Abstract: A bone plate for use in anterior lumbar spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The exposed surface of the plate is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by locking screws threadably engaged with tubular bone anchors. The bone anchors include helical members are threaded through the bone plate and inserted into holes within the bone. The plate has a countersunk cavity including portions overlapping the locking screws. A locking cap fits in the cavity to secure the other end of the locking screws from backing-out of the plate. The locking cap includes at least two chamfered portions that cooperate with mating recesses in the countersunk cavity of the bone plate.

Abstract: A dynamic cervical plate has a ratchet and pawl mechanism that allows the cervical plate to post operatively shorten the length of the plate and maintain compression between adjacent vertebrae. The plate has an elongated shaft with teeth on one surface and a groove along each longitudinal edge. A lateral plate is attached on one end of the shaft. The plate has screw holes for connecting with the head of a spinal screw. Another lateral plate is slidably engaged in the longitudinal grooves along the shaft and has a spring clip acting as a pawl with the teeth on the shaft. The sliding bar has screw holes on each side of the shaft. The clip is configured to span the screw holes to automatically engage and prevent screws from backing out of the holes.

Abstract: A spinal fusion implant for implantation between adjacent vertebrae is formed in the approximate shape of a hollow cube. The device has an upper section and a lower section separated by a distractor all of which are relatively movable. The sidewalls of the upper section and the lower section terminate in inclined planes so that the sections move away from each other as the wedge shaped increases the height of the device. The upper section and lower section each includes a clamping flange. The clamping flange on the upper section engages the vertebral body above the implant and the clamping flange on the lower section engages the vertebral body below the implant. The distractor has a pair of clamping flanges on an end wall wherein one of the pair engages the vertebral body above the implant and the other engages the vertebral body below the implant. The clamping flanges provide a clamping action between adjacent vertebral bodies to restore alignment and stabilize the vertebral segments.

Abstract: A spinal implant for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae having a damaged disc therebetween is assembled in situ. An elongated tool is used to insert a flat U-shaped distractor in the disc space through a low profile incision with both legs of the U-shaped distractor contacting both end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The tool is rotated 90 degrees rotating the distractor 90 degrees so that each leg of the distractor contacts one end plate of the adjacent vertebrae, respectively, to restore intervertebral space. An elliptical bone tray is slid along the tool to seat within the U-shaped distractor. The tool is removed and a retainer replaces it to lock the bone tray and the distractor together. A screw is used to lock the bone tray to the distraction device, the screw slides down the cannula which is the tool inserted over the rod that the distraction implant is attached to.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion in the intervertebral space is formed as a hollow cage, wedge shaped in profile, with a lesser height leading end for a low profile entry. The cage has two open sides with a plurality of angled teeth along opposite longitudinal edges for engaging the end plates of adjacent vertebrae when the cage is rotated into position. One portion of the angled teeth are angled toward an end of the cage and another portion of the angled teeth are angled away from that end to provide a lock preventing the cage from migrating ventrally or dorsally from the spine. Upon rotation, the leading end has a greater height than the trailing end.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion between adjacent vertebrae for promoting fusion of the vertebrae is a wedge shaped body with upper and lower plates separated by pyramidal sides with one large end and one small end enclosing the body. The upper and lower plates have elongated openings oriented perpendicularly to each other to form an internal labyrinth. The upper and lower openings are to be filled with thin layers of bone graft material to promote rapid ingrowth of living tissue.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion in the intervertebral space is formed as a hollow cage, wedge shaped in profile, with a lesser height leading end for a low profile entry. The cage has two open sides with a plurality of angled teeth along opposite longitudinal edges for engaging the end plates of adjacent vertebrae when the cage is rotated into position. One portion of the angled teeth is angled toward an end of the cage and another portion of the angled teeth is angled away from that end to provide a lock preventing the cage from migrating ventrally or dorsally from the spine. Upon rotation, the leading end has a greater height than the trailing end. Opposing side walls of the cage include recesses to facilitate rotation of the cage and minimize stress on adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A spinal fusion implant for implantation between adjacent vertebrae is formed in the approximate shape of a hollow cube. The device has an upper section and a lower section separated by a distractor all of which are relatively movable. The sidewalls of the upper section and the lower section terminate in inclined planes so that the sections move away from each other as the wedge shaped increases the height of the device. The upper section and lower section each includes a clamping flange. The clamping flange on the upper section engages the vertebral body above the implant and the clamping flange on the lower section engages the vertebral body below the implant. The distractor has a pair of clamping flanges on an end wall wherein one of the pair engages the vertebral body above the implant and the other engages the vertebral body below the implant. The clamping flanges provide a clamping action between adjacent vertebral bodies to restore alignment and stabilize the vertebral segments.

Abstract: A dynamic cervical plate has a ratchet and pawl mechanism that allows the cervical plate to post operatively shorten the length of the plate and maintain compression between adjacent vertebrae. The plate has an elongated shaft with teeth on one surface and a groove along each longitudinal edge. A lateral plate is attached on one end of the shaft. The plate has screw holes for connecting with the head of a spinal screw. Another lateral plate is slidably engaged in the longitudinal grooves along the shaft and has a spring clip acting as a pawl with the teeth on the shaft. The sliding bar has screw holes on each side of the shaft. The clip is configured to span the screw holes to automatically engage and prevent screws from backing out of the holes.

Abstract: A spinal fusion implant for implantation between adjacent vertebrae is formed in the approximate shape of a hollow cube. The device has an upper section and a lower section separated by a distractor all of which are relatively movable. The sidewalls of the upper section and the lower section terminate in inclined planes so that the sections move away from each other as the wedge shaped distractor increases the height of the device.

Abstract: A dynamic cervical plate has a ratchet and pawl mechanism that allows the cervical plate to post operatively shorten the length of the plate and maintain compression between adjacent vertebrae. The plate has an elongated shaft with teeth on one surface and a groove along each longitudinal edge. A lateral plate is attached on one end of the shaft. The plate has screw holes for connecting with the head of a spinal screw. Another lateral plate is slidably engaged in the longitudinal grooves along the shaft and has a spring clip acting as a pawl with the teeth on the shaft. The lateral sliding plate has screw holes on each side of the shaft. The clip is configured to span the screw holes to automatically engage and prevent screws from backing out of the holes.

Abstract: A bone plate for use in anterior lumbar spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The exposed surface of the plate is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by locking screws threadably engaged with tubular bone anchors. The bone anchors include helical members are threaded through the bone plate and inserted into holes within the bone. The plate has a countersunk cavity including portions overlapping the locking screws. A locking cap fits in the cavity to secure the other end of the locking screws from backing-out of the plate. The locking cap includes at least two chamfered portions that cooperate with mating recesses in the countersunk cavity of the bone plate.

Abstract: A bone plate for use in anterior lumbar spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The exposed surface of the plate is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by locking screws threadably engaged with tubular bone anchors. The bone anchors are threaded into the vertebrae and have a reduced diameter leading end which the locking screws expand to lock the anchor in the vertebrae and secure the end of the locking screw in the anchor. The plate has a countersunk cavity including portions overlapping the locking screws. A locking cap fits in the cavity to secure the other end of the locking screws from backing-out of the plate.

Abstract: A bone plate for use in anterior cervical spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The plate is formed in the shape of a block letter C and the exposed surface is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by bone screws threadably engaged with the bone. The distal ends of the bone screws The plate has a screw lock in each end for preventing the locking screws from backing out.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion in the intervertebral space is formed as a hollow cage, wedge shaped in profile, with a lesser height leading end for a low profile entry. The cage has two open sides with a plurality of angled teeth along opposite longitudinal edges for engaging the end plates of adjacent vertebrae when the cage is rotated into position. One portion of the angled teeth is angled toward an end of the cage and another portion of the angled teeth is angled away from that end to provide a lock preventing the cage from migrating ventrally or dorsally from the spine. Upon rotation, the leading end has a greater height than the trailing end. Opposing side walls of the cage include recesses to facilitate rotation of the cage and minimize stress on adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A spinal implant for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae having a damaged disc therebetween is assembled in situ. An elongated tool is used to insert a flat U-shaped distractor in the disc space through a low profile incision with both legs of the U-shaped distractor contacting both end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The tool is rotated 90 degrees rotating the distractor 90 degrees so that each leg of the distractor contacts one end plate of the adjacent vertebrae, respectively, to restore intervertebral space. An elliptical bone tray is slid along the tool to seat within the U-shaped distractor. The tool is removed and a retainer replaces it to lock the bone tray and the distractor together. A screw is used to lock the bone tray to the distraction device, the screw slides down the cannula which is the tool inserted over the rod that the distraction implant is attached to.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion between adjacent vertebrae for promoting fusion of the vertebrae is a wedge shaped body with upper and lower plates separated by pyramidal sides with one large end and one small end enclosing the body. The upper and lower plates have elongated openings oriented perpendicularly to each other to form an internal labyrinth. The upper and lower openings are to be filled with thin layers of bone graft material to promote rapid ingrowth of living tissue.

Abstract: A spinal implant for insertion in the intervertebral space is formed as a hollow cage, wedge shaped in profile, with a lesser height leading end for a low profile entry. The cage has two open sides with a plurality of angled teeth along opposite longitudinal edges for engaging the end plates of adjacent vertebrae when the cage is rotated into position. One portion of the angled teeth are angled toward an end of the cage and another portion of the angled teeth are angled away from that end to provide a lock preventing the cage from migrating ventrally or dorsally from the spine. Upon rotation, the leading end has a greater height than the trailing end.

Abstract: A bone plate for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae or ends of a bone has a span for extending across the discontinuity. The span has brackets for attaching to the bone. The brackets have countersunk bores terminating in apertures through which bone screws are placed in the bone. A lock screw aperture is located adjacent the countersunk bores with a portion of the sidewall forming a thin flexible tab in each bore. To prevent back-out of the bone screws, a lock screw is threaded into the lock screw aperture distorting the bore of the bone screw aperture.

Abstract: A spinal fusion device for implantation between adjacent vertebrae is formed in the approximate shape of a hollow cube. The device has an upper section and a lower section relatively movable with regard to each other. The sidewalls of the upper section and the lower section terminate in complementary inclined planes so that as the sections move away from each other the height of the device lessens and as the sections move toward each other the height of the device increases. A distractor is placed within the hollow body and contacts the upper and lower sections by a link which is used to adjust the height of the device.