Abstract: An intervertebral or spinal implant having a spacer, a cage, and a locking mechanism, where the locking mechanism may be configured to facilitate a connection between the spacer and the cage. In some cases, the spacer may include a distal end wall, a proximal end wall, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall, where the locking mechanism may be situated at the proximal end wall adjacent a receiving opening in the proximal end wall.

Abstract: An expandable surgical site access system and method for using the expandable surgical site access system to perform minimally invasive, percutaneous surgeries to access the spine or other bone structures, organs, or locations of the body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical site access system includes an elongated, expandable stent that is particularly adapted to be deployed in a body during a surgical procedure to provide access to a surgical site within the body. The stent defines a working channel through the body from a point of entry to the surgical site.

Abstract: A system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending distally from the handle portion. The shaft includes a conduit and a staple mechanism. The system also includes a flexible implant member extending along the conduit configured to be advanced out from a distal end of the shaft, and a staple housed in the staple mechanism. The staple is configured to secure the flexible implant member to a vertebra. The handle portion is configured to selectively advance the flexible implant member from the shaft and to selectively actuate the staple mechanism.

Abstract: Spinal fixation systems may be installed utilizing instruments and techniques alone or in combination with selectively attached extension members mounted on vertebral anchors to extend percutaneously from the spine. The surgical procedures associated with this invention involve making small, discrete incisions for the placement of select vertebral anchors. The extension members retract soft tissue, muscle and the like to thereby provide visibility and access to the head of the anchor. Instrumentation is utilized to deliver and install components such as a spine rod, set screw and other required hardware to the anchors. Once a spine rod or other components are secured to the pedicle screws, the instrumentation and extension members are removed from the patient.

Abstract: An interbody vertebral implant for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The implant includes a first end plate, a second end plate, and an intermediate member disposed therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow bone in-growth. The intermediate member may include features to engage the end plates and to prevent over insertion of the intermediate member within the end plates. The implant may include a cavity extending through the composite implant configured to receive bone growth material to facilitate fusion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra.

Abstract: An interbody vertebral implant for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The implant includes a first end plate, a second end plate, and an intermediate member disposed therebetween. The end plates are configured to allow bone in-growth. The intermediate member may include features to engage the end plates and to prevent over insertion of the intermediate member within the end plates. The implant may include a cavity extending through the composite implant configured to receive bone growth material to facilitate fusion between a first vertebra and a second vertebra.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implanting a spinal implant in a spinal column are disclosed. In one example, an illustrative system may include a delivery device including a proximal end region and a distal end region, a spinal implant releasably coupled to the distal end region of the delivery device, and a sleeve disposed about the spinal implant and at least a portion of the delivery device. In some cases, a distal portion of the sleeve may include a predetermined weakened region that may be configured to separate when a force is applied to the weakened region, which in some cases, may be applied with a pull string. In another example, a distal portion of the sleeve may be reverse folded upon itself such that the retractable sleeve rolls off of the spinal implant when the retractable sleeve is retracted.

Abstract: An expandable surgical site access system and method for using the expandable surgical site access system to perform minimally invasive, percutaneous surgeries to access the spine or other bone structures, organs, or locations of the body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical site access system includes an elongated, expandable stent that is particularly adapted to be deployed in a body during a surgical procedure to provide access to a surgical site within the body. The stent defines a working channel through the body from a point of entry to the surgical site.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing and a bone screw. A bottom surface of the housing includes an aperture that defines an angulation limit of the bone screw for each azimuthal angle around a longitudinal axis of the housing. The aperture is V-shaped, with the V-shape having converging side walls that define a low-angulation direction near their intersection and a high-angulation direction opposite the low-angulation direction. In some cases, the angulation limit of the bone screw is generally constant over a range of azimuthal angles centered around the high-angulation direction. The housing may be modular, including tabs on one component that are plastically deformed to engage a lip on another component. During assembly, a mandrel advances longitudinally along a bore in the housing, and forces the tabs radially outward toward the lip to a radially outward plastically deformed state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spinal support devices and, more specifically, to a flexible member having variable flexibility for use with a dynamic stabilization system or implant to provide dynamic stability to a person's spine. The flexible member generally includes a first material having a first portion including a first material having a first elasticity and a second portion including a second material having a second elasticity greater than the first to provide the flexible member with a variable flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spinal support devices and, more specifically, to a flexible member having variable flexibility for use with a dynamic stabilization system or implant to provide dynamic stability to a person's spine. The flexible member generally includes a first material having a first portion including a first material having a first elasticity and a second portion including a second material having a second elasticity greater than the first to provide the flexible member with a variable flexibility.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing and a bone screw. A bottom surface of the housing includes an aperture that defines an angulation limit of the bone screw for each azimuthal angle around a longitudinal axis of the housing. The aperture is V-shaped, with the V-shape having converging side walls that define a low-angulation direction near their intersection and a high-angulation direction opposite the low-angulation direction. In some cases, the angulation limit of the bone screw is generally constant over a range of azimuthal angles centered around the high-angulation direction. The housing may be modular, including tabs on one component that are plastically deformed to engage a lip on another component. During assembly, a mandrel advances longitudinally along a bore in the housing, and forces the tabs radially outward toward the lip to a radially outward plastically deformed state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spinal support devices and, more specifically, to a flexible member having variable flexibility for use with a dynamic stabilization system or implant to provide dynamic stability to a person's spine. The flexible member generally includes a first material having a first portion including a first material having a first elasticity and a second portion including a second material having a second elasticity greater than the first to provide the flexible member with a variable flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spinal support devices and, more specifically, to a flexible member having variable flexibility for use with a dynamic stabilization system or implant to provide dynamic stability to a person's spine. The flexible member generally includes a first material having a first portion including a first material having a first elasticity and a second portion including a second material having a second elasticity greater than the first to provide the flexible member with a variable flexibility.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing and a bone screw. A bottom surface of the housing includes an aperture that defines an angulation limit of the bone screw for each azimuthal angle around a longitudinal axis of the housing. The aperture is V-shaped, with the V-shape having converging side walls that define a low-angulation direction near their intersection and a high-angulation direction opposite the low-angulation direction. In some cases, the angulation limit of the bone screw is generally constant over a range of azimuthal angles centered around the high-angulation direction. The housing may be modular, including tabs on one component that are plastically deformed to engage a lip on another component. During assembly, a mandrel advances longitudinally along a bore in the housing, and forces the tabs radially outward toward the lip to a radially outward plastically deformed state.

Abstract: A surgical access system includes retractor for creating an access path between an incision site and a surgical site. The retractor includes a frame having a base member and a pair of generally curved rails extending therefrom. A tubular member is coupled to the frame and includes first and second blade portions that are capable of relative movement with respect to each other by movement on the curved rails. A method of inserting the retractor into a patient includes inserting a guide rod over a guide wire, locating an obturator in the retractor, inserting the obturator and retractor over the guide rod, and removing both the guide rod and obturator to leave the retractor in the body to provide the access path.

Abstract: A system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending distally from the handle portion. The shaft includes a conduit and a staple mechanism. The system also includes a flexible implant member extending along the conduit configured to be advanced out from a distal end of the shaft, and a staple housed in the staple mechanism. The staple is configured to secure the flexible implant member to a vertebra. The handle portion is configured to selectively advance the flexible implant member from the shaft and to selectively actuate the staple mechanism.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a spinal stabilization system has a first and a second vertebral anchor each adapted to be coupled to one of a first and a second vertebrae. The system also includes a flexible connecting element coupled to each of the first and second vertebral anchors and extending between the vertebral anchors. The connecting element has a central member and a brace positioned about the central member and the central member is stiffer than the brace to provide the needed combination of support and stiffness to the construct while offering flexibility. These and other various embodiments of this invention offer an improvement over known systems by providing stabilization of the vertebral column while allowing for flexibility and axial dampening.

Abstract: A system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending distally from the handle portion. The shaft includes a conduit and a staple mechanism. The system also includes a flexible implant member extending along the conduit configured to be advanced out from a distal end of the shaft, and a staple housed in the staple mechanism. The staple is configured to secure the flexible implant member to a vertebra. The handle portion is configured to selectively advance the flexible implant member from the shaft and to selectively actuate the staple mechanism.

Abstract: An installation system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an implant guide and an insert. The implant guide includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The distal end of the shaft is configured for engagement with a head portion of a vertebral anchor. The shaft has flexibility characteristics allowing the shaft to flexibly bend between a first configuration and a second configuration. The insert is slidably disposed along the shaft of the implant guide. The insert inhibits the shaft from bending from the second configuration to the first configuration.