Abstract: A polyaxial instrument suitable for preparing the intervertebral disc space of a patient through an anterior, posterior, transforaminal or anterolateral approach. The trial can be partially inserted into a disc space and then its angle adjusted to ease its further insertion into the disc space. The trial work tip can be interchangeable with the working tip of another type of instrument such as a curette, a rasp, a spreader, a shaver, a cobb elevator, a penfield, a woodson, a chisel and an osteotome.

Abstract: Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

Abstract: Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

Abstract: Driver instruments are disclosed herein with various features for improving usability, easing the task of cleaning or sterilizing the instrument, reducing patient trauma associated with use of the instrument, and/or reducing the cost and assembly burden of the instrument. For example, a driver instrument can include a guide sleeve to protect patient tissue from damage caused by rotating components of the instrument or a bone anchor assembly coupled thereto, and to protect extension tabs of the bone anchor assembly from inadvertent separation. By way of further example, an instrument can include a preload assembly for maintaining engagement of a driver shaft of the instrument with a bone anchor assembly. As yet another example, an instrument can consist of a small number of components which are configured for simple, tool-free assembly and disassembly. An instrument can also be configured for use with bone anchor assemblies with and without extension tabs.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for inserting a guidewire into the body are provided. In one embodiment, a guidewire insertion device is provided and includes and outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner lumen extending therethrough, and a dilator having an inner lumen extending therethrough and having a length greater than a length of the outer sheath. A guidewire can be configured to extend through the inner lumen of the dilator such that the guidewire is removably and replaceably disposable within the dilator and coupled thereto. A locking mechanism can be effective to selectively configure the guidewire between a locked position in which the guidewire is stationary relative to the dilator and an unlocked position in which the guidewire is movable relative to the dilator.

Abstract: Spinal implants and methods for spinal stabilization and/or fusion are provided. Exemplary implants described herein can be configured for delivery to a facet joint to stabilize and/or fuse the facet joint, and can optionally be anchored within the pedicle for added fixation. The implant can optionally include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing a single device capable of spinal stabilization and/or fusion. Furthermore, a method of placing such an implant within a facet joint is provided.

Abstract: A polyaxial instrument suitable for preparing the intervertebral disc space of a patient through an anterior, posterior, transforaminal or anterolateral approach. The trial can be partially inserted into a disc space and then its angle adjusted to ease its further insertion into the disc space. The trial work tip can be interchangeable with the working tip of another type of instrument such as a curette, a rasp, a spreader, a shaver, a cobb elevator, a penfield, a woodson, a chisel and an osteotome.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for inserting a guidewire into the body are provided. In one embodiment, a guidewire insertion device is provided and includes and outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner lumen extending therethrough, and a dilator having an inner lumen extending therethrough and having a length greater than a length of the outer sheath. A guidewire can be configured to extend through the inner lumen of the dilator such that the guidewire is removably and replaceably disposable within the dilator and coupled thereto. A locking mechanism can be effective to selectively configure the guidewire between a locked position in which the guidewire is stationary relative to the dilator and an unlocked position in which the guidewire is movable relative to the dilator.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for inserting a guidewire into the body are provided. In one embodiment, a guidewire insertion device is provided and includes and outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner lumen extending therethrough, and a dilator having an inner lumen extending therethrough and having a length greater than a length of the outer sheath. A guidewire can be configured to extend through the inner lumen of the dilator such that the guidewire is removably and replaceably disposable within the dilator and coupled thereto. A locking mechanism can be effective to selectively configure the guidewire between a locked position in which the guidewire is stationary relative to the dilator and an unlocked position in which the guidewire is movable relative to the dilator.

Abstract: A reamer for preparing a spinal upper facet to facilitate insertion of combined screw/washer implant, preventing bone damage and facet weakening, and also allowing possibility to place grafting so as to maximize implant stabilization. The reamer has shallow outer cutting surfaces to cut a groove for spike insertion; deep inner cutting surfaces to cut a cortical-penetrating bore for insertion of the screw, and a flat therebetween to limit penetration of these cutting surfaces.

Abstract: A bone anchor assembly includes a bone anchor, a receiver member for receiving a spinal fixation element to be coupled to the bone anchor, and a closure mechanism. The closure mechanism is positionable between the arms of the receiver member to capture a spinal fixation element within the receiver member and fix the spinal fixation element with respect to the receiver member. The closure mechanism includes an outer thread engageable with an inner thread on the arms of the receiver member. The inner thread and the outer thread have a thread angle between 5° and 25°.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation device for use with a bone comprising a proximal end, is provided. The fixation device includes a nail sized and configured to be inserted into an intramedullary channel of the bone, the nail having a generally laterally extending bore, an arm sized and configured to be located so that at least a portion of the arm extends through the bore of the nail along the neck of the bone when the device is implanted in the bone, the arm having a threaded portion at one end for fixation into the head of the bone. The device also includes a locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the arm relative to the nail, the locking mechanism configured to allow sliding of the arm through the bore, the locking mechanism configured to be located on the lateral side of the nail and the distal side of the bone when the arm is disposed within the bore.

Abstract: Spinal implants and methods for spinal stabilization and/or fusion are provided. Exemplary implants described herein can be configured for delivery to a facet joint to stabilize and/or fuse the facet joint, and can optionally be anchored within the pedicle for added fixation. The implant can optionally include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing a single device capable of spinal stabilization and/or fusion. Furthermore, a method of placing such an implant within a facet joint is provided.

Abstract: Various methods and devices for inserting a guidewire into the body are provided. In one embodiment, a guidewire insertion device is provided and includes and outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner lumen extending therethrough, and a dilator having an inner lumen extending therethrough and having a length greater than a length of the outer sheath. A guidewire can be configured to extend through the inner lumen of the dilator such that the guidewire is removably and replaceably disposable within the dilator and coupled thereto. A locking mechanism can be effective to selectively configure the guidewire between a locked position in which the guidewire is stationary relative to the dilator and an unlocked position in which the guidewire is movable relative to the dilator.

Abstract: A reamer for preparing a spinal upper facet to facilitate insertion of combined screw/washer implant, preventing bone damage and facet weakening, and also allowing possibility to place grafting so as to maximize implant stabilization. The reamer has shallow outer cutting surfaces to cut a groove for spike insertion; deep inner cutting surfaces to cut a cortical-penetrating bore for insertion of the screw, and a flat therebetween to limit penetration of these cutting surfaces.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail assembly comprises an intramedullary nail component (2) al, the nail component having at least one opening (14, 18) in its wall, and a fixation sleeve which has at least one opening (32) extending through it. One of the fixation sleeve and the nail component has a hollow bore so that the other of the sleeve and the nail component can be fitted within it in a coaxial sliding arrangement, with the openings in the wall of the nail component aligned with the openings in the fixation sleeve. A fixation pin (19) is inserted transversely through the openings in the wall of the nail component and the fixation sleeve when the said openings are aligned. An actuator (50) is used to cause the fixation sleeve to move axially relative to the nail component to cause a fixation pin inserted through the aligned openings in the nail component and the fixation sleeve to be gripped.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation device for use with a bone comprising a proximal end, is provided. The fixation device includes a nail sized and configured to be inserted into an intramedullary channel of the bone, the nail having a generally laterally extending bore, an arm sized and configured to be located so that at least a portion of the arm extends through the bore of the nail along the neck of the bone when the device is implanted in the bone, the arm having a threaded portion at one end for fixation into the head of the bone. The device also includes a locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the arm relative to the nail, the locking mechanism configured to allow sliding of the arm through the bore, the locking mechanism configured to be located on the lateral side of the nail and the distal side of the bone when the arm is disposed within the bore.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail assembly comprises an intramedullary nail component (2) al, the nail component having at least one opening (14, 18) in its wall, and a fixation sleeve which has at least one opening (32) extending through it. One of the fixation sleeve and the nail component has a hollow bore so that the other of the sleeve and the nail component can be fitted within it in a coaxial sliding arrangement, with the openings in the wall of the nail component aligned with the openings in the fixation sleeve. A fixation pin (19) is inserted transversely through the openings in the wall of the nail component and the fixation sleeve when the said openings are aligned. An actuator (50) is used to cause the fixation sleeve to move axially relative to the nail component to cause a fixation pin inserted through the aligned openings in the nail component and the fixation sleeve to be gripped.