Abstract: Surgical instrumentation may be used to insert a spinal implant into an intradiscal space while in a non-deployed condition and then deploy the spinal implant within the intradiscal space.

Abstract: A vertebral body shaver assembly may include a shaver inserter and a shaver instrument. The shaver inserter may be used to insert the shaver instrument into an intradiscal space between vertebral body endplates in a non-expanded condition with a footprint area A1. The shaver instrument may then be adjusted into a to an expanded condition with a footprint area A2that is greater than footprint area A1. As the shaver instrument is adjusted into the expanded condition, at least one blade may shave osteochondral material off at least one of the first vertebral body endplates.

Abstract: A vertebral body shaver assembly may include a shaver inserter and a shaver instrument. The shaver inserter may be used to insert the shaver instrument into an intradiscal space between vertebral body endplates in a non-expanded condition with a footprint area A1. The shaver instrument may then be adjusted into a to an expanded condition with a footprint area A2 that is greater than footprint area A1. As the shaver instrument is adjusted into the expanded condition, at least one blade may shave osteochondral material off at least one of the first vertebral body endplates.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation may be used to insert a spinal implant into an intradiscal space while in a non-deployed condition and then deploy the spinal implant within the intradiscal space.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation may be used to insert a spinal implant into a vertebral space while in a contracted condition and then deploy the spinal implant into an expanded condition.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation may be used to insert a spinal implant into a vertebral space while in a contracted condition and then deploy the spinal implant into an expanded condition.

Abstract: A surgical inserter for use in inserting an implant into a vertebral space may include: (a) a handle; (b) a gripper having one end attached to the handle and a second end having a pair of arms; and (c) a grip activator having an opening that threadingly receives the gripper. The grip activator can be rotated in a first direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move toward each other to grip the inserter and in a second direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move away from each other to release the inserter. In one embodiment a compression force activator is used to deploy the implant and in another embodiment a tension force activator is used to deploy the implant.

Abstract: An implant has a first contact surface to contact a first vertebral body endplate and a second contact surface to contact a second vertebral body endplate adjacent the first vertebral body. The implant is deployable, when positioned within an intradiscal space between the first and second vertebral bodies, from a first non-expanded condition where the first contact surface has a first effective footprint area A1 to a second expanded condition where the first contact surface has a second effective footprint area A2. The ratio A2/A1 is at least 1.05.

Abstract: An implant has a first contact surface to contact a first vertebral body endplate and a second contact surface to contact a second vertebral body endplate adjacent the first vertebral body. The implant is deployable, when positioned within an intradiscal space between the first and second vertebral bodies, from a first non-expanded condition where the first contact surface has a first effective footprint area A1 to a second expanded condition where the first contact surface has a second effective footprint area A2. The ratio A2/A1 is at least 1.05.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation for use in placing an implant into a disc space between a pair of spinal vertebrae may include: (a) a distractor having a distal end that may be placed into the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; (b) an inserter for use in moving the implant toward the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; and, (c) a distractor/inserter rail/groove interconnection that interconnects the distractor and the inserter for relative movement thereby.

Abstract: A surgical inserter for use in inserting an implant into a vertebral space may include: (a) a handle; (b) a gripper having one end attached to the handle and a second end having a pair of arms; and (c) a grip activator having an opening that threadingly receives the gripper. The grip activator can be rotated in a first direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move toward each other to grip the inserter and in a second direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move away from each other to release the inserter. In one embodiment a compression force activator is used to deploy the implant and in another embodiment a tension force activator is used to deploy the implant.

Abstract: An implant has a first contact surface to contact a first vertebral body endplate and a second contact surface to contact a second vertebral body endplate adjacent the first vertebral body. The implant is deployable, when positioned within an intradiscal space between the first and second vertebral bodies, from a first non-expanded condition where the first contact surface has a first effective footprint area A1 to a second expanded condition where the first contact surface has a second effective footprint area A2. The ratio A2/A1 is at least 1.05.

Abstract: A surgical inserter for use in inserting an implant into a vertebral space may include: (a) a handle; (b) a gripper having one end attached to the handle and a second end having a pair of arms; and (c) a grip activator having an opening that threadingly receives the gripper. The grip activator can be rotated in a first direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move toward each other to grip the inserter and in a second direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move away from each other to release the inserter. In one embodiment a compression force activator is used to deploy the implant and in another embodiment a tension force activator is used to deploy the implant.

Abstract: A surgical inserter for use in inserting an implant into a vertebral space may include: (a) a handle; (b) a gripper having one end attached to the handle and a second end having a pair of arms; and (c) a grip activator having an opening that threadingly receives the gripper. The grip activator can be rotated in a first direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move toward each other to grip the inserter and in a second direction with respect to the gripper to cause the arms to move away from each other to release the inserter. In one embodiment a compression force activator is used to deploy the implant and in another embodiment a tension force activator is used to deploy the implant.

Abstract: An implant has a first contact surface to contact a first vertebral body endplate and a second contact surface to contact a second vertebral body endplate adjacent the first vertebral body. The implant is deployable, when positioned within an intradiscal space between the first and second vertebral bodies, from a first non-expanded condition where the first contact surface has a first effective footprint area A1 to a second expanded condition where the first contact surface has a second effective footprint area A2. The ratio A2/A1 is at least 1.05.

Abstract: A surgical inserter may include an implant deployment mechanism that is adjustable by the surgeon to deploy an implant within the vertebral space and may include a deployment indicator that provides a visual indication to the surgeon regarding the status of implant deployment within the vertebral space.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation for use in placing an implant into a disc space between a pair of spinal vertebrae may include: (a) a distractor having a distal end that may be placed into the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; (b) an inserter for use in moving the implant toward the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; and, (c) a distractor/inserter rail/groove interconnection that interconnects the distractor and the inserter for relative movement thereby.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation for use in placing an implant into a disc space between a pair of spinal vertebrae may include: (a) a distractor having a distal end that may be placed into the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; (b) an inserter for use in moving the implant toward the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; and, (c) a distractor/inserter rail/groove interconnection that interconnects the distractor and the inserter for relative movement thereby.

Abstract: A spinal implant may be deployable, when positioned within a vertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies, from a first laterally non-expanded condition to a second laterally expanded condition. The spinal implant may include top beams and bottom beams separated by at least one post that is, in one embodiment, length variable in response to a load put on the implant after deployment of the implant. In an alternate embodiment, at least one post is laterally variable in response to a load put on the implant. In another embodiment, one of the posts may be centrally located.

Abstract: A surgical extractor for use in extracting an implant from a vertebral space may include: (1) a handle, having an opening, for use by a surgeon in maneuvering the surgical extractor; and (2) an implant gripping mechanism having: (a) a first grip member with one end attached to the handle and a second end with a first contact surface; and, (b) a second grip member with one end threaded in engagement to the opening in the handle and a second end with a second contact surface. The handle can be rotated with respect to the second grip member to cause the first and second contact surfaces to move relatively toward each other to grip the implant so that the implant can be extracted from the vertebral space.