Abstract: A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a receiver having an internal cavity with a circumferential groove adjacent a bottom opening, an upper channel with a downward-facing surface below a closure mating structure, and an internal cylindrical surface with a fixed rotation abutment surface. The assembly also includes an insert positionable into the upper channel having outer side surfaces of upstanding arms with a protruding abutment structure, a shank with a capture portion uploadable through the bottom opening, and a ring retainer uploadable into the circumferential groove to engage and hold the capture portion within the cavity. The insert is rotatable about a centerline axis of the receiver until an upwardly-facing surface on the insert rotates beneath the downward-facing surface and an outer surface of the protruding abutment structure abuts the fixed rotation abutment surface to inhibit both upward movement and further rotation, respectively, of the insert within the receiver.

Abstract: A pivotal bone screw assembly includes a receiver having a central bore with a bottom opening and a channel for receiving an elongate rod, with the central bore including a partial spherical internal surface adjacent the bottom opening and a horizontally-extending recess with a cylindrical sidewall surface. The assembly also includes a shank with a capture structure for positioning within the central bore and an anchor portion for attachment to the bone, with the capture structure having a partial spherical lower surface configured to slidably engage the internal surface of the central bore to provide for pivotal motion of the shank with respect to the receiver, together with an insert with a rod seating surface and an outwardly-projecting radiused structure, with the insert being downwardly displaceable within the central bore until the radiused structure snaps into the recess to prevent upward movement of the insert with respect to the receiver.

Abstract: A medical implant assembly having at least two bone attachment structures cooperating with a dynamic longitudinal connecting member, the improvement wherein the connecting member includes: a first end, a transition portion, and a second end; a substantially rod portion extending longitudinally from the first end to the transition portion, and including a longitudinal axis and a substantially rigid core running substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis; a substantially cord portion joined with the rod portion and extending from the transition portion to the second end; and a substantially flexible jacket portion covering the rod and cord portions.

Abstract: A surgical table comprising a base and a patient support supported between opposed ends of the base, each opposed end including a pitch/roll assembly. The base is configured such that the patient support can be rolled and pitched relative to the opposed ends via the pitch/roll assemblies such that the roll axis of each pitch/roll assembly remains coaxial regardless of how the patient support is pitched or rolled relative to the base. The patient support includes an outer frame and an inner frame supported on, and displaceable relative to, the outer frame. The inner frame is further articulating about, and relative to, itself. The outer frame is rigid in that it does not change configurations.

Abstract: A method of securing a rod to a receiver via a closure top. The receiver is configured to be used with a bone anchor and includes a pair of upright arms that define an open channel configured to receive the rod, a discontinuous helically wound receiver guide and advancement structure formed into the interior surfaces of the upright arms, and horizontally-elongated tool-engaging structures formed on the outer surface of the upright arms. The method further includes positioning the rod within the open channel of the receiver and securing the rod to the receiver by threadably advancing the closure top to secure the rod and within the receiver body of the receiver. The method further includes rotatably attaching a lower end of a tool to the receiver.

Abstract: A method of assembling a pivotal bone screw assembly includes applying tooling to a receiver assembly comprising a receiver with a channel for receiving a rod and a cavity with an interior support surface adjacent a lower opening, a retaining structure located in the cavity above the interior support surface, and an insert held in a first position above the retaining structure via a first interference engagement between the insert and the receiver. The method further includes uploading a capture portion of a shank through the lower opening until the capture portion is captured by the retaining structure, and then directly contacting the insert with the tooling to drive the insert downward to a second position to establish a biased overlapping engagement between the outer surface of the insert and the interior surface in the receiver that inhibits the insert from moving back up within the receiver to the first position.

Abstract: A receiver assembly for securing an elongate rod to a bone anchor includes a receiver having a channel configured to receive the elongate rod and a helically wound receiver guide and advancement structure formed into interior surfaces of the receiver. The receiver assembly further includes a threaded plug configured for positioning within the channel to secure the elongate rod to the receiver in a locked configuration, with the threaded plug having a lower axially protruding portion configured to engage the rod so as to lock the rod in the receiver in the locked configuration.

Abstract: A method for securing a longitudinal connection member assembly into multiple bone anchors by inserting the assembly into the bone anchors before or after the assembly is tensioned. The assembly includes a tensionable cord, an outer end blocker, and a set screw. The cord has a first end portion fixedly connected to a first structure, extends through a through-bore of a second structure, and has a second end portion that extends through a blocker through-bore of the outer end blocker. The outer end blocker has oppositely spaced lateral external planar surfaces and a threaded closed bore. The set screw is releasably engageable to the outer end blocker via the threaded closed bore. The method further includes tensioning the cord from the second end portion, holding the planar surfaces during tensioning of the cord within the blocker, and securing the tensioned cord to the outer end blocker by the set screw.

Abstract: A receiver assembly for securing an elongate rod to a bone anchor includes a receiver having a channel configured to receive the elongate rod, a helically wound receiver guide and advancement structure formed into the interior surfaces of the receiver. The receiver assembly further includes a fastener configured for positioning within the channel to secure the elongate rod to the receiver in a locked configuration, with the fastener having an outer surface with a mating continuous helically wound guide and advancement structure configured for rotatable engagement with the receiver guide and advancement structure.

Abstract: A method of assembling a receiver assembly includes aligning an insert with a receiver such that a second channel of the insert is in non-alignment with a first channel of the receiver, followed by loading the insert into a through-space of the receiver that extends between a bottom opening and an upper opening. The through-space includes an internal recess beneath a helically wound guide and advancement structure and an internal ridge projecting inwardly below the internal recess. The insert includes side structures protruding laterally outward and spaced below top surfaces. The method further includes rotating the insert within the through-space of the receiver to align the second channel with the first channel so as to together receive an elongate rod, while also rotating the side structures of the insert into the internal recess of the through-space with the side structures being adjacent to and above the internal ridge.

Abstract: A receiver assembly for capturing an elongate rod in a receiver of a bone anchor includes the receiver, a first threaded closure, and a second threaded closure. The receiver includes an upper portion that defines a first channel, interior surfaces that have helically wound thread, and a lower pressure insert that can be positioned within the first channel and has upright arms. Each of the first threaded closure and the second threaded closure have a cylindrical body with an external surface having continuous helically wound thread that can rotatably mate with the helically wound receiver thread. The first threaded closure and the second threaded closure are interchangeable for different locking configurations in the receiver assembly. The first threaded closure has a downward protrusion that can compressively engage the elongate rod. The second threaded closure has a bottom surface that can compressively engage the upright arms of the lower pressure insert.

Abstract: A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a receiver with a base defining an internal cavity with a seating surface adjacent a bottom opening and an upper portion defining a channel configured to receive an elongate rod. The assembly also includes an anchor member having a proximal end portion with a partial spherical or spheroid shaped head to establish pivotable motion between the anchor member and the receiver, and a planar top surface surrounding an internal drive socket. The assembly further includes an insert positionable within the channel to transfer a downwardly-directed force onto the proximal end portion to lock a position of the anchor member relative to the receiver, with the planar top surface remaining spaced apart from the insert so as to not directly receive the downwardly-directed force therefrom. A method of use is disclosed.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient in a prone position during a surgical procedure is provided, including an open patient support frame suspended above a floor and a base for supporting and suspending a the frame during a surgical procedure, the base including a pair of spaced vertically translatable subassemblies reversibly attachable to the frame by a pair of fail-safe rotatable connector attachment mechanisms to prevent inadvertent uncoupling of a first and second outer end of the frame from the base structure.

Abstract: A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in a receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. The shank upper portion expands a retaining member in the receiver cavity to capture the shank upper portion in the receiver. The retaining member and attached shank are pivotable with respect to the receiver until locked in place with respect to the receiver. A pre-assembled receiver, retaining member and compression insert may be popped-on or snapped-on to the shank upper portion prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra.

Abstract: A patient-positioning system, computer-control and data-integration system, and surgical componentry are provided. The patient-positioning system can be used to manipulate the patient prior to, during, and after surgery to globally or regionally articulate the patient's body to facilitate stabilization of the patient's spine. And the computer-control and data-integration system can be used to facilitate operation of the patient-positioning system and enabling technologies use to perform surgery. Furthermore, the surgical componentry can be used to locally articulate the patient's body and/or the stabilize patient's spine. Surgical methods of using the patient-positioning system, the computer-control and data-integration system, and the surgical componentry for improving patient health outcomes are also provided.

Abstract: Open implant closure structures include a helically wound guide and advancement flange form having splay control surfaces. Multi-start closures and closures with inner set screws have splay control contours for interlocking with cooperating flange forms of bone anchor receivers. Flange form heights, thicknesses and other geometry, such as splay control ramp angle may be varied.

Abstract: A patient-positioning system, computer-control and data-integration system, and surgical componentry are provided. The patient-positioning system can be used to manipulate the patient prior to, during, and after surgery to globally or regionally articulate the patient's body to facilitate stabilization of the patient's spine. And the computer-control and data-integration system can be used to facilitate operation of the patient-positioning system and enabling technologies use to perform surgery. Furthermore, the surgical componentry can be used to locally articulate the patient's body and/or the stabilize patient's spine. Surgical methods of using the patient-positioning system, the computer-control and data-integration system, and the surgical componentry for improving patient health outcomes are also provided.

Abstract: A patient-positioning system, computer-control and data-integration system, and surgical componentry are provided. The patient-positioning system can be used to manipulate the patient prior to, during, and after surgery to globally or regionally articulate the patient's body to facilitate stabilization of the patient's spine. And the computer-control and data-integration system can be used to facilitate operation of the patient-positioning system and enabling technologies use to perform surgery. Furthermore, the surgical componentry can be used to locally articulate the patient's body and/or the stabilize patient's spine. Surgical methods of using the patient-positioning system, the computer-control and data-integration system, and the surgical componentry for improving patient health outcomes are also provided.

Abstract: A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a receiver having an upper portion defining a channel for receiving a rod and a base defining a central bore with a seating surface adjacent a lower opening and a cut-out portion extending radially outward from the lower opening that is defined, in part, by one or more downward-facing planar surfaces. The assembly includes a shank having a capture portion with rounded shape including a spherical lower outer surface extending downward toward a neck, and an anchor portion opposite the capture portion. The capture portion is positionable into the central bore with the lower outer surface in pivotal engagement with the seating surface and the shank extending downward through the lower opening, and with the neck of the shank being positionable in the cut-out portion of the lower opening to provide for increased pivotal angulation of the shank with respect to the receiver.

Abstract: A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a pre-assembled receiver assembly and a bone anchor with a capture portion uploadable into the receiver assembly through a lower opening. The receiver assembly includes a receiver defining a channel for receiving a rod and an axial bore having a recess and a spherical seating surface above the lower opening. The receiver assembly also includes a retainer operable to capture the capture portion within the axial bore with the bone anchor extending downward through the lower opening, and a pressure insert having an upper surface operable to engage the elongate rod and a lower surface operable to engage the capture portion. The receiver assembly further includes a pair of opposed, partially annular shaped members in overlapping engagement with the pressure insert and configured to bias the pressure insert against the capture portion to provide a pre-lock friction fit for the pivotal bone anchor assembly.