Abstract: In one form, a method for stabilization of a facet joint of the spinal column includes forming a cavity between adjacent bones defining the facet joint and positioning an implant in the cavity between the adjacent bones. In one aspect of this form, the method also includes positioning a bone anchor across the facet joint and engaging the bone anchor with each of the adjacent bones to force the bones toward one another and clamp the implant therebetween. In a further aspect of this form, the implant is a cancellous bone dowel and becomes fractured into a plurality of fragments upon being clamped between the adjacent bones and/or otherwise interacting with the bone anchor. In another form, systems and devices for performing percutaneous facet joint stabilization and/or fusion are provided. However, different forms and applications are also envisioned.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus is attachable to surgical instruments, and provides illumination of the operating field, particularly those requiring good illumination of normally poorly illuminated organ cavities, during surgical procedures. The illumination apparatus includes a light source (1) connected to a power supply (2). The light source (1) and part or all of the power supply source are housed in a casing (3) that has at least one attaching means (5) on its outer surface which is suitable for removably attaching the illumination apparatus to a surgical instrument, and desirably, to several different surgical instruments at various times during a particular surgical procedure. Due to its weight, design and size, the illumination apparatus allows for easy shifting of the illumination apparatus along the surgical instrument without interfering with the normal use of the surgical instruments.

Abstract: A retractor system and method for locating and placing a polyaxial screw while substantially simultaneously retracting tissue is shown and described. The retractor has a channel that facilitates introducing a rod into the polyaxial screw. Various embodiments are shown, including one which utilized a reducer for moving the rod in the retractor.

Abstract: A system for treating a facet joint of a patient including superior and inferior resurfacing devices. The superior device includes a resurfacing body configured to conform to a shape of a superior facet articular face, and the inferior device includes a resurfacing body configured to conform to a shape of an inferior facet articular face. Each resurfacing body exhibits sufficient flexibility to transition from a relatively flat state to an inserted state in which the resurfacing body substantially matches any multi-planar concavities of the corresponding facet articular face in the presence of compressive forces. With this construction, the system is capable of establishing a new sliding interface within the facet joint, and can be inserted on a minimally-invasive basis. The resurfacing bodies can be formed of PEEK, and can include teeth that engage the corresponding facet articular face.

Abstract: A dynamic stabilization system for use with a spinal motion segment includes a first bone anchor assembly, a second bone anchor assembly, and a resilient element. The resilient element includes an end portion engageable with the first bone anchor assembly and a resilient portion engageable with the second bone anchor assembly. The resilient element provides resilient resistance when the first and second bone anchor assemblies are moved toward one another and provides no resistance and is separable from the second bone anchor assembly when the first and second bone anchor assemblies are moved away from one another.

Abstract: An elongated implant device for stabilizing the spinal column includes a rod-shaped member having a first end and a second end, the rod-shaped member defining a longitudinal axis of the implant device, a sleeve which is slidably arranged on the rod-shaped member, the sleeve having a free end and a coupled end, the coupled end being connected with an axial dampening element, and the axial dampening element, which is connected between the sleeve and the second end of the rod-shaped member to damp a movement of the sleeve along the longitudinal axis. The first end of the rod-shaped member may be configured to be connected to a first bone anchor and the sleeve may be configured to be connected to a second bone anchor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a pair of bone attachment devices and a crosslink device for a spinal fixation system or other implant arrangement. The bone attachment devices include a head with socket to receive a spinal rod or other elongate element and the crosslink device includes a pair of bridging members each having an end section for connecting with the bone attachment devices. An interconnection device situated between the bridging members receives the bridging members and allows translational and rotational freedom therebetween while being operable to secure the bridging members in position relative to one another. A pair of engaging members are structured to engage the head of the respective bone attachment device and bear against the respective adjacent end of crosslink device to lock the crosslink and the bone attachment device in a rigid construct are also included.

Abstract: An expandable cage supports adjacent vertebra in spine surgery. The expandable cage includes a first supporting member configured to engage tissue and a second supporting member operatively associated with the first supporting member. The first and second supporting members are movable relative to each other. The expandable cage further includes a cam lock mechanism configured to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relative position. In another embodiment, the expandable cage includes a ring plate lock mechanism in lieu of the cam lock mechanism. The ring plate lock mechanism is adapted to maintain the first and second supporting members in a fixed relative position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices may be inserted with a longitudinal biasing force between anatomical structures to be stabilized and then expanded laterally or otherwise filled to provide secure fixation between or among the anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies, or portions of vertebral bodies, of the spine.

Abstract: Methods and techniques for adding an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. In one arrangement the additional spinal construct extends an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an inline rod connector in a minimally invasive or preferably, percutaneous procedure. In another arrangement, the ipsilateral extension of an existing spinal construct uses an offset rod connector for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct.

Abstract: An accessory device for an external orthopedic fixator where the fixator has an external frame made up of frame components which surround the lower leg and ankle of a patient with one or more transfixation wires fixed thereto. The accessory device includes a walking plate which connects to one of the fixator frame components for supporting the sole of a patient's foot. The accessory device also includes a companion shroud which is wrapped about the fixator with the fixator being received within the interior of the shroud. The shroud has a width and height which are sufficient to conceal the fixator within the shroud interior. The shroud has fasteners which allow it to be easily installed and removed from about the fixator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expandable implant for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, and gear member positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member is axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member and the gear member threadedly engages a threaded portion of the inner member to translate inner member along the axis. The implant is configured to engage the vertebrae in a predetermined alignment and the gear member includes gear teeth exposed to the exterior and configured to be accessible by a tool member at a plurality of angular positions around the perimeter of the implant device.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a modular six-degrees-of-freedom spatial mechanism for spinal disc prosthesis, with up to three independent rotational and up to three independent translational degrees-of-freedom. The prosthesis can maintain non-separable, and non-restrictive, mechanical linkage by establishing a linked series, or chain, of kinematic pairs (joints) between components. In embodiment, a superior plate links to a planar pair (two independent degrees of translational freedom), which links to spherical pair (three independent degrees of rotational freedom), which links to a prismatic pair (one independent degree of translational freedom), which links to an inferior plate, completing the jointed kinematic chain. The kinematic pairs can be lower (surface contact) or higher (point, line, and/or curve contact) order pairs, or combinations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laryngoscope spatula with a spatula blade. The spatula blade, in cross section, has two side walls, which are spaced apart from each other along at least part of the length of the spatula blade, and two limbs. A first limb extends from the first side wall to beyond the second side wall, and a second limb extends from the second side wall to beyond the first side wall. The side walls and the limbs thus form a cavity. The spatula blade is composed of an upper shell and a lower shell which, in cross section, each have a first portion and two mutually oppositely directed second and third portions. The second portions of the upper shell and lower shell, lying flat on each other, form the first limb, and the third portions, lying flat on each other, form the second limb, while the first portions form the side walls. The invention further relates to a method for producing a spatula blade of such a laryngoscope spatula.

Abstract: A retraction apparatus and method are provided including slider assemblies for being slidably connected to a retractor body with end portions of the slider assemblies disposed within a central retractor opening. A retractor blade is slidably connected to one of the slider assembly end portions such that the depth of the retractor blade can be readily adjusted. Once the retractor blade is at the desired depth within the incision, a handle is pivoted to a locked position to fix the blade relative to the slider assembly. A cantilever lock between the blade and the slider assembly pivots the blade relative to the slider assembly to fix the blade thereto. In one form, the retractor body has a substantially flat surface configured to be placed adjacent a bone and slide connections which position slider assemblies such that the connected blades avoid contact with the bone during retraction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for facet fusion include an insertion tool and a guide tool coupled to one another. The insertion tool has a proximal end portion and an opposite distal end portion. The distal end portion of the insertion tool is configured to retain an interbody implant, such as, for example, an inter-facet implant configured for placement between a superior facet and inferior facet of a facet joint. The proximal end portion of the insertion tool includes a handle. The guide tool includes an elongated body with a passage extending between and opening at its distal and proximal ends. A linking member extends between and adjustably connects the guide tool to the insertion tool so that the passage of the guide tool is alignable with the interbody implant retained on the insertion tool while the insertion tool and guide tool are in substantially orthogonal relation to one another.

Abstract: A spinal rod connector provides single step locking of a spinal rod relative to a bone screw. The single step lock-up is in line with the vertebral bone screw while still allowing for effectively 360° of rotation of a portion of the spinal rod connector assembly with the spinal rod (but functionally 180° or +/?90° of the 0° position depicted in the various figures). The present spinal rod connector assembly utilizes components having V-shapes of various angles to provide holding of the spinal rod. A pulling and compression force locks the spinal rod onto the spinal rod connector and thus relative to the vertebral bone screw to which the spinal rod connector assembly is attached. The present spinal rod connector allows easy sliding down on guides of the spinal rod connector assembly since spinal rod rotation locks up from the rod being pulled towards the vertebral bone screw.

Abstract: An intramedullary device for repairing defects of a bone is provided. The intramedullary device is configured to be inserted into the medullary canal of a bone and includes a stud protruding from the end. The stud includes a portion that is tapered from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional where the second cross-sectional area is smaller than that of the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area defines a region of concentrated stress. The stud also includes a portion configured to engage the internal threads of a fastener retained within an intramedullary device assembly, such as a guide member adapter. The external threads of the stud engage the internal threads of the fastener to secure the intramedullary device to the intramedullary assembly when a first torque is applied to the fastener.

Abstract: An osteotomy implant for supporting an open wedge osteotomy and method of use are described. In one form, the implant is configured to contain a graft material within the osteotomy. In another form, the implant is composed of multiple parts capable of being assembled either before or after insertion into the osteotomy.

Abstract: An improved medical inspection device at least comprises a hand-held portion, a display portion being connected with the hand-held portion and comprising a first printing circuit board, an image display module, an annular protuberance and at least one electrode contact, an inspection module comprising a joint portion, an inspection portion and a third printing circuit board, wherein the joint portion has a second printing circuit board provided at an inner surface thereof, and the inspection portion further comprises a lens, an image sensing unit and a light source, and a fastening ring that is detachably fastened with the annular protuberance of the display portion so as to firmly fasten the joint portion of the inspection module to the display portion.