Abstract: A guide wire comprises a longitudinal body having a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion. The proximal and distal end portions have rigid shafts with a flexible portion disposed therebetween. The flexible portion is fixedly attached to the proximal end portion and distal end portion. An outer surface of the flexible portion has a diameter equal to an outer surface of the proximal end portion and an outer surface of the distal end portion. The distal end portion further comprises at least one marker disposed therein configured to locate a distal tip of the guide wire during imaging.

Abstract: An insertion device for deploying an implant includes an elongated main body having a distal locking portion for coupling to the implant and a proximal handle portion. The main body defines a central passage and the distal locking portion has outer ridges and slots to allow the outer ridges to flex radially inward when mounting to the implant. A plunger slides in the central passage for movement between an unlocked position for mounting the implant on the distal locking portion, a locked position for locking the implant on the distal locking portion, and an insertion instrument deployed position for deploying the actuation plunger to move the blades from the stowed position to the deployed position. A spike cap drive rotatably mounts on the main body having a socket end for engaging a drive nut on the implant to, in turn, move the spike cap.

Abstract: A fastener assembly includes a threaded member, a lock nut, and a lock washer. The threaded member has a pair of opposing flat sections formed in the threaded portion of the threaded member. The lock nut is configured to threadably engage the threaded member and includes a flange having a plurality of axially extending teeth. The lock washer includes a flat central portion with an aperture. The aperture has a pair of opposing flat inner surfaces configured to engage the opposing flat sections of the threaded member to rotationally fix the lock washer. The lock washer also includes at least one outer portion extending upward from the flat central portion at a predetermined angle. The outer portion includes a plurality of locking apertures configured to receive the plurality of axially extending teeth of the lock nut.

Abstract: An interspinous process implant comprising an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and an interior cavity. The implant includes engagement members movable between a first position stowed within the interior cavity and a second position deployed from the interior cavity. Each engagement member includes a central hub defining a hub axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. Each central hub has an inwardly extending crank pin. The crank pins are radially offset from the hub axis and circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The implant also include an elongated drive shaft mounted for axial movement within the interior cavity and includes a distal actuation portion having upper and lower yokes positioned to cooperate with the crank pins. Upon axial movement of the drive shaft the crank pins translate through respective arcuate paths about the hub axis, causing corresponding rotational movement of the engagement members about the hub axis.

Abstract: A fastener with a locking mechanism includes an elongated bolt member with threaded segment defining a banking feature and generally planar surfaces, a nut member, a washer member, and a lock member. The nut member has a threaded bore for cooperating with the threaded segment of the bolt member and a peripheral edge with a flat side defining an axial slot. The washer member has a central bore with a banking portion that complements the banking feature of the bolt member such that, when the threaded segment is inserted in the central bore, the washer member moves axially and is rotatably fixed relative to the bolt member. The washer member has an axially projecting circumferential wall with radially inward facing engagement teeth for intermeshing with teeth of the lock member. The lock member has a spring finger upstanding from the annular body that is received in the axial of the nut member for fixing the lock member in rotation relative the nut member.

Abstract: An interspinous process implant is disclosed that includes an elongated threaded implant body defining a longitudinal axis and having a main body portion with opposed proximal and distal end portions, and a removable body portion operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the main body portion, a distal anchor assembly including two deployable anchor blades mounted for pivotal movement between a stowed position located within an interior cavity of the main body portion and a deployed position radially extending from the main body portion, and a proximal anchor assembly including an anchor collar mounted for longitudinal movement along the longitudinal axis of the implant body between a first position spaced apart from the distal anchor assembly and a second position approximated with the distal anchor assembly.

Abstract: An interspinous process implant is disclosed that includes a body defining a longitudinal axis, an interior cavity and opposed proximal and distal end portions, a pair of anchor wings operatively associated with the distal end portion of the body and mounted for pivotal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the body between a first position housed within the interior cavity of the body and a second position extending radially outwardly from the body, an anchor collar operatively associated with the proximal portion of the body and mounted for axial movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the body between a first position spaced apart from the anchor wings and a second position approximated with the anchor wings, a pair of anchor blades operatively associated with the anchor collar and mounted for movement between a first position housed at least partially within the interior cavity of the body and a second position extending radially outwardly from the anchor collar.

Abstract: A spinal implant includes an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, a distal anchor associated with a distal end of the body, and a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the head and a second position approximated with the head, adapted to compress the two adjacent spinous processes, in conjunction with the distal anchor.

Abstract: A fastening device including a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The threaded body portion includes opposing flat sections. A lock washer has a lower surface with an array of radially extending engagement teeth. The lock washer also defines an axial aperture for receiving the fastener. The axial aperture has two flat inner surfaces for cooperating with the two flat sections of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the washer and threaded body portion. A threaded lock nut mates with the threaded body portion. The lock nut has an upper surface with at least one cantilevered pawl members for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.

Abstract: A spinal implant includes an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, a distal anchor associated with a distal end of the body, and a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the head and a second position approximated with the head, adapted to compress the two adjacent spinous processes, in conjunction with the distal anchor.

Abstract: A fastening device including a fastener having a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The threaded body portion includes opposing flat sections. A lock washer has a lower surface with an array of radially extending engagement teeth. The lock washer also defines an axial aperture for receiving the fastener. The axial aperture has two flat inner surfaces for cooperating with the two flat sections of the threaded body portion to prevent relative rotation of the washer and threaded body portion. A threaded lock nut mates with the threaded body portion. The lock nut has an upper surface with at least one cantilevered pawl members for ratcheted engagement with the array of radially extending engagement teeth of the lock washer.

Abstract: A spinal implant for treating lumbar spinal stenosis or as an adjunct to spinal fusion. The implant includes a body portion having an interior cavity. A plurality of locking wings are adapted and configured to move between a stowed position retracted within the interior cavity of the body portion and a deployed position extended from the interior cavity of the body portion. In the deployed position, the wings fix the implant in a selected interspinous space. A cable and wheel arrangement moves the plurality of locking wings from the stowed position to the deployed position and a ratchet/pawl assembly prevents backward movement of the wings.

Abstract: A bone fracture plate assembly including female and male plate portions. The female plate portion has a post, a female dovetail, and an extending arm with a group of ratchet teeth. The male plate portion has two upstanding posts, a male dovetail for coupling to the female dovetail so that the plate portions move linearly with respect to each other, a slot for the arm, and a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth. A spring, coupled to the posts of the plate portions, dynamically connects the plate portions by applying a compressive load therebetween. The spring has a pair of elongated ears, each defining a slot to allow for relative movement of the plate portions. The ratchet teeth are engaged by the pawl to retain the plate portions together, and the spring mounts on the posts of the plate portions such that the spring biases the plate portions together.

Abstract: A bone plate assembly is disclosed which includes at least one plate segment having at least one aperture extending therethrough for receiving a head portion of a bone screw, and a structure supported by the plate segment and intersecting the aperture for retaining the head portion of the bone screw with respect to the plate segment.

Abstract: A spinal implant includes an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, a distal anchor associated with a distal end of the body, and a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the head and a second position approximated with the head, adapted to compress the two adjacent spinous processes, in conjunction with the distal anchor.

Abstract: A bone plate assembly is disclosed which includes at least one plate segment having at least one aperture extending therethrough for receiving a head portion of a bone screw, and a structure supported by the plate segment and intersecting the aperture for retaining the head portion of the bone screw with respect to the plate segment.

Abstract: A bone fracture plate assembly including female and male plate portions. The female plate portion has a post, a female dovetail, and an extending arm with a group of ratchet teeth. The male plate portion has two upstanding posts, a male dovetail for coupling to the female dovetail so that the plate portions move linearly with respect to each other, a slot for the arm, and a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth. A spring, coupled to the posts of the plate portions, dynamically connects the plate portions by applying a compressive load therebetween. The spring has a pair of elongated ears, each defining a slot to allow for relative movement of the plate portions. The ratchet teeth are engaged by the pawl to retain the plate portions together, and the spring mounts on the posts of the plate portions such that the spring biases the plate portions together.

Abstract: A spinal implant includes an elongated body dimensioned and configured to function as a spacer, for placement in a target interspinous process space, between two adjacent spinous processes, a distal anchor associated with a distal end of the body, and a proximal anchor mounted for longitudinal movement along the body between a first position spaced apart from the head and a second position approximated with the head, adapted to compress the two adjacent spinous processes, in conjunction with the distal anchor.

Abstract: An interspinous process implant comprising an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and an interior cavity. The implant includes engagement members movable between a first position stowed within the interior cavity and a second position deployed from the interior cavity. Each engagement member includes a central hub defining a hub axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. Each central hub has an inwardly extending crank pin. The crank pins are radially offset from the hub axis and circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The implant also include an elongated drive shaft mounted for axial movement within the interior cavity and includes a distal actuation portion having upper and lower yokes positioned to cooperate with the crank pins. Upon axial movement of the drive shaft the crank pins translate through respective arcuate paths about the hub axis, causing corresponding rotational movement of the engagement members about the hub axis.

Abstract: A fastening device having a fastener with a head portion and an elongated threaded body portion extending axially from the head portion. The fastening device also includes a lock washer and a threaded lock nut for rotatably mating with the fastener. The lock washer has a lower surface with a plurality of ratchet teeth extending therefrom. The lock washer is configured to couple to the fastener for axial movement but is fixed rotationally. The threaded lock nut has an upper surface defining at least one pawl arm. The pawl arm includes at least one pawl tooth for engagement with at least one of the plurality of ratchet teeth, and a flange extending radially outward from the pawl arm.