in which the shaft is rotated to operably engage the casing to the bore to achieving a deformable press-fit of the casing against the bore.

Abstract: A rod connector used in screw fixation to connect different rods includes a latch element including a latch section which is fitted to a first rod and a pass-through section having a through-hole, a support element including an up/down movement section which moves up and down through the through-hole and a support section which is a head part of the up/down movement section and has a support groove to support a second rod, and a fixing screw which approaches the up/down movement section through a screw hole formed in oblique direction within the latch element and presses the up/down movement section directly or indirectly, to fix the support element at a predetermined height.

Abstract: Devices and methods are adapted to permit fixation and stabilization of the bony elements of the skeleton. The devices permit adjustment and maintenance of the spatial relationship between neighboring bones. The motion between adjacent skeletal segments may be maintained, limited or completely eliminated.

Abstract: A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, a superior implant with a superior articular surface and may include a crosslink extending across a vertebral sagittal plane. The inferior implant may comprise an inferior strut, and a polyaxially adjustable, lockable mechanism which may couple the inferior articular surface with a first end of the inferior strut, and couple the inferior articular surface with the crosslink. A second end of the inferior strut may be secured to a polyaxially adjustable, lockable fixation assembly securable in a vertebra. The superior implant may be secured to a polyaxially adjustable lockable fixation assembly securable in a vertebra. The positions of the inferior articular surface and the first end of the inferior strut are independently translatable along a medial-lateral axis of the vertebra prior to lockout by the lockable mechanism. The crosslink may be placed into the lockable mechanism from a posterior approach.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for accessing an inferior vertebra, a superior vertebra, and a disc space therebetween via a transpedicular approach in the inferior vertebra that may include creating a channel normal to the pedicle and using an offset guide to create a second transpedicular channel at an angle to the first, normal pedicle channel where the second transpedicular channel passes into the inferior vertebra, superior vertebra, or the disc space therebetween.

Abstract: An exoscope serves for observing and illuminating an object field on a patient from a position set apart from the patient's body. A lens system serves to observe the object field and an illumination serves to illuminate the object field. A distance between the lens system and the object field can be modified by a bracket. A shaft comprises on its distal end a head member that is widened in comparison to it, so that the illumination reaches into the distal-side head member. Positioned in the head member is at least one radiating illumination unit whose radiant characteristic can be adjusted in such a way that the object field can be illuminated homogeneously at all possible distances from the lens system. Supply lines for the at least one illuminating unit are positioned in the shaft.

Abstract: A rod coercer for use in spinal fixation procedures is provided. In one embodiment, the rod coercer includes a handle having at least one rod contacting arm extending therefrom; an implant gripping assembly pivotally interconnected with the handle; and first and second implant gripping levers interconnected with the implant gripping assembly and including first and second protrusions biased to engage corresponding recesses of the implant. The protrusions can be selectively retracted from the recesses of the implant by pivoting the implant gripping levers.

Abstract: Improved implant devices and methods for interspinous distraction distribute the load of interspinous distraction so that the entire load is not bearing on the interspinous surfaces. The implant device has a narrow midsection and two wider, flange-shaped outer sections. The wider, flange-shaped outer sections can be tightened to bear against the thicker bony portions of the spinous processes to support some of the load. Optionally, the wider, flange-shaped outer sections can be configured with pins that will penetrate and engage the thicker bony portions of the spinous processes, which will increase the load bearing potential of the wider, flange-shaped outer sections. Additionally, the wider, flange-shaped outer sections and the pins will help to stabilize the joint. The joint stabilization may help to prevent further dislocation of the vertebra that occurs with spondylolisthesis.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail (20) for insertion into the medullary canal (26) in a bone (24) surrounded by the cortex (28) and defines a bore (34) extending transverse to the intramedullary nail (20). A threaded fastener (22) extends along a fastener axis (A) and has a compression portion (48) having a compression portion diameter (DCP), and a threaded portion (50) having a threaded portion diameter (DTP) extending through a near cortex hole (40) and a far cortex hole (42), both holes (40, 42) radially overlapping the bore (34) and the threaded portion diameter (DTP) threadedly engaging the bore (34). A compression transmission device (54) has an exterior (56) and an interior (58) and defines an interior space for transmitting the compressional load of the threaded fastener (22) to the intramedullary nail (20).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for bone fracture repair. The apparatus may include a structural support for positioning a first bone segment relative to a second bone segment. The apparatus may include an anchoring substrate. The anchoring substrate may be configured to compress the first bone segment to the second bone segment. The anchoring substrate may transmit tension from a distal bone segment anchor in the first bone segment to a proximal bone segment anchor in the second bone segment. The apparatus may be configured to be deployed percutaneously in an inner cavity of a bone. The apparatus may be installed in an open fracture. The apparatus may be expanded, self-expanding or configured for mechanically actuation. Some embodiments of the apparatus may include a central axis member that may be used in conjunction with expansion of one or both of the structural support and the anchoring substrate to configure the apparatus.