Abstract: Craniotomy closures comprising surgical fasteners are described for use in reattaching a skull flap removed from the skull of a patient during brain surgery. Methods of using the same are also described. Surgical strips used in combination with the fasteners are shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The craniotomy closures are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement materials to the surgical site.

Abstract: A bone plate and system is provided. The bone fixation plate conforms to the contour of an irregularly shaped bone and eliminates the need for pre-bending or intraoperative bending of the plate. The bone plate is applied to the bone in a generally flat condition and the process of installing and tightening the bone screws in the prescribed order serves to contour the plate to the plate to the underlying bone while providing sufficient strength to effect bone healing. The geometry of the plate allows the plate to follow the contour of an irregularly shaped bone, preventing prominence and patient palpability and streamlining the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A bone plate and system is provided. The bone fixation plate conforms to the contour of an irregularly shaped bone and eliminates the need for pre-bending or intraoperative bending of the plate. The bone plate is applied to the bone in a generally flat condition and the process of installing and tightening the bone screws in the prescribed order serves to contour the plate to the underlying bone while providing sufficient strength to effect bone healing. The geometry of the plate allows the plate to follow the contour of an irregularly shaped bone, preventing prominence and patient palpability and streamlining the surgical procedure.

Abstract: An intervertebral space distraction and implantable device assembly provides sequentially axially wider spacers that are to be sequentially inserted into and removed from an intervertebral space to widen the space until a desired anatomical spacing of the adjacent vertebral bones is restored. The set of spacers includes a porous spacer that is as wide as the spacer that restores the desired anatomical spacing. The porous spacer can therefore be left implanted in the intervertebral space to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebral bones.

Abstract: An instrument for holding an intervertebral spacer, the instrument comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end forming a handle and the distal end forming a spacer engaging subassembly, the spacer engaging subassembly comprising at least one selectively expanding and contracting enclosure into which at least a portion of the spacer is introduced when the engaging subassembly is expanded and an actuating mechanism, extending from the proximal end to the distal end, by which the spacer member engaging subassembly may be selectively expanded and contracted.

Abstract: An intervertebral distraction tool has a clamshell head with upper and lower halves, each having a curvate outer surface and a flat inner surface. The distal side of the head is hinged so that the head opens and closes from the proximal side of the head. The hinge is a separating hinge that allows the halves to not only angulate with respect to one another about the hinge axis, but also to vertically separate from one another at the hinge. A distraction separator has decreasing taper at its distal end and a longitudinal bore that accommodates the elongate shaft of the trial so that the separator can be moved longitudinally relative to the shaft. Upon forward movement of the separator, the tapered upper and lower surfaces engage the flat inner surfaces of the head, causing the halves to angulate about the hinge axis of the head, thereby opening the head.

Abstract: An orthopedic spacer device comprising a spacer body having an external surface that includes at least two relative angle designation marks such that a rotational angle of the spacer body relative to a known reference is determinable.

Abstract: A driver assembly for affixing a surgical fastener to a target location is provided. Operation of the driver assembly inserts the surgical fastener in two stages, first an alignment stage through application of a distally directed force to partially insert the surgical fastener, and then a fastening stage to fully insert and seat the surgical fastener to a proper depth or compression level. The driver assembly comprises a spring loaded automatic trigger mechanism that may be adapted for use with a linearly insertable or a rotationally insertable surgical fastener. Application of the distally directed force actuates the trigger mechanism, wherein a corresponding impact force is delivered for seating the surgical fastener, coupled to a distal end of the driver assembly, upon alignment of cam and receiver elements embodied within the trigger mechanism.

Abstract: Described herein is a cranial plug for a burr hole or a cranial perforation made in a skull during brain surgery, the cranial plug being flexible and having a bottom portion and side walls extending upwards from the bottom portion, the bottom portion and the side walls formed in a concave or substantially concave shape, or alternatively, forming a concave or substantially concave shape when inserted into a burr hole or cranial perforation.

Abstract: Craniotomy closure systems comprising surgical fasteners and a protective covering over the dura are described for use in reattaching a skull flap removed from the skull of a patient during brain surgery. Methods of using the same are also described. Surgical strips optionally used in combination with the craniotomy closure systems are shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The craniotomy closure systems are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement materials to the surgical site.

Abstract: An orthopedic spacer device comprising a spacer body having an external surface that includes at least two relative angle designation marks such that a rotational angle of the spacer body relative to a known reference is determinable.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant includes a first plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a ball shaped protuberance projecting from the inner surface and an annular groove surrounding the ball shaped protuberance. The implant includes a second plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a curvate socket formed in the inner surface of the second plate and a raised rim surrounding the curvate socket. The first and second plates are assembled together so that the inner surfaces of the plates oppose one another and the ball shaped protuberance is disposed in the curvate socket and the annular groove aligned with the raised rim. The assembled first and second plates angulate and rotate relative to one another.

Abstract: Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant includes a first plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a ball shaped protuberance projecting from the inner surface and an annular groove surrounding the ball shaped protuberance. The implant includes a second plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a curvate socket formed in the inner surface of the second plate and a raised rim surrounding the curvate socket. The first and second plates are assembled together so that the inner surfaces of the plates oppose one another and the ball shaped protuberance is disposed in the curvate socket and the annular groove aligned with the raised rim. The assembled first and second plates angulate and rotate relative to one another.

Abstract: A biocompatible surgical fastener, comprising a sleeve and a screw or a pin, which expands when it is implanted in a patient. The sleeve is first implanted in a pre-drilled hole in the operating area of a patient, usually in a bone, cartilage or a bone and cartilage. When a screw or a pin is installed in the sleeve, the sleeve is caused to expand thereby stabilizing the fastener in the operating area. In many embodiments the screw or pin can be removed and reinserted without disturbing the tissue in the operating area. The surgical fastener can be used to repair tissue or to secure other implant devices in a patient.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device may include first and second plates, each having inner and outer surfaces thereof, the plates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that the inner surfaces face toward one another, and the outer surfaces face away from one another, the first plate including a retaining wall extending outwardly from the inner surface of the first plate; and a belleville washer, having narrow and wide ends thereof, may be disposed with said wide end contacting said inner surface of said first plate within said retaining wall, such that a compressive load applied to the outer surfaces of said plates is counteracted by said belleville washer, said belleville washer including a plurality of radially spaced concentric groove.

Abstract: Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.

Abstract: Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.

Abstract: Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes first and second plates disposed in a spaced apart relationship, each plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the opposing plates facing one another. The device also includes a restoring force providing element disposed between the inner surfaces of the plates. The restoring force providing element includes a slotted belleville washer having a convex shape when unloaded and a flatter shape when loaded, whereby one or more slots of the belleville washer widen when compressively loaded. The second plate has an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the second plate, the device including a retaining wall and a retaining ring, whereby a wide end of the belleville washer is captured by the retaining wall and the retaining ring for maintaining the wide end adjacent the inner surface of the second plate.