Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a cavity in a patient's body with a material are provided. The apparatus can include a flexible tube, a barrel and a plunger. The flexible tube has a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending from the first end to the second end and operable to hold a material for conveyance through the first end into a cavity. The barrel is in fluid communication with the second end of the flexible tube and includes a lumen configured to receive material for delivery into the flexible tube. The plunger is configured to advance material through the lumen in the barrel and into the flexible tube. In one implememtation, there is substantially a one to one ratio of advancement of the plunger to a volume of material advanced from the rigid first end of the flexible tube.

Abstract: This invention is a pedicle screw (1), comprising a threaded rod (2) having a longitudinal axis (XX) and a head (4) in which there is a channel (5) adapted to receive a spinal support rod, and a means for blocking the rod; the channel is formed such that its longitudinal axial plane (P) is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (XX) of the threaded rod. The head (4) of the screw being made up of two flanks (6, 7), a threaded hole (11) is formed in one of them; the inclination of the channel (5) relative to the axis of the treaded rod (2) makes it possible to place a tool for blocking the rod in the channel without this tool coming into contact with the muscle tissues delimiting the incision. Moreover, the threaded seat (11) permits the positioning of instruments without obstructing the channel for passage of the rod.

Abstract: The tightening instrument is made up of two parts (2,4) joined to each other by means which are designed to automatically uncouple the said two parts (2,4) by shearing rupture of a pin (8) when a predetermined tightening torque is reached, a first (2) of the two parts being provided with a means (3) permitting driving, characterized in that the second (4) of the two parts is a rod whose end (5) opposite its tighteing end (6) is adapted to be introduced into a complementary recess (7) formed in the first part (2), and in that the said end (5) includes an axial reservoir (15) for receiving the broken end section (18) of the pin (8).