Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a first member and a first footplate detachably connectable to the first member, a second member and a second footplate detachably connectable to the second member, and a central member detachably connectable to the first member. The first member is displaceable relative to the second member in response to rotation of the central member relative to the first member to adjust the length of the vertebral body replacement device. The first footplate includes a first surface oriented toward the first member, a second surface oriented away from the first member, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface includes an alignment slot facing the first member. The alignment slot is open through the sidewall of the first footplate and configured to slidingly engage the first member to orient the first footplate relative to the first member.

Abstract: An interbody fusion device includes a top member, a base member, and an expansion member. The top member includes a first bone-engaging side and a threaded opening. The base member is received by the top member and includes a second bone-engaging side and an open cavity aligned with the threaded opening of the top member. The expansion member is disposed within the open cavity for rotation about an axis. The expansion member includes a threaded portion threadably engaged with the threaded opening. Rotation of the expansion member translates the first bone-engaging side away from the second bone-engaging side along the axis.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a first member and a first footplate detachably connectable to the first member, a second member and a second footplate detachably connectable to the second member, and a central member detachably connectable to the first member. The first member is axially displaceable relative to the second member in response to rotation of the central member relative to the first member to adjust the length of the vertebral body replacement device. The first member includes a pair of first fastener holes and a pair of second fastener holes angularly offset from the first fastener holes. The first footplate includes an aperture configured to align with one of the first fastener holes to orient the footplate in a first position or one of the second fastener holes to orient the footplate in a second position.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a first member and a first footplate detachably connectable to the first member, a second member and a second footplate detachably connectable to the second member, and a central member detachably connectable to the first member. The first member is displaceable relative to the second member in response to rotation of the central member relative to the first member to adjust the length of the vertebral body replacement device. The first footplate includes a first surface oriented toward the first member, a second surface oriented away from the first member, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface includes an alignment slot facing the first member. The alignment slot is open through the sidewall of the first footplate and configured to slidingly engage the first member to orient the first footplate relative to the first member.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a first member and a first footplate detachably connectable to the first member, a second member and a second footplate detachably connectable to the second member, and a central member detachably connectable to the first member. The first member is axially displaceable relative to the second member in response to rotation of the central member relative to the first member to adjust the length of the vertebral body replacement device. The first member includes a pair of first fastener holes and a pair of second fastener holes angularly offset from the first fastener holes. The first footplate includes an aperture configured to align with one of the first fastener holes to orient the footplate in a first position or one of the second fastener holes to orient the footplate in a second position.

Abstract: An interbody fusion device includes a top member, a base member, and an expansion member. The top member includes a first bone-engaging side and a threaded opening. The base member is received by the top member and includes a second bone-engaging side and an open cavity aligned with the threaded opening of the top member. The expansion member is disposed within the open cavity for rotation about an axis. The expansion member includes a threaded portion threadably engaged with the threaded opening. Rotation of the expansion member translates the first bone-engaging side away from the second bone-engaging side along the axis.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use in releasing soft tissue within the human body. The surgical instrument has a handle with proximal and distal ends with a tube connected to the distal end. The surgical instrument also includes a blade member that slidingly engages the tube moving along the length of the tube to cut soft tissue. Further included in the surgical instrument is a guard member that is attached to the blade member. The guard member has a hood portion and a capture portion. The hood portion is connected to the blade member with the distally positioned capture portion acting to displace surrounding tissue while capturing certain soft tissue structures resulting in the blade member being in operative position to cut and release the soft tissue. A surgical instrument kit including a plurality of modular surgical instruments and method for releasing soft tissue using the surgical instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An interbody fusion device includes a top member, a base member, and an expansion member. The top member includes a first bone-engaging side and a threaded opening. The base member is received by the top member and includes a second bone-engaging side and an open cavity aligned with the threaded opening of the top member. The expansion member is disposed within the open cavity for rotation about an axis. The expansion member includes a threaded portion threadably engaged with the threaded opening. Rotation of the expansion member translates the first bone-engaging side away from the second bone-engaging side along the axis.

Abstract: Tissue spacer implants, surgical distraction instruments, surgical insertion tools, coupling devices, surgical kits, surgical methods for distraction, and methods for coupling bodies are disclosed. The tissue spacer implants include a first end member, a second end member, and an intermediate spacer member having a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the first end member with the intermediate spacer member and to couple the second end member with the intermediate spacer member. The surgical instruments may be used for inserting these implants and include a first elongated member, a second elongated member, a distraction mechanism, and an actuator. The coupling devices may be used to couple the components of the implants.

Abstract: A horizontal and vertical expandable tissue spacer implants, insertion tools, assembly methods and surgical methods are disclosed. The horizontal expandable tissue spacer implant includes a first lateral member with a first side, a second lateral member with a first side, and an intermediate spacer member. The intermediate spacer member is adapted to cooperatively engage and hold the first side of the first lateral member and the first side of the second lateral member. A vertical expandable tissue spacer implant includes a top member with a bottom surface, a bottom member with a top surface, and an intermediate spacer member with a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism cooperatively engages the bottom surface of the top member to the intermediate spacer member and the top surface of the bottom member to the intermediate spacer member.

Abstract: A horizontal and vertical expandable tissue spacer implants, insertion tools, assembly methods and surgical methods are disclosed. The horizontal expandable tissue spacer implant includes a first lateral member with a first side, a second lateral member with a first side, and an intermediate spacer member. The intermediate spacer member is adapted to cooperatively engage and hold the first side of the first lateral member and the first side of the second lateral member. A vertical expandable tissue spacer implant includes a top member with a bottom surface, a bottom member with a top surface, and an intermediate spacer member with a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism cooperatively engages the bottom surface of the top member to the intermediate spacer member and the top surface of the bottom member to the intermediate spacer member.

Abstract: Tissue spacer implants, surgical distraction instruments, surgical insertion tools, coupling devices, surgical kits, surgical methods for distraction, and methods for coupling bodies are disclosed. The tissue spacer implants include a first end member, a second end member, and an intermediate spacer member having a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the first end member with the intermediate spacer member and to couple the second end member with the intermediate spacer member. The surgical instruments may be used for inserting these implants and include a first elongated member, a second elongated member, a distraction mechanism, and an actuator. The coupling devices may be used to couple the components of the implants.

Abstract: Tissue spacer implants, surgical distraction instruments, surgical insertion tools, coupling devices, surgical kits, surgical methods for distraction, and methods for coupling bodies are disclosed. The tissue spacer implants include a first end member, a second end member, and an intermediate spacer member having a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the first end member with the intermediate spacer member and to couple the second end member with the intermediate spacer member. The surgical instruments may be used for inserting these implants and include a first elongated member, a second elongated member, a distraction mechanism, and an actuator. The coupling devices may be used to couple the components of the implants.

Abstract: An interbody fusion device includes a top member, a base member, and an expansion member. The top member includes a first bone-engaging side and a threaded opening. The base member is received by the top member and includes a second bone-engaging side and an open cavity aligned with the threaded opening of the top member. The expansion member is disposed within the open cavity for rotation about an axis. The expansion member includes a threaded portion threadably engaged with the threaded opening. Rotation of the expansion member translates the first bone-engaging side away from the second bone-engaging side along the axis.

Abstract: Tissue spacer implants, surgical distraction instruments, surgical insertion tools, coupling devices, surgical kits, surgical methods for distraction, and methods for coupling bodies are disclosed. The tissue spacer implants include a first end member, a second end member, and an intermediate spacer member having a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the first end member with the intermediate spacer member and to couple the second end member with the intermediate spacer member. The surgical instruments may be used for inserting these implants and include a first elongated member, a second elongated member, a distraction mechanism, and an actuator. The coupling devices may be used to couple the components of the implants.

Abstract: A horizontal and vertical expandable tissue spacer implants, insertion tools, assembly methods and surgical methods are disclosed. The horizontal expandable tissue spacer implant includes a first lateral member with a first side, a second lateral member with a first side, and an intermediate spacer member. The intermediate spacer member is adapted to cooperatively engage and hold the first side of the first lateral member and the first side of the second lateral member. A vertical expandable tissue spacer implant includes a top member with a bottom surface, a bottom member with a top surface, and an intermediate spacer member with a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism cooperatively engages the bottom surface of the top member to the intermediate spacer member and the top surface of the bottom member to the intermediate spacer member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use in releasing soft tissue within the human body. The surgical instrument has a handle with proximal and distal ends with a tube connected to the distal end. The surgical instrument also includes a blade member that slidingly engages the tube moving along the length of the tube to cut soft tissue. Further included in the surgical instrument is a guard member that is attached to the blade member. The guard member has a hood portion and a capture portion. The hood portion is connected to the blade member with the distally positioned capture portion acting to displace surrounding tissue while capturing certain soft tissue structures resulting in the blade member being in operative position to cut and release the soft tissue. A surgical instrument kit including a plurality of modular surgical instruments and method for releasing soft tissue using the surgical instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: Unidirectional dynamic interbody fusion devices and methods of use for insertion into a patient in order to maintain a space between two vertebral bodies. A first interbody fusion device including a body member, at least one side member, and a means for moving the at least one side member relative to the central body member. A second interbody fusion device including a base member, a top member, and a means for moving the top member relative to the base member. A surgical method for maintaining a space between two vertebral bodies in a spine, including obtaining a medical device, inserting and coupling an expansion tool into an opening within the medical device, slidingly inserting the medical device into a space between two vertebral bodies; and rotating the expansion tool to move the at least one side member in a direction relative to the body member.

Abstract: A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.