Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The plate is configured to receive bone screws for attachment to and immobilization of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The system includes a cup retained inside a through hole of the plate by a cup retainer. A bone screw is retained inside the cup by a lock that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cup is permitted to angulate forward and backward with respect to the plate and the bone screw is permitted to angulate conically with respect to the cup to provide a plate system with extreme angulation for the bone screw.

Abstract: An interbody spacer for the spine is provided. The interbody spacer includes a cage and at least one bone screw configured to anchor the cage between two vertebrae of the spine. The cage includes a lock rotationally movable with respect to the cage between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. When in an unlocked configuration, bone screws may be inserted and removed from the cage. When in a locked configuration, the insertion and removal pathway of the bone screw is blocked by the lock, thereby, providing backout protection for the bone screws. The lock is coupled to the cage by a retaining ring. The lock assembly also includes a timing lock to provide for incremental rotation of the lock. The lock includes a space-saving shape providing for maximum bone screw angulation on a laterally smaller anterior platform.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The plate is configured to receive bone screws for attachment to and immobilization of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The system includes a lock configured to prevent the bone screws from backing out of the plate. The lock includes at least one blocking surface that is movable between a blocked configuration preventing the bone screw from backing out and an unblocked configuration allowing passage of the bone screw. The lock achieves a blocked position in a rotation of less than 90 degrees while maintaining or increasing a low-profile.

Abstract: A bone fixation system is provided. The bone fixation system includes a receiver coupled to a bone fastener. The receiver includes an inner bore and channel that provides a seat for an elongate fixation rod. The inner surface of the receiver includes locations for an instrument to securely grasp the receiver from the inside of the receiver without obstructing the inner bore. The instrument is provided with hooks that uniquely grasp the receiver from the inside and outside of the receiver. The instrument also includes flexible prongs configured to engage recesses formed in the outer surface of the receiver. The prongs have prong extensions that conform in shape to the recesses. The prongs and recesses have three separated perimeter surfaces each having a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The bone fixation system provides a strong connection between the screw and the instrument for the demands unique to spinal surgery.

Abstract: An interbody spacer for the spine is provided. The interbody spacer includes a cage and at least one bone screw configured to anchor the cage between two vertebrae of the spine. The cage includes a lock rotationally movable with respect to the cage between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. When in an unlocked configuration, bone screws may be inserted and removed from the cage. When in a locked configuration, the insertion and removal pathway of the bone screw is blocked by the lock, thereby, providing backout protection for the bone screws. The lock is coupled to the cage by a retaining ring. The lock assembly also includes a timing lock to provide for incremental rotation of the lock. The lock includes a space-saving shape providing for maximum bone screw angulation on a laterally smaller anterior platform.

Abstract: An interbody spacer for the spine is provided. The interbody spacer includes a cage and at least one bone screw configured to anchor the cage between two vertebrae of the spine. The cage includes a lock rotationally movable with respect to the cage between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. When in an unlocked configuration, bone screws may be inserted and removed from the cage. When in a locked configuration, the insertion and removal pathway of the bone screw is blocked by the lock, thereby, providing backout protection for the bone screws. The lock is coupled to the cage by a pronged retainer and includes a camming surface to provide for incremental rotation of the lock. The lock includes a space-saving shape providing for maximum bone screw angulation on a laterally smaller anterior platform.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The plate is configured to receive bone screws for attachment to and immobilization of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The system includes a lock configured to prevent the bone screws from backing out of the plate. The lock includes at least one blocking surface that is movable between a blocked configuration preventing the bone screw from backing out and an unblocked configuration allowing passage of the bone screw. The lock achieves a blocked position in a rotation of less than 90 degrees while maintaining or increasing a low-profile.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The plate is configured to receive bone screws for attachment to and immobilization of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The system includes a lock configured to prevent the bone screws from backing out of the plate. The lock includes at least one blocking surface that is movable between a blocked configuration preventing the bone screw from backing out and an unblocked configuration allowing passage of the bone screw. The lock achieves a blocked position in a rotation of less than 90 degrees while maintaining or increasing a low-profile.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The cervical plate includes a retention ring with a deflectable flange that is upwardly spaced from the top surface of the ring and configured to prevent an inserted bone fastener from backing out of the plate. The plate includes a locking pin having a camming surface and a blocking surface. When the camming surface is moved into position adjacent to the flange, the flange is free to flex out of the way of a bone screw being inserted into or removed from the plate. When the blocking surface is positioned adjacent to the flange, outward deflection of the flange is prevented to retain the bone screw inside the plate. The locking pin is rotated through a camming surface to bring a blocking surface against the flange deflecting the flange onto the head of the bone screw.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The plate is configured to receive bone screws for attachment to and immobilization of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The system includes a lock configured to prevent the bone screws from backing out of the plate. The lock includes at least one blocking surface that is movable between a blocked configuration preventing the bone screw from backing out and an unblocked configuration allowing passage of the bone screw. The lock achieves a blocked position in a rotation of less than 90 degrees while maintaining or increasing a low-profile.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The cervical plate includes a retention ring with a deflectable flange that is upwardly spaced from the top surface of the ring and configured to prevent an inserted bone fastener from backing out of the plate. The plate includes a locking pin having a camming surface and a blocking surface. When the camming surface is moved into position adjacent to the flange, the flange is free to flex out of the way of a bone screw being inserted into or removed from the plate. When the blocking surface is positioned adjacent to the flange, outward deflection of the flange is prevented to retain the bone screw inside the plate. The locking pin is rotated through a camming surface to bring a blocking surface against the flange deflecting the flange onto the head of the bone screw.

Abstract: An interbody spacer for the spine is provided. The interbody spacer includes a polymer cage and a plurality of bone screws configured to anchor the cage between two vertebrae of the spine. The cage includes a screw receiver configured to receive a metallic plate screw for attaching a plate to cover the proximal ends of the bone screws to prevent them from backing out over time with respect to the cage. The screw receiver has deflectable extensions that snap into cage to retain the screw receiver to the cage. The screw receiver also includes a transverse flanges that provide anti-rotation and alignment to the screw receiver relative to the cage and; furthermore, the screw receiver further includes a self-locking feature that increases purchase on the plate screw providing a secured cover plate for anti-backout protection for the bone screws.

Abstract: A bone plate system is provided. The system includes two or more fastener locks stacked on top of each other and located between two holes in a plate adapted to receive bone fasteners. An actuator is provided between the locks. As the actuator is advanced, the locks are moved sequentially into position, firstly, to prevent one or more bone fasteners from backing out of the plate while permitting the fasteners to angulate and, secondly, to lock the angulation of the bone fasteners while still providing back out protection in situ. An expandable bone plate having a top plate interconnected to a bottom plate by a rack and pinion is provided. The rotation of the pinion with a driver lengthens or shortens the plate incrementally for custom length adjustment. The length is fixed in position with the simple removal of the driver and no further step is required to lock the plate length.

Abstract: A bone fixation system with variable z-axis translation is provided. The system includes an outer tulip coupled to a bone fastener via a screw retainer. An inner tulip is coupled to the outer tulip such that the inner tulip is longitudinally movably relative to the outer tulip. The inner tulip includes a lock that provides a seat for a connecting rod. The inner tulip together with a seated rod is permitted to translate along the z-axis inside the outer tulip when in an unlocked position. Also in the unlocked position, the bone fastener is free to angulate relative to the outer tulip. The z-axis position of the inner tulip and rod relative to the outer tulip is fixed in a locked position. Also, in the locked position, the bone fastener is locked with respect to the outer tulip. The system may be adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by way of a set screw.

Abstract: A spinal facet bone screw and minimally invasive surgical method of implanting a facet screw to stabilize the spine are provided. The facet screw includes an elongated body portion having a head, a threaded portion and a distal threadless portion. A pair of flutes formed in the elongated body extends from the distal end across the threadless portion and into the distal end of the threaded portion. The flute creates a self-tapping cutting surface that includes a heel edge that is curved with respect to the outer surface. The method of implantation comprises making a minimally invasive incision on the side of the midline contralateral to the target facet joint and delivering the screw across the interspinous process using the adjacent spinous processes as guideposts. The facet screw system fixes juxtaposed facet articular processes to enhance spinal fusion and stability and the method provides for accurate, repeatable and easy implantation.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plate system is provided. The cervical plate includes an actuator and two locks located between two holes adapted to receive fasteners. Each lock includes a pair of fingers oppositely disposed from a fastener retaining flange. The retaining flange face the holes and the fingers face each other with the actuator located between the fingers. The actuator includes an elongated body. As the actuator is rotated from an unlocked to a locked position, the elongated body pushes both locks simultaneously outwardly to retain fasteners placed inside the holes. As the actuator is rotated in the opposite direction to an unlocked position, the elongated body catches hooks on the fingers to pull the locks inwardly away from holes. The locks are configured to prevent bone fasteners from backing out of the plate.

Abstract: An interbody spacer for the spine is provided. The interbody spacer includes a polymer cage and a plurality of bone screws configured to anchor the cage between two vertebrae of the spine. The cage includes a screw receiver configured to receive a metallic plate screw for attaching a plate to cover the proximal ends of the bone screws to prevent them from backing out over time with respect to the cage. The screw receiver has deflectable extensions that snap into cage to retain the screw receiver to the cage. The screw receiver also includes a transverse flanges that provide anti-rotation and alignment to the screw receiver relative to the cage and; furthermore, the screw receiver further includes a self-locking feature that increases purchase on the plate screw providing a secured cover plate for anti-backout protection for the bone screws.

Abstract: A bone fixation system with variable z-axis translation is provided. The system includes an outer tulip coupled to a bone fastener via a screw retainer. An inner tulip is coupled to the outer tulip such that the inner tulip is longitudinally movably relative to the outer tulip. The inner tulip includes a lock that provides a seat for a connecting rod. The inner tulip together with a seated rod is permitted to translate along the z-axis inside the outer tulip when in an unlocked position. Also in the unlocked position, the bone fastener is free to angulate relative to the outer tulip. The z-axis position of the inner tulip and rod relative to the outer tulip is fixed in a locked position. Also, in the locked position, the bone fastener is locked with respect to the outer tulip. The system may be adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions by way of a set screw.

Abstract: A bone plate system is provided. The system includes two or more fastener locks stacked on top of each other and located between two holes in a plate adapted to receive bone fasteners. An actuator is provided between the locks. As the actuator is advanced, the locks are moved sequentially into position, firstly, to prevent one or more bone fasteners from backing out of the plate while permitting the fasteners to angulate and, secondly, to lock the angulation of the bone fasteners while still providing back out protection in situ. An expandable bone plate having a top plate interconnected to a bottom plate by a rack and pinion is provided. The rotation of the pinion with a driver lengthens or shortens the plate incrementally for custom length adjustment. The length is fixed in position with the simple removal of the driver and no further step is required to lock the plate length.

Abstract: A bone plate system is provided. The system includes two or more fastener locks stacked on top of each other and located between two holes in a plate adapted to receive bone fasteners. An actuator is provided between the locks. As the actuator is advanced, the locks are moved sequentially into position, firstly, to prevent one or more bone fasteners from backing out of the plate while permitting the fasteners to angulate and, secondly, to lock the angulation of the bone fasteners while still providing back out protection in situ. An expandable bone plate having a top plate interconnected to a bottom plate by a rack and pinion is provided. The rotation of the pinion with a driver lengthens or shortens the plate incrementally for custom length adjustment. The length is fixed in position with the simple removal of the driver and no further step is required to lock the plate length.