Abstract: A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device. The steps of fixing include inserting the pedicle screw into a bone, the pedicle screw including a head portion, expanding a first inner member over the head portion of the pedicle screw after the pedicle screw is inserted into a bone, fixing an angle of the tulip assembly relative to the pedicle screw using the first inner member and a second inner member, the first and second inner members situated in an outer member of the tulip assembly and positionally locking a rod in the tulip assembly after the angle is fixed by rotating the second inner member and outer member relative to each other after the fixing step.

Abstract: A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device includes at least one inner member configured to fix the tulip assembly to the head of a bone fixation device, and an outer member including at least one engagement surface configured to selectively fix a rod in the tulip assembly via rotation of the outer member.

Abstract: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, a inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine and then coupling the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw. The tulip assembly may be locked onto the pedicle screw before a rod is placed in the tulip assembly. After the rod is placed in the tulip assembly, the tulip body and the inner member can be rotated relative to one another to lock the rod into the tulip assembly. In addition, the relative rotation may also provide additional locking of the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, a inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine and then coupling the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw. The tulip assembly may be locked onto the pedicle screw before a distraction rod is placed in the tulip assembly. After the rod is placed in the tulip assembly, the tulip body and the inner member can be rotated relative to one another to lock the rod into the tulip assembly. In addition, the relative rotation may also provide additional locking of the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a pivotable interbody spacer system includes an insertion instrument configured to manipulate a pivotable interbody spacer during surgical insertion, wherein the insertion instrument includes means for coupling the interbody spacer and a means for fixing the angular position of the interbody spacer. According to one exemplary method for inserting the interbody spacer in a spinal disc space, the interbody spacer is grasped by the insertion instrument and fixed at a first angular position; the interbody spacer is inserted into the surgical site; the interbody spacer is released from the first angular position; the insertion instrument is pivoted about the coupling such that the interbody spacer is in a second angular position; the angular position of interbody spacer is fixed in the second angular position; the insertion process continues until the interbody spacer is positioned in the desired location.

Abstract: A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device includes at least one inner member configured to fix the tulip assembly to the head of a bone fixation device, and an outer member including at least one engagement surface configured to selectively fix a rod in the tulip assembly via rotation of the outer member.

Abstract: The systems, assemblies, devices and methods described herein provide a variety of ways to intra-operatively select and/or configure a pedicle screw system. The pedicle screw system components described herein may be readily interchangeable and may be made available to the surgeon as a kit, thus giving the surgeon greater options on structurally fusing, correcting, or otherwise operating on a patient's vertebrae. In one embodiment, a modular pedicle screw kit includes a pedicle screw having a threaded shaft coupled to a head portion and a plurality of tulip assemblies that may be intra-operatively assembled with the pedicle screw. Each tulip assembly includes a tulip body, a rod receiving portion, and a pedicle screw head coupling member that releasably couples the tulip body to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device includes at least one inner member configured to fix the tulip assembly to the head of a bone fixation device, and an outer member including at least one engagement surface configured to selectively fix a rod in the tulip assembly via rotation of the outer member, wherein the fixation of the tulip assembly to the head of the bone fixation device is independent of the fixation of a rod in the tulip assembly.

Abstract: A screw, which may be used, for example, as a bone screw, includes a shaft bearing a thread, the thread having a thread foot and thread crest. The thread foot tapers outward along a portion of the shaft, and the thread crest has a uniform width along a length of the shaft. A method of making a bone screw includes making a series of cuts in a shaft at different pitches to produce a thread having a thread foot and thread crest, where the thread foot tapers outward along a portion of the shaft; and where the thread crest has a uniform width along a length of the shaft.

Abstract: A fastener and a bone fixation assembly for the internal fixation of vertebral bodies such as a pedicle screw is provided which allows a detachable tulip to be provisionally locked to a pedicle screw, while separately, the rod securely locks to the tulip. According to one exemplary embodiment, the tulip assembly includes a tulip body and an inner tulip member, the tulip body having a non-circular surface disposed on an outer surface. Additionally, a fastener is coupled to the tulip assembly and positionable to retain the tulip assembly on the head of a screw. Further, a cap having an outer surface and a plurality of inner protrusions is provided, wherein the plurality of inner protrusions are configured to mateably connect to the non-circular surface on the tulip body to compress the tulip assembly and secure a rod.

Abstract: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising a tulip body, a inner member, an expansion member, and a cap assembly. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine, coupling a partial assembly comprising the tulip body, inner member, and expansion member to the pedicle screw, placing a rod in the tulip assembly, and then coupling the cap assembly to the tulip body. Coupling the cap assembly to the tulip body includes initially locking the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw and then locking the rod in the tulip assembly.

Abstract: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, a inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine and then coupling the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw. The tulip assembly may be locked onto the pedicle screw before a distraction rod is placed in the tulip assembly. After the rod is placed in the tulip assembly, the tulip body and the inner member can be rotated relative to one another to lock the rod into the tulip assembly. In addition, the relative rotation may also provide additional locking of the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw.

Abstract: An airbag cover assembly for the passenger side of an automobile. The assembly includes an exterior skin, a pair of underlying sub-assemblies, each including a U-shaped galvanized steel strip, a short nylon scrim and a long glass mat sandwiched therebetween and extending therefrom such that a narrow space exists between adjacent edges of the glass mats. A weakening notch is formed across the inside surface of the exterior skin along the center line of the narrow space. A low density polyurethane foam is injected into a foaming tool cavity bearing the skin and pair of sub-assemblies. When cured, the foam covers the nylon scrims and glass mats and becomes immersed throughout the interstices of each, serving as the body of the final assembly. The glass mats prevent fragmentation of the low density foam upon deployment of the airbag.