Abstract: A surgical barrier to be introduced during spinal fusion surgery in order to protect a specified area of the patient from adverse effects associated with surgical techniques. A method of using the surgical barrier including: establishing an operative corridor to a target surgical site; introducing a spinal fusion implant into the through said operative corridor, the fusion implant including fusion-enhancing material; introducing at least a portion of an intraoperative surgical barrier through the operative corridor to the surgical target site, the intraoperative surgical barrier including an expandable seal member; and expanding the expandable seal member to establish a barrier between the fusion implant and at least a portion of the surgical target site and the operative corridor.

Abstract: Implants and methods aimed at safely repairing and/or reconstructing the facet joint so as to provide the required flexibility and elasticity to support continued motion after the implant has been implanted in a facet joint.

Abstract: One embodiment of a hollow spinal spacer (10) includes a curved anterior wall (11) having opposite ends (12, 13), a posterior wall (15) having opposite ends (16, 17), two lateral walls (20, 21), each integrally connected between the opposite ends (12, 13, 16, 17) of the anterior (11) and posterior (15) walls to define a chamber (30). The walls (11, 15, 20, 21) include a superior face (35) and an inferior face (40). The superior face (35) defines a first opening (36) in communication with the chamber (30) and includes a first vertebral engaging surface (37). The inferior face (40) defines a second opening (41) in communication with the chamber (30) and includes a second vertebral engaging surface (42).

Abstract: A guide and method of using the guide for positioning within a patient between vertebral members for contouring each of the members. The guide comprises a first section and a second section. A first edge is positioned along an edge of the first section, and a second edge is positioned along an edge of the second section. One or more elongated rods extend through the sections. One or both of the sections are movable along the rods to adjust a spacing between the first edge and the second edge. When positioned within the patient, the first edge is aligned along a first vertebral member and the second edge is aligned along a second vertebral manner. A manner of locking the sections is included for preventing the sections from moving relative to each other once the first and second edges are aligned within the patient.

Abstract: A guide and method of using the guide for positioning within a patient between vertebral members for contouring each of the members. The guide comprises a first section and a second section. A first edge is positioned along an edge of the first section, and a second edge is positioned along an edge of the second section. One or more elongated rods extend through the sections. One or both of the sections are movable along the rods to adjust a spacing between the first edge and the second edge. When positioned within the patient, the first edge is aligned along a first vertebral member and the second edge is aligned along a second vertebral manner. A manner of locking the sections is included for preventing the sections from moving relative to each other once the first and second edges are aligned within the patient.