Abstract: An artificial bone graft implant for use as a replacement for living bone material in surgical procedures requiring the use of bone graft material includes a body formed of a microporous material and configured to be implanted into a prepared site in a patient's bone tissue. The body has a center portion, an outer portion and a pair of opposed outer surfaces defining the body. The body has a small average pore size in the center portion that gradually changes to larger average pore size in the outer portion. The pore size of the center portion of the implant allows for a load bearing capacity similar to natural bone and the pore size of the outer portion of the implant allows for the ingrowth of bone tissue.

Abstract: An artificial spinal disc for surgical placement between adjacent vertebrae including a first component for attaching to a first vertebrae, the first component having a concave recess, with the concave contoured surface having a circumference of 360.degree.. A second component for attaching to a second vertebrae, the second component including a projection with a convex surface, the convex contoured surface having a circumference of 360.degree.. The corresponding contoured surfaces shaped to allow an unrestricted rotational and a flexion/extension bending motion between the first and second components relative to a patient's normal spinal axis when in a standing position with the spine in a straightened position.

Abstract: An angled bone fixation apparatus including a bone screw having a first end portion adapted to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass and a second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top surface. An elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis with the slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges. The plate member has a first and second angled sidewall at the slot with the sidewalls each forming an acute angle with the upper and lower plate surfaces. A washer interfaces with the plate member and the bone screw, for distributing load from the bone screw to the plate member with the washer including an opening and upper and lower surfaces with the lower surface having a pair of spaced apart projections extending therefrom.

Abstract: A surgical spinal fixation system includes a bone bolt having first end portions that are adapted to be surgically implanted into a patient's spine at first and second spaced apart positions and a central portion of the bone bolt defining a load transfer surface, the bone bolt having a second upper threaded sections for threadably receiving a nut at a shaped, countersunk interface. As an alternate embodiment, a bone screw provides an upper enlarged head with a lower coarsely threaded shank. A plate having upper and lower surfaces and outer opposed edges is provided with an elongated slot for accommodating a selected bone bolt or bone screw. The plate edges carry fine adjustments extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the plate and a load transfer washer interfaces the plate and the selected bone bolt or bone screw for distributing load (and reducing stress) from the bone bolt (or screw) to the plate.