Abstract: A bone fixation system including a bone plate and surgical drill guide is provided. The drill guide assembly includes one or more alignment drill tubes that are remotely aligned with corresponding fastener holes in the bone plate, and a plate holder to engage a hole in the bone plate. The surgical drill guide is releasably lockable to the plate holder.

Abstract: Translational bone fixation assemblies, kits containing such assemblies, and methods of use are described herein. The described assemblies may be used in spinal fusion procedures in which a damaged or diseased disc (or part of a disc) is removed from between a pair of vertebrae and a spinal fusion spacer is placed between the vertebrae. The assemblies may be applied to an anterior portion of the affected vertebrae to span the affected disc space, and may be fixed to the vertebrae using bone screws. The assemblies may function to maintain the vertebrae aligned during the initial period following fixation in which fusion of the spacer to the adjacent vertebrae occurs. The assemblies may also function to share some of the axial spinal load applied to the fusion spacer to prevent extreme subsidence of the spacer into the vertebral body, such as where the patient has poor bone quality.

Abstract: Translational bone fixation assemblies, kits containing such assemblies, and methods of use are described herein. The described assemblies may be used in spinal fusion procedures in which a damaged or diseased disc (or part of a disc) is removed from between a pair of vertebrae and a spinal fusion spacer is placed between the vertebrae. The assemblies may be applied to an anterior portion of the affected vertebrae to span the affected disc space, and may be fixed to the vertebrae using bone screws. The assemblies may function to maintain the vertebrae aligned during the initial period following fixation in which fusion of the spacer to the adjacent vertebrae occurs. The assemblies may also function to share some of the axial spinal load applied to the fusion spacer to prevent extreme subsidence of the spacer into the vertebral body, such as where the patient has poor bone quality.

Abstract: An assembly for use with a bone fastener includes a fixation device and a bone fastener retainer device. The fixation device has an opening configured to receive a bone fastener in an installed position in which an outer end portion of the bone fastener is located within the opening. The retainer device is receivable over the fixation device in a closed position extending over the location taken by the outer end portion of the bone fastener within the opening. Additionally, the fixation device and the retainer device together have first and second locking structures. The locking structures are configured to engage each other in an undeflected condition when the retainer device is in a partially closed position, and to snap into interlocked engagement with each other under an applied force that moves the retainer device from the partially closed position to the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with bone fasteners comprises a first fixation device having a slot configured to receive a bone fastener, and a second fixation device having another slot configured to receive another bone fastener. The first and second fixation devices are interconnected for rotation relative to each other when the bone fasteners are in the slots. Summarized differently, an apparatus for use with bone fasteners comprises a first fixation device having a first pair of openings defining bone fastener locations, and a second fixation device having a second pair of openings defining bone fastener locations. The first and second fixation devices are interconnected for movement relative to each other such that the bone fastener locations defined by the first and second pairs of openings are located at four corners of a rectangular array.

Abstract: A surgical drill guide for use with a bone plate having fastener holes oriented at predetermined angles with respect to the plate, the surgical drill guide having at least one alignment drill guiding barrel that is aligned with the respective fastener holes in the bone plate for drilling the holes at the desired range of angles permitted by the plate hole.

Abstract: A fixation assembly is described, comprising a fixation plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, a longitudinal axis, and a first opening extending from the upper surface through to the lower surface; a first resilient element extending through at least a portion of the first opening; wherein the first opening is configured to receive a first bone fastener, the first bone fastener having a head and a shaft; wherein the first resilient element is deflectable from a first condition to a second condition; and wherein the first resilient element is configured to engage at least a portion of the head of the first bone fastener when the first bone fastener is at least partially inserted into the first opening. A method of use is also described.

Abstract: A fixation system may comprise at least one carriage element being capable of receiving one or more bone fasteners. The carriage element is mountable on a plate, and the plate has an engaging portion for adjustably securing the carriage element to the main plate. The engaging portion of the carriage element allows translational movement of the carriage plate with respect to the plate in only one axial direction. In one embodiment, the plate includes arms for receiving the carriage element and the carriage element includes channels mountable on the arms, with the engaging portion disposed within the channels.