Abstract: A bone fixation system including a plate and a set of fixation locking screw. The plate defines a set of locking screw holes each having an internal thread. Each respective locking screw has a head with an external structure that is adapted to self-tap into the internal thread of a given locking screw hole to secure the respective first-type fixation locking screw at an surgeon directed angle relative to the plate. This angle is defined during forcible insertion and rotation of the respective locking screw into the given screw hole. The system may also include unidirectional locking screws.

Abstract: A rongeur having a fixed shank and a moveable crossbar is disclosed. The crossbar is connected to and axially aligned with the fixed shank. The crossbar has a distal end with a cutting portion located therein. A port is connected to one of the fixed shank and the moveable crossbar. An access channel is connected to the port for improved flushing, cleaning, sterilization, drying and lubricating capabilities in a rongeur.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide surgical cutting devices and systems for orthopedic and other procedures. Specific embodiments provide saw devices for accessing and cutting subjacent bone and other tissue while minimizing injury to surrounding tissue. One embodiment provides a transverse acting saw blade for performing surgical cuts to bone tissue with minimal injury to surrounding tissue. The blade comprises an elongated member having a first portion and a second portion and a longitudinal and lateral axis. The first portion is configured to engage a drive source to produce longitudinal movement of the first portion that is atraumatic to surrounding tissue. The second portion includes a cutting surface. The longitudinal movement of the first portion is converted to a lateral movement of the second portion that is sufficient to cut engaged bone tissue with the cutting surface. The movement of the second portion is substantially transverse to the movement of the first portion.

Abstract: A method of treating a fractured vertebral body by using a) a plurality of reinforcement rods combined with the b) a bone growth agent, wherein the reinforcement rods act to mechanically join disparate bone fragments across the fracture planes, thereby stabilizing the fracture site, and the bone growth agent promotes the growth of new bone across the fracture planes, thereby permanently replacing the fracture site with new bone.

Abstract: A finely-adjustable resection guide has two bodies pivotally connected to each other. One of the bodies has a plurality of threaded through-bores extending in perpendicular directions through the body. Two thumbscrews extend through the threaded through-bores. The thumbscrews can translate linearly with respect to the body as they are turned. A cutting block is pivotally connected to the body that has the thumbscrews. Linear translation of one of the thumbscrews causes the cutting guide surface of the cutting block to pivot about one axis and linear translation of the other thumbscrew causes the cutting guide surface to pivot about another axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. A third threaded member is provided to adjust the proximal-distal position of the cutting guide surface.

Abstract: A system and method for ameliorating spinal column anomalies, such as scoliosis, includes bone screws which are to be implanted in the pedicle region(s) of individual to-be-derotated vertebrae and in vertebrae to which balancing forces must be applied as the spinal column is manipulated en mass to achieve an over-all correction of the condition. A pedicle screw cluster derotation tool simultaneously engages multiple pedicle screws and transmits manipulative forces to multiple vertebrae to effect a whole-spine correction. Pre-contoured spinal rods are engaged post-derotation to secure the correction.

Abstract: Translational bone fixation assemblies, kits containing such assemblies, and methods of use are described herein. The described assemblies may be used in spinal fusion procedures in which a damaged or diseased disc (or part of a disc) is removed from between a pair of vertebrae and a spinal fusion spacer is placed between the vertebrae. The assemblies may be applied to an anterior portion of the affected vertebrae to span the affected disc space, and may be fixed to the vertebrae using bone screws. The assemblies may function to maintain the vertebrae aligned during the initial period following fixation in which fusion of the spacer to the adjacent vertebrae occurs. The assemblies may also function to share some of the axial spinal load applied to the fusion spacer to prevent extreme subsidence of the spacer into the vertebral body, such as where the patient has poor bone quality.

Abstract: A planetary roll system, in particular for a device for extending bones. The system comprises two elements that can be displaced in opposition to one another and that are interconnected by at least one drive element. A hosing is designed to receive at least one planetary roll which comprises at least one radial cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for spinal fusion and particularly, anterior cervical plating systems with a toggle pivotally mounted to a bone plate with at least two degrees of freedom of movement. In a particular embodiment, each toggle plate is slidably attached and pivotally mounted to the bone plate by a locking screw having an axis such that in at least one slidable position each toggle plate can pivot relative to the axis of the locking screw in the bone plate.

Abstract: Instrumentation for implanting an intervertebral disc replacement device includes a drill guide comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a guide member disposed at the distal end of the shaft and operable to engage an insertion plate that maintains first and second members of an intervertebral disc replacement device in registration with one another for insertion into an intervertebral disc space of a spinal column, wherein the guide member includes at least one guide bore operable to align with an area of a vertebral bone of the intervertebral disc space to which one of the first and second members of the intervertebral disc replacement device is to be attached.

Abstract: A method of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body of a patient includes advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the inferior vertebral body. A proximal portion of the stabilization device is positioned such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body by contacting a surface of the superior vertebral body.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved coupling arrangements for medical instruments. In one example, a coupling system for a medical dissection tool includes: an internal passage adapted for receiving a portion of a medical dissection tool; and at least one locking member movable through a first angled path into a locked position to prevent the medical dissection tool from moving along a longitudinal axis of the internal passage.

Abstract: Embodiments of instrumentation and methods are provided for the insertion of intervertebral disc prosthesis. The instrumentation of the embodiments comprises a guide comprising at least two lateral faces, at least one upper plate, at least one lower plate, at least one retainer, a cage defining an insertion axis for the prosthesis, and an angle adjuster adapted to adjust an angle formed by the insertion axis and an antero-posterior sagittal axis; and at least one separator sized to maintain a gap between the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra. Methods for implanting a prosthesis using the disclosed instrumentation comprise implanting a pin in the median sagittal axis of a vertebrae; measuring the dimensions of the intervertebral space; choosing the prosthesis; choosing the guide; adjusting the angle adjuster; positioning the guide adjacent to the intervertebral space; inserting the prosthesis into the guide; and inserting the prosthesis into the intervertebral space.

Abstract: An assembly for the stabilisation of vertebral bodies (12, 14) of the spine is described. It comprises a pair of pedicle screws (20) each having a threaded shaft (20a) with a tapering first end (20b) for introduction into a vertebral body and a head portion (20c) with a second end (20d), and is characterised in that it further comprises a spring member (18, 22, 24, 40, 42, 44) of the following form. The spring member has first and second ends, substantially straight portions (18b) adjacent each end and a substantially curvilinear central portion (18a) therebetween, the straight portions and the substantially curvilinear central portion being substantially coplanar. The assembly also includes a pair of fixation mechanisms (26) for securing the first and second ends of the spring member to the pair of pedicle screws. Typically the assembly will be for stabilisation of two adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, that is one motion segment.

Abstract: The invention is a rod to rod connector that can be used to interconnect two generally parallel spinal rods of a spinal rod and anchor system. The connector comprises a transverse rod and two pairs of clamping bodies, one for each spinal rod. Each pair connects one of the longitudinal spinal rods to the transverse rod in infinitely adjustable angular relationship. One of the two clamping bodies of each pair comprises a C-shaped channel for accepting the spinal rod. The channel is in communication with a slot that defines a hinge. A threaded screw hole passes transversely through the slot and permits a screw to squeeze the hinge, thereby causing the C-shaped channel to close around and clamp the rod. The second clamping body is similar to the first except that there is no slot or hinge and the screw hole preferably is not threaded, but includes a countersink for seating a chamfered screw head. Also, an angular portion of the screw hole intersects the C-shaped channel.

Abstract: A device pivotally connects two stabilizing parts to a bone. The device comprises at least one bone fixing element with a central axis, an anchor part designed to be fixed in or onto the bone, and a head part that can be attached to both stabilizing parts. The two stabilizing parts are located axially one below the other. Each stabilizing part has a cavity there through running coaxially to the central axis. A clamping element, which can be elastically deformed transversely to the central axis, is rotatably mounted in each cavity. The clamping element has a central bore running coaxially to the central axis for receiving the head part. The device comprises at least one wedge or cone that can be axially clamped in the central bores, enabling the head part of the bone fixing element to be removably fixed in at least one of the stabilizing parts.

Abstract: Systems providing improved methods of performing a spinal fusion procedure and including a monorail instrument that protects the medial neural structures, includes a sliding platform for additional instrumentation and allows controlled delivery of various instruments for disc preparation and implant insertion. The monorail instrument engages other instruments, including various instruments utilized to prepare the disc space as well as spinal fusion implants, for guided and controlled insertion into the disc space. The monorail instrument may be a distractor, and may include flutes for preparation of the disc space.

Abstract: A laryngoscope blade comprising a blade portion, a base portion and an optic light pipe, the blade portion including a proximal end and a distal end provided with an optic window, the base portion including two base halves mounted to each other and to the proximal end of the blade portion, one of the base halves providing a resilient cantilever latch pin and the other of the base halves providing a rigid hook, the light pipe including a proximal end mounted between the two base halves and a distal end extending through the optic window.

Abstract: A measurement tool is designed to measure the relative displacements between two bony landmarks of a spine, such as pedicles and facet surfaces. The measurement tool may have a registration interface designed to be registered to a first bony landmark, and a contact feature shaped to contact a second bony landmark. The registration interface may be registered to a frame rigidly coupled relative to the first bony landmark. The measurement tool also has a displacement structure that permits motion of the contact feature relative to the registration interface along multiple dimensions. The displacement structure may have two or three sliding joints that enable relative translation along orthogonal axes. Each sliding joint may have a rod with a plurality of markings that can easily be read to acquire measurements from the displacement structure.

Abstract: An osteotomy guide for indicating the femoral neck resection on a femur and its method of use are presented. The osteotomy guide includes an indexing feature for aligning the guide with an anatomic landmark and a resection guide for indicating the resection relative to the indexing feature.