Abstract: An implantable spinal disk including an external shell, first endplate, second endplate and core component. The external shell includes sidewalls, a back wall, a front wall, a top surface and a bottom surface forming a compartment. The first endplate includes a first base, first top and first attachment devices. The first base is disposed in the compartment. The first top is disposed in a first opening in the top surface. The first attachment devices extend from within the first top portion. The second endplate includes a second base, second top and second attachment devices. The second base is disposed in the compartment. The second top is disposed in a second opening in the bottom surface. The second attachment devices extend from the second top. The core component is disposed in the compartment between the first endplate and the second endplate.

Abstract: A spinal plate system includes a screw, spinal plate and cap. A head of the screw includes a portion of a first sphere that has a first center and a portion of a second sphere that has a second center approximately concentric with the first center. A body of the screw extends from the first sphere. The spinal plate includes an opening through the spinal plate and an associated recess in the spinal plate that is eccentric with the opening. The cap includes an alignment opening and is configured to be rotationally engaged in the recess between a first rotational configuration and a second rotational configuration. In the first rotational configuration, the body threads into a vertebra in a selected trajectory through the alignment opening and the opening in the spinal plate and the head engages at least a portion of the opening in the selected trajectory.

Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a ring structure and a conical outer wall. The ring structure has a first opening and defines a first plane. The outer wall forms a second opening in communication with the first opening and extends below the ring structure at an acute angle with respect to the first plane. The second component includes a top structure and conical inner wall. The top structure has a third opening and defines a second plane. The inner wall forms a fourth opening in communication with the third opening and extends below the top structure at an acute angle with respect to the second plane. The top structure of the second component is disposed at least partially inside the ring structure of the first component such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spinal support coupling device (10) comprised of first and second radial frames (44A and 44B), each pivotably coupled to a center pivot hinge (30). A traveling arm (20) is provided, coupled to the first and second radial frames (44A and 44B) at the center pivot hinge (30). The traveling arm (20) is configured to rotate with respect to the first and second radial frames (44A and 44B) around the center pivot hinge (30). A coupling rod (80) is attached to the traveling arm (20) and configured to connect a first and a second surgical screw (60A and 60B), placed into a patient. The first and second radial frames (44A and 4413) are configured to retain corresponding first and second extension rods (64A and 64B), extending away from the top of the first and second surgical screws (60A and 60B).

Abstract: A fixation device, the device includes a housing with a leading deep surface, a trailing outer surface, weight bearing sides, and top and bottom surfaces, a shaft running from the leading deep surface to the trailing outer surface of the housing, and a plurality of blades preloaded onto the shaft in the housing, at least one first blade having at least one cutting extension in a first orientation about the axis of the shaft and at least one second blade having at least one cutting extension in a second orientation about the axis of the shaft that is opposite to the first orientation, each cutting extension having a sharp leading edge,-wherein upon clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of each blade of the plurality of blades about the axis of the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension of each blade is oriented, the at least one cutting extension of each blade will break an endplate of a vertebra, hook into the vertebra and rigidly secure the vertebra to the device to prevent separat

Abstract: A spinal fixation and fusion device that includes a housing with leading deep surface conforming to the posterior aspect of the intervertebral disk and trailing outer surface conforming to the anterior surface of the disk, weight bearing sides and the top and bottom surfaces with plurality of openings enabling ingrowths of bone. The device further includes a shaft running from the center of the deep surface and perpendicular to the deep surface of the housing to the center of the outer surface of the housing and affixed at least to the deep surface of the housing, and a flat metal member threaded onto the shaft with sharp leading edge which upon clockwise or counterclockwise rotation about the axis of the shaft will break the endplate, hook into the vertebra and rigidly secure the vertebra to the entire device preventing separation of the vertebra from the device during spinal motion.

Abstract: An apparatus for rigid fixation of individual vertebra to the stabilizing rod. It consists of an anchor secured to the vertebra and a connector with multiple degrees of freedom linking each anchor to a rod. Pressure from the rod against a connector engages internal constricting mechanism and eliminates movement within the connection. This results in rigid fixation between individual anchors and the rod.

Abstract: A system, device and method are disclosed for minimally invasive lateral intervertebral fixation. An intervertebral fixation device includes a weight-bearing shell configured to fit into a disk space between plural vertebrae, the weight-bearing shell including a keyway opening between and through plural sidewalls. A first plurality of anchors is rotatably disposed in a first orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell. A second plurality of anchors is rotatably disposed in a second orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell. A key is adapted to rotate the first plurality of anchors in divergent directions from the second plurality of anchors and to secure a first vertebra and a second vertebra, respectively.

Abstract: There is provided an intervertebral spinal disk implantable between spinal vertebrae and a method for assembling the intervertebral spinal disk. The implantable spinal disk comprises an external shell that including a pair of sidewalls, a back wall, a front wall, a top surface and a bottom surface forming a compartment therebetween, the top surface including a first opening of a first dimension and the bottom surface including a second opening of a second dimension. The implantable spinal disk further comprises a first endplate including a first base portion of a dimension greater than the first dimension of the first opening and disposed in the compartment, a first top portion of a dimension approximately the dimension of the first opening and disposed in the second opening, and at least one first attachment device protruding through the opening and adapted to penetrate into a first vertebra.

Abstract: A spinal fixation and fusion device that includes a housing with leading deep surface conforming to the posterior aspect of the intervertebral disk and trailing outer surface conforming to the anterior surface of the disk, weight bearing sides and the top and bottom surfaces with plurality of openings enabling ingrowths of bone. The device further includes a shaft running from the center of the deep surface and perpendicular to the deep surface of the housing to the center of the outer surface of the housing and affixed at least to the deep surface of the housing, and a flat metal member threaded onto the shaft with sharp leading edge which upon clockwise or counterclockwise rotation about the axis of the shaft will break the endplate, hook into the vertebra and rigidly secure the vertebra to the entire device preventing separation of the vertebra from the device during spinal motion.

Abstract: A spinal fixation access system includes a pedicle screw with extended tabs that form a single solid pedicle screw assembly. The surgical procedure associated with this invention involves making small, discrete incisions for the placement of select pedicle screws. The extended tabs of the pedicle screws retract soft tissue, muscle and the like to thereby provide visibility and access to the head of the pedicle screw. Through the extended tabs, instrumentation such as a spine rod, set screw and other required hardware may be delivered to the pedicle screws. A collar may be coupled around the extended tabs to provide stability to the construct and a platform for additional components of this invention. Once a spine rod is secured to the pedicle screws, a frangible joint joining the tabs to the pedicle screw assembly is broken off using appropriate instrumentation and the extended tabs may be removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for rigid fixation of individual vertebra to the stabilizing rod. It consists of an anchor secured to the vertebra and a connector with multiple degrees of freedom linking each anchor to a rod. Pressure from the rod against a connector engages internal constricting mechanism and eliminates movement within the connection. This results in rigid fixation between individual anchors and the rod.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spinal support coupling device (10) comprised of first and second radial frames (44A and 44B), each pivotably coupled to a center pivot hinge (30). A traveling arm (20) is provided, coupled to the first and second radial frames (44A and 44B) at the center pivot hinge (30). The traveling arm (20) is configured to rotate with respect to the first and second radial frames (44A and 44B) around the center pivot hinge (30). A coupling rod (80) is attached to the traveling arm (20) and configured to connect a first and a second surgical screw (60A and 60B), placed into a patient. The first and second radial frames (44A and 4413) are configured to retain corresponding first and second extension rods (64A and 64B), extending away from the top of the first and second surgical screws (60A and 60B).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for positioning and tracing of a guiding channel during surgery, employing an imaging system. The method includes acquiring an image of a portion of a human body where surgery is to take place and fastening a surgical tool to a moving arm in at least two reference locations of the surgical tool. The surgical tool is moved, outside of the human body and near the portion where surgery is to take place. The coordinates of the two reference locations of the surgical tool are estimated in response to the movement of the surgical tool. The trajectory of the surgical device is then calculated for a distance extending from the surgical device to inside the human body. An image of the trajectory is superimposed on the acquired image, so as to allow visualization of a path extending from the surgical tool to inside the human body. The superimposed image is then displayed for visualization by the surgeon.