Abstract: A steerable expandable implant having a lower support member and an upper support member, the upper support member movable relative to the lower support member between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The implant also includes a first control member coupled to the lower support member, where manipulation of the first control member causes the lower support member to move relative to the upper support member. The implant further includes a pivot member configured to receive a tool, the tool and the pivot member rotatable relative to the lower support member between a first position and a second position, where the pivot member includes an aperture and an axis of the aperture is angularly offset from an axis of the first control member in the first position and the axis of the aperture is angularly aligned with the axis of the first control member in the second position.

Abstract: A steerable expandable implant including a base member, an adjustable member coupled to the base member, the adjustable member movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, a pivot member rotatably received by the base member and configured to receive a tool such that the tool and the pivot member are rotatable relative to the base member between a first position and a second position, wherein the pivot member is translationally fixed relative to the base member, and a first control member received by the base member, wherein manipulation of the first control member causes the adjustable member to move between the collapsed position and the expanded position.

Abstract: An implant and method for spinal facet joint stabilization uses a wedge and plate adapted to accept prongs of a surgical instrument for installing the implant into a posterior spinal facet joint. The wedge has an anterior end with a threaded bore. A notch in each lateral side of the plate aligns with a groove in each lateral side of the wedge. Each notch and groove pair receives a prong of the surgical instrument to hold the wedge and plate during implantation. A superior tube of the surgical instrument supports a superior rod having an end configured for installing a bone screw attaching the plate to the superior vertebra of the spinal facet joint. An inferior tube of the surgical instrument supports an inferior rod having an end configured to attach to the threaded bore of the wedge along with the plate during introduction of the implant into the spinal facet joint, and installing the set screw to attach the plate to the wedge.

Abstract: A retractor includes a body, a first handle pivotally coupled to the body, a first attachment assembly comprising a first button configured to allow detachment of a second handle portion from the first handle, a first arm assembly attached to the first handle, a first blade attached to the first arm assembly, wherein the first handle is configured to control distraction of the first blade in response to pivotal motion of the first handle, a second handle pivotally coupled to the body, a second attachment assembly comprising a second button configured to allow detachment of a fourth handle portion from the second handle, a second arm assembly attached to the second handle, and a second blade attached to the second arm assembly, wherein the second handle is configured to control distraction of the second blade in response to pivotal motion of the second handle.

Abstract: A spine implant for a TLIF surgical procedure is configured to be guided into place during implantation in conjunction with a complementary insertion instrument. The cage of the implant is constrained to a limited range of rotation about a pivoting post carried by the cage. The insertion instrument is configured to hold the post while controllably rotating the cage relative to the post in order to angularly position the implant during implantation. Range of rotational motion is controlled by the configuration of an opening in and end of the cage and a groove in the pivot post. A retaining pin of the implant extends from the cage into the groove of the post to rotationally connect the cage to the post.

Abstract: A steerable expandable implant including a base member, an adjustable member coupled to the base member, the adjustable member movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, a pivot member rotatably received by the base member and configured to receive a tool such that the tool and the pivot member are rotatable relative to the base member between a first position and a second position, wherein the pivot member is translationally fixed relative to the base member, and a first control member received by the base member, wherein manipulation of the first control member causes the adjustable member to move between the collapsed position and the expanded position.

Abstract: A spine implant for receipt between and fastened to a lower vertebra and an adjacent upper vertebra is characterized by an expandable cage and an expandable plate attached to the expandable cage. When the expandable cage is expanded, both the expandable cage and the expandable plate expand together at a uniform rate of movement. Engagement features of the expandable cage cooperate with engagement features of the expandable plate such that expansion of the expandable cage carries the expandable plate along during its expansion. The engagement features of the expandable cage may be configured as notches, cavities, or recessed pockets, while the engagement features of the expandable plate may be configured as tangs, flanges, or protuberances styled to be received by the configured notches of the expandable cage. Cam locks on the expandable plate help bone fastener backout.

Abstract: A spine retractor provides lateral access to the spine for distracting soft tissue and psoas muscle for spinal fusion procedures utilizing position controllable blades. The retractor allows concerted linear distraction of two lateral blades and separate linear distraction of one medial blade. Individual angulation assemblies associated with each blade provides separately controllable angulation. Handles attached to the two lateral blades control their distraction while a medial knob controls medial blade distraction. An expansion knob associated with each handle provides individually precise distraction of its associated blade. Each angulation assembly comprises an angulation knob that threads into a distal arm of a blade holder assembly and is received into a spherical ball seated in a spherical pocket in a mating proximal arm of the blade holder assembly. Torque applied to the spherical ball by the angulation knob causes distal arm angulation relative to the proximal.

Abstract: A spinal interbody implant is fabricated using 3-D printing to provide an engineered structure of one or more porous, permeable, or non-solid portions with or without one or more solid, dense, or micro-dense portions. The porous, permeable, or non-solid structure can be a mesh, lattice, web, weave, honeycomb, simple cubic, tetrahedral, diamond, or otherwise with the number and size of its pores, holes, perforations, or openings, as well as the distance or thickness between them, can vary accordingly. Some portions of the porous, permeable, or non-solid structure(s) may have porosities and/or thicknesses different than other portions. The solid, dense, or micro-dense structure may be constant throughout the body of the implant or may be a range of densities throughout the body of the implant. Alternately, one or more portions of the implant may have a range of densities throughout its body ranging from solid to a maximum porosity.

Abstract: A spine implant for a TLIF surgical procedure is configured to be guided into place during implantation in conjunction with a complementary insertion instrument. The cage of the implant is constrained to a limited range of rotation about a pivoting post carried by the cage. The insertion instrument is configured to hold the post while controllably rotating the cage relative to the post in order to angularly position the implant during implantation. Range of rotational motion is controlled by the configuration of an opening in and end of the cage and a groove in the pivot post. A retaining pin of the implant extends from the cage into the groove of the post to rotationally connect the cage to the post.

Abstract: An expandable wedge implant for wedge osteotomies of the extremities has first and second components which are pivotally attached to each other such that up and down pivoting of the two components relative to one another causes increase and decrease of implant height. A pivot control structure is operably coupled to and between the two components to effect pivoting. Linear movement of a threaded ball on a threaded shaft associated with the first component while the threaded ball is concurrently constrained within an angled channel of the second component causes pivoting of the second component relative to the first component. Anchoring members associated with the first and second components attach the implant to adjacent vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A spinal interbody implant includes a two-component cage and expander. The two-component cage, when assembled, accepts the expander through a reverse dovetail configuration between the assembled cage and the expander. The expander has a pair of legs that move within and along lateral channels formed by and between the two cage components for increasing the height of the two cage components relative to one another. The amount of expansion of the cage is determined by the height of the pair of expander legs. The cage accepts different expanders each having pairs of legs of different heights in order to provide different amounts of cage expansion and thus the interbody implant. The front of each expander leg is arch shaped for reception in the lateral channels of the assembled cage and to progressively expand the two cage components relative to one another as the expander is received by the assembled cage.

Abstract: An expandable implant includes an upper main support of bone, a lower main support coupled to the upper main support, the lower main support comprising a first coupling feature and a second coupling feature being substantially parallel to the first coupling feature, and a control assembly configured to control relative movement between the upper main support and the lower main support, the control assembly including a first control member configured to engage the upper main support and the lower main support and interface with the first coupling feature a second control member configured to engage the upper main support and the lower main support and interface with the second coupling feature, and a control shaft configured to be received by the first control member and the second control member, wherein manipulation of the control shaft causes relative movement between the upper main support and the lower main support.

Abstract: A plate and an installation tool are provided for preventing a spinal facet joint implant from expulsing from its implant location between a superior and an inferior vertebra. A k-wire is used in cooperation with the plate and installation tool to guide them to the desired location. The plate includes a central threaded bore situated between one or two superior bone screw or bone connection barb bores and one or two inferior bone screw or bone connection barb bores. The installation tool includes a threaded plug at one end for receipt by the plate's central threaded bore for releasably holding the plate during installation. The installation tool has a superior structure and an inferior structure that can be a cannula or tang depending on the plate's form.

Abstract: A lateral spine implant has a lateral spine cage and an associated lateral spine plate with one or more folding vertebral attachment arms, each arm configured for attachment to vertebral bone, The ability of the one or more arms to fold allows the lateral spine plate to be inserted/implanted at a lower profile height than traditional lateral spine plates. The lateral spine plate is meant to be used at times of intended or unintended compromise of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) to prevent interbody cage migration, but may be adapted for any lateral plating application. Once expanded, each attachment arm is configured to receive a bone screw for securing the attachment arm to a vertebra, the bone screw retained by rotating cam lock nuts of the attachment arm.

Abstract: A plate, installation tools, and method of installation are provided for preventing a spinal facet joint implant from expulsing from its location. The plate has posterior and inferior fasteners installed previously or in-situ. A k-wire is used in cooperation with the implant and installation tool(s) to guide the plate to the desired location. The plate includes a central threaded bore situated between a superior and inferior bone screw bore in one form, and a superior and inferior connection barb in another form. The installation tool includes a threaded plug at one end for receipt by the central threaded bore of the plate for releasably holding the plate during installation. The installation tool has a superior structure and an inferior structure that can be a cannula or a tang depending on the form of the plate. A cannula allows a tool to direct a fastener to screw bores of the plate for attaching the fastener and plate to vertebrae.

Abstract: Bone compression screws are characterized by a two-piece compression screw assembly comprising a screw component and a sleeve component. The screw component has external male bone screw threading at a distal end, external male machine screw threading on a proximal end, and a smooth shank between the threaded distal and proximal ends. The screw component may be solid, cannulated, slotted, fenestrated, fluted, helically fluted, or any combination thereof. The sleeve component has external male bone screw threading with a pitch that can be equal to, smaller than, or greater than the thread pitch of the screw component, an internal bore extending from a proximal end of the sleeve component to the distal end of the sleeve component and sized for reception over the proximal end of the screw component. Internal female machine screw threading is configured to mate with the external male machine screw threading of the screw component.

Abstract: A lateral spine implant has a lateral spine cage and an associated lateral spine plate with one or more folding vertebral attachment arms, each arm configured for attachment to vertebral bone. The ability of the one or more arms to fold allows the lateral spine plate to be inserted/implanted at a lower profile height than traditional lateral spine plates. The lateral spine plate is meant to be used at times of intended or unintended compromise of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) to prevent interbody cage migration, but may be adapted for any lateral plating application. Once expanded, each attachment arm is configured to receive a bone screw for securing the attachment arm to a vertebra, the bone screw retained by rotating cam lock nuts of the attachment arm.

Abstract: A spinal interbody cage implant includes a cage, an endplate, and flexible barbs. The endplate is separately attached to the cage and is configured to receive, hold and direct a flexible barb into an upper vertebral surface and a flexible barb into a lower adjacent vertebral surface. Each proximal leg of the cage is configured to receive the endplate, and has a lateral bore that receives a pin which retains the endplate. The endplate directs a first flexible barb upwardly toward an upper vertebral surface, and directs a second flexible barb downwardly toward a lower vertebral surface. Each flexible barb has a proximal head, a shaft extending from the head with a bore extending from the head to its distal end. Teeth are provided along the exterior surface of the shaft with two flats disposed on opposite sides thereof with a slit extending from the distal end towards the head.

Abstract: An implant and method for spinal facet joint stabilization uses a wedge and plate adapted to accept prongs of a surgical instrument for installing the implant into a posterior spinal facet joint. The wedge has an anterior end with a threaded bore. A notch in each lateral side of the plate aligns with a groove in each lateral side of the wedge. Each notch and groove pair receives a prong of the surgical instrument to hold the wedge and plate during implantation. A superior tube of the surgical instrument supports a superior rod having an end configured for installing a bone screw attaching the plate to the superior vertebra of the spinal facet joint. An inferior tube of the surgical instrument supports an inferior rod having an end configured to attach to the threaded bore of the wedge along with the plate during introduction of the implant into the spinal facet joint, and installing the set screw to attach the plate to the wedge.