Abstract: An expandable intervertebral cage includes vertically opposed superior and inferior plates and longitudinally opposed distal and proximal wedges disposed between the plates. The wedges define ramps that engage complimentary ramps of the superior and inferior plates to increase a vertical distance between the plates. An actuator is located between the plates, defines a central, longitudinal axis, and is coupled to the wedges such that, as the actuator rotates about the axis, at least one of the wedges moves longitudinally relative to the other, thereby increasing the vertical separation distance. At least one locking component is insertable within a receptacle at least partially defined by the proximal wedge and is configured to transition from an unlocked configuration, where the actuator is rotatable relative to the proximal wedge, to a locked configuration, where the actuator is rotationally affixed relative to the proximal wedge.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer implant (80) is provided with a retention mechanism (86) to help alleviate expulsion and movement of the implant when placed in the spine while providing an implant that is easier to insert in the spine. In one embodiment the retention mechanism comprises a keel on at least one of the inferior or superior faces of the spacer implant preferably extending in an anterior-posterior direction. In another embodiment the implant comprises a spacer (84) and a plate (82), the plate comprising a supplemental or alternative retention mechanism. In one embodiment the retention mechanism comprises one or more holes (88) in the anterior end of the plate. In yet another embodiment, the retention mechanism comprises one or more blades that are in a first position when inserted and are preferably rotated to a second position that engages the superior and inferior vertebrae.

Abstract: A growing rod for mounting between attachment mechanisms that are secured to anatomical structures of a patient having scoliosis. The growing rod includes an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing. The inner housing includes a magnet assembly including a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and a gear reduction mechanism coupled to the magnet. A first rod is secured to the inner housing and a second rod is secured to the outer housing. The gear reduction mechanism reduces an output rotation of the magnet to rotate a driver that operates to move the inner housing along a longitudinal axis with respect to the outer housing.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant includes a first endplate and a endplate, a first wedge member and a second wedge member spaced from the first wedge member that couple the first and second plates together. The first and second wedge members configured to move between a first collapsed position and a second expansion position. The implant includes an actuation member coupled to the first wedge member and the second wedge member. The first and second wedge members can be coupled to the upper and lower endplates at guide members that are asymmetric. An instrument can be coupled to the implant so as to provide a force to the actuation member that causes the wedge members to move between the collapsed position and the expansion position.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into the disc space between vertebrae. The implant including a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, a plurality of bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively uncoupling from the implant.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant includes a first endplate and a endplate, a first wedge member and a second wedge member spaced from the first wedge member that couple the first and second plates together. The first and second wedge members configured to move between a first collapsed position and a second expansion position. The implant includes an actuation member coupled to the first wedge member and the second wedge member. The first and second wedge members can be coupled to the upper and lower endplates at guide members that are asymmetric. An instrument can be coupled to the implant so as to provide a force to the actuation member that causes the wedge members to move between the collapsed position and the expansion position.

Abstract: An injection device includes a product container having an injection needle, a needle protection cap detachably secured to the product container surrounds the injection needle and seals same in a sterile manner. A cap is connected to the needle protection cap, via a remover element having an engaging element, in such a way that the removal of the cap from the injection device brings about the removal of the needle protection cap from the product container, where the engaging element is in an engaging position in relation to the needle protection cap, where in the engaging position, a section of the needle protection cap is arranged distally in line with the engaging element, characterized in that the cap and the engaging element are coupled in such a way that the cap is or can be moved relative to the engaging element during the removal from the injection device.

Abstract: A retractor includes a first arm, a second arm, and a translating member. The first arm comprises a proximal portion configured to retain a first retractor member and a distal portion configured to rotate relative to the proximal portion about a first axis. The second arm is configured to retain a second retractor member, such that rotation of the distal portion about the first axis causes the first retractor member to pivot toward or away from the second retractor member when the first retractor member and the second retractor member are coupled to the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The translating member is coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and is configured to receive a drive force that causes the translating member to bias the distal portion to pivot relative to the proximal portion about the first axis.

Abstract: A retractor includes a first arm, a second arm, and a translating member. The first arm comprises a proximal portion configured to retain a first retractor member and a distal portion configured to rotate relative to the proximal portion about a first axis. The second arm is configured to retain a second retractor member, such that rotation of the distal portion about the first axis causes the first retractor member to pivot toward or away from the second retractor member when the first retractor member and the second retractor member are coupled to the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The translating member is coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and is configured to receive a drive force that causes the translating member to bias the distal portion to pivot relative to the proximal portion about the first axis.

Abstract: A piston rod unit for a device for administering a medical substance delays a release of a mechanism of the device and includes an outer piston rod with a hollow space and a contact face for interacting with a stopper to discharge the substance, and an inner piston rod mounted in the outer piston rod to form a cavity at the distal end of the outer piston rod. The cavity contains a viscous fluid and a fluid displacement element located at least partially in the cavity that is operably or integrally connected to the inner piston rod. During relative movement between the fluid displacement element and the outer piston rod, fluid displacement causes movement resistance, such that mechanism release is delayed. The outer piston rod includes a distal, first piston rod part, comprising the contact face and the cavity, and a second piston rod part adjoining the first.

Abstract: An interspinous process spacer for implantation in an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process includes a balloon-like body, a first deployable protrusion and a second deployable protrusion. The body has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. The spacer is arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The first deployable protrusion is mounted proximate the proximal end and the second deployable protrusion is mounted proximate the distal end. The first and second deployable protrusions are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: A growing rod for mounting between attachment mechanisms that are secured to anatomical structures of a patient having scoliosis. The growing rod includes an outer housing and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing. The inner housing includes a magnet assembly including a magnet having a first pole and a second pole and a gear reduction mechanism coupled to the magnet. A first rod is secured to the inner housing and a second rod is secured to the outer housing. The gear reduction mechanism reduces an output rotation of the magnet to rotate a driver that operates to move the inner housing along a longitudinal axis with respect to the outer housing.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into the disc space between vertebrae. The implant including a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, a plurality of bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively uncoupling from the implant.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant includes a first endplate and a endplate, a first wedge member and a second wedge member spaced from the first wedge member that couple the first and second plates together. The first and second wedge members configured to move between a first collapsed position and a second expansion position. The implant includes an actuation member coupled to the first wedge member and the second wedge member. The first and second wedge members can be coupled to the upper and lower endplates at guide members that are asymmetric. An instrument can be coupled to the implant so as to provide a force to the actuation member that causes the wedge members to move between the collapsed position and the expansion position.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer implant (80) is provided with a retention mechanism (86) to help alleviate expulsion and movement of the implant when placed in the spine while providing an implant that is easier to insert in the spine. In one embodiment the retention mechanism comprises a keel on at least one of the inferior or superior faces of the spacer implant preferably extending in an anterior-posterior direction. In another embodiment the implant comprises a spacer (84) and a plate (82), the plate comprising a supplemental or alternative retention mechanism. In one embodiment the retention mechanism comprises one or more holes (88) in the anterior end of the plate. In yet another embodiment, the retention mechanism comprises one or more blades that are in a first position when inserted and are preferably rotated to a second position that engages the superior and inferior vertebrae.

Abstract: A growing rod for mounting between attachment mechanisms that are secured to anatomical structures of a patient having scoliosis. The growing rod includes a base rod having an attachment end, an extendable rod that is translatable relative to the base rod along a longitudinal axis and a housing enclosing at least a portion of the extendable rod therein. A magnet is rotatably mounted within the housing and is enclosed by a top magnet cover and a bottom magnet cover. The magnet includes a first pole and a second pole. A gear reduction mechanism is associated with the magnet and the extendable rod. The gear reduction mechanism reduces an output rotation to the extendable rod relative to an input rotation from the magnet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low profile intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral disc space in-between adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral implant includes a plate preferably coupled to a spacer. The plate is preferably formed from a first material and the spacer is preferably formed from a second material, the first material being different from the second material. The plate is preferably sized and configured so that the plate does not extend beyond the perimeter of the spacer. In this manner, the plate preferably does not increase the height profile of the spacer and the plate may be implanted within the intervertebral disc space in conjunction with the spacer.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.