Abstract: A distraction method including inserting a spacer element into a space between bones to be distracted, removing the spacer element from the space, inserting a wider spacer element into the space, and removing the wider spacer element from the space.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. Each of the opposing plates has an external surface with a deflectable wire mesh thereon, into which the bone can readily grow.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer has curvate upper and lower rough surfaces that stimulate bone growth and is formed from a porous material that facilitates bone growth thereinto. The spacer has a plurality of smooth linear grooves to facilitate insertion of the spacer into an intervertebral space using a spacer insertion tool that has a scissor-style body. Each of the insertion tool's arm's heads has an inner surface having a pair of smoothed linear protrusions that fit within the linear grooves of the spacer when the heads are closed about the spacer. When the spacer is held, spaces are present between the spacer's rough surfaces and the heads' inner surfaces so that when the protrusions are longitudinally slid from the grooves to leave the spacer in the intervertebral spacer, the rough surfaces are not disturbed.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.

Abstract: Biocompatible mesh materials are employed to make implants for repairing or replacing a bone or for soft tissue repair. The mesh materials can be comprised of bioabsorbable materials, non-bioabsorbable materials or bioabsorbable and non-bioabsorbable materials. Pharmaceutical actives, bone growth enhancers and the like can be combined with the implants.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer has curvate upper and lower rough surfaces that stimulate bone growth and is formed from a porous material that facilitates bone growth thereinto. The spacer has a plurality of smooth linear grooves to facilitate insertion of the spacer into an intervertebral space using a spacer insertion tool that has a scissor-style body. Each of the insertion tool's arm's heads has an inner surface having a pair of smoothed linear protrusions that fit within the linear grooves of the spacer when the heads are closed about the spacer. When the spacer is held, spaces are present between the spacer's rough surfaces and the heads' inner surfaces so that when the protrusions are longitudinally slid from the grooves to leave the spacer in the intervertebral spacer, the rough surfaces are not disturbed.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.

Abstract: A two piece, adjustable angle handle for a surgical instrument, capable of easy adjustment to a number of angles, permitting the handle of the instrument to be grasped with one hand, and the other hand to guide the operating end of the instrument, said handle permanently affixed to an instrument, or capable if attachment to a number of different instruments by means of a firm but releasable fastening to the shaft of the instrument, as with a Hudson fitting; the adjustable angle fastening comprising a radial array of teeth as in a ratchet wheel and a reverse scissor pawl.

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: A polyaxial drill guide includes a body, a collet and a stem. The collet includes a collet shaft having distal and proximal ends and a longitudinal bore. The body includes a conical bore having narrow and wide ends. The distal end of the collet shaft rotatably mounts within the narrow end of the conical bore, with the collet shaft extending toward the wide end of the conical bore, such that the collet shaft (and consequently the longitudinal bore) can be angled within the conical bore at a plurality of angles. The stem includes a shaft having distal and proximal ends and a longitudinal bore. The distal end of the stem shaft mounts to the proximal end of the collet shaft such that the longitudinal bores are co-linear and a drill bit can be inserted into and rotated within the longitudinal bores during a drilling procedure.

Abstract: The invention pertains to adjustable bone plates which comprise one or more sets of first members and second members. The first members and second members are releaseably secured to each other by attachment means and locking means, and two or more set of first members and second members are connected by bridging means. The longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the bone plates may be adjustable.

Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting particulate bone from the operating site during an osteotomy or bone drilling procedure so that it can be used subsequently to augment the bone fusion process. A bone cutting or drilling tool is provided with a module for collecting particulate bone simultaneously with cutting or drilling the bone. The collected particulate bone is transferred continuously to a sterile containment module and maintained under sterile conditions until it is prepared for re-use in the patient.

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: Bioabsorbable drug delivery devices including modular drug delivery devices having shapes and sizes adapted to be inserted within a recess on the surface of an implantable prosthesis are disclosed. The devices may be attached to one another to create custom drug delivery devices having controllable drug release characteristics that depend on the composition of individual modules comprising the device. The modules may be cylinders, disks, tiles or tubes comprised of a bioabsorbable polymer and a therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent(s) may be homogeneously distributed throughout the polymeric body of the device or contained within a cavity within a module comprising the device, or both. The device(s) may be threaded or attached to a prosthesis by a biodegradable adhesive. The modular devices may also be formed into tapered plugs for insertion into a mating receptacle.

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; wherein each concentric groove of the plurality of radially spaced concentric grooves in the belleville washer may have a respective length, a respective depth along the respective length, and a respective width along the respective length, at least one of the resp

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. Each of the opposing plates has an external surface with a deflectable wire mesh thereon, into which the bone can readily grow.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one belleville washer having radially spaced concentric grooves. In a preferred embodiment there is a single such belleville washer which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified belleville washer can be rotatably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate.

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: A polyaxial orthopedic device for use with rod implant apparatus includes a screw having a curvate head, a two-piece interlocking coupling element which mounts about the curvate head, and a rod receiving cylindrical body member having a tapered socket into which both the screw and the interlocking coupling element are securely nested. The interlocking coupling element includes a socket portion which is slotted and tapered so that when it is radially compressed by being driven downwardly into the tapered socket in the cylindrical body it crush locks to the screw. The securing of the rod in the body member provides the necessary downward force onto the socket portion through a contact force on the top of the cap portion. Prior to the rod being inserted, therefore, the screw head remains polyaxially free with respect to the coupling element and the body.