Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device may include first and second plates, each having inner and outer surfaces thereof, the plates may be disposed in a spaced apart relationship such that the inner surfaces face toward one another, and the outer surfaces face away from one another, the first plate including a retaining wall extending outwardly from the inner surface of the first plate; and a belleville washer, having narrow and wide ends thereof, may be disposed with said wide end contacting said inner surface of said first plate within said retaining wall, such that a compressive load applied to the outer surfaces of said plates is counteracted by said belleville washer, said belleville washer including a plurality of radially spaced concentric groove; wherein each concentric groove of the plurality of radially spaced concentric grooves in the belleville washer may have a respective length, a respective depth along the respective length, and a respective width along the respective length, at least one of the resp

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. Each of the opposing plates has an external surface with a deflectable wire mesh thereon, into which the bone can readily grow.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one belleville washer having radially spaced concentric grooves. In a preferred embodiment there is a single such belleville washer which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified belleville washer can be rotatably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate.

Abstract: An instrument for holding an intervertebral spacer, the instrument comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end forming a handle and the distal end forming a spacer engaging subassembly, the spacer engaging subassembly comprising at least one selectively expanding and contracting enclosure into which at least a portion of the spacer is introduced when the engaging subassembly is expanded and an actuating mechanism, extending from the proximal end to the distal end, by which the spacer member engaging subassembly may be selectively expanded and contracted.

Abstract: A screw and coupling element assembly for use with an orthopedic rod implantation apparatus includes a screw with a head and a shaft extending from the head, a coupling element with a seat within which the head is seatable such that the shaft protrudes from the coupling element, and a locking element mateable with the coupling element and when mated is selectively movable through a plurality of positions including unlocked and locked positions. When in the unlocked position, the locking element presents a rod-receiving channel and the head is movable in the seat such that the shaft is directable in a plurality of angles relative to the coupling element. When in the locked position, a rod disposed within the rod-receiving channel is fixed relative to the coupling element and the head is immovable in the seat such that the shaft is fixed at an angle relative to the coupling element.

Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one spirally slotted belleville washer having radially spaced concentric grooves. In a preferred embodiment there is a single such belleville washer which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified belleville washer can be rotatably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate.

Abstract: An instrument for holding an intervertebral spacer includes a shaft having a proximal end forming a handle, and a distal end forming a claw subassembly for holding the spacer; the claw subassembly including a first pincer which is fixed at the distal end of the shaft and a second pincer which is selectively rotateable into and out of spacer holding association with said first pincer to hold and release, respectively, the spacer. The instrument includes an actuation mechanism for selectively rotating the second pincer, wherein the first and second pincers have opposing inner curved surfaces that extend to a distal end of the instrument.

Abstract: An artificial intervertebral disc having a pair of opposing plate members for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one spirally slotted belleville washer having radially extending grooves. One plate member has a centrally located ball-shaped protrusion that is rotatably coupled in a central socket in the narrow end of the belleville washer, and the wide end of the belleville washer is held against the other plate member by a shield with rivets. Therefore, the disc assembly will not come apart under tension loads applied to the plate members, and the location of the ball joint coupling provides the disc assembly with a centroid of motion that is centrally located between the vertebral bone surfaces, both causing the disc assembly to behave similarly in these respects to a healthy natural intervertebral disc.

Abstract: An artificial intervertebral disc having a pair of opposing plate members for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball joint coupling. One plate member has a centrally located ball-shaped protrusion that is rotatably coupled in a central socket in a cone-shaped protrusion on the other plate member. Thereby, the plate members are angulatable with respect to one another. Further, the disc assembly will not come apart under tension loads applied to the plate members, and the location of the ball joint coupling provides the disc assembly with a stationary centroid of motion that is centrally located between the vertebral bone surfaces, both causing the disc assembly to behave similarly in these respects to a healthy natural intervertebral disc.

Abstract: A porous intervertebral spacer having a flexible wire mesh as a vertebral body contact surface, the flexible wire mesh preferably being a convex titanium mesh laser-welded at its perimeter to the spacer. The mesh is domed in its initial undeflected conformation, but deflects as necessary during insertion of the spacer between vertebral bodies, and, once the spacer is seated between the vertebral bodies, deforms as necessary under anatomical loads to reshape itself to the concave surface of the vertebral endplate, providing gripping and holding strength upon initial implantation, and an osteoinductive surface through which the bone may ultimately grow, making the fixation of the spacer between the vertebral bodies secure.

Abstract: An artificial intervertebral disc having a pair of opposing plate members for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a ball joint coupling. One plate member has a centrally located ball-shaped protrusion that is rotatably coupled in a central socket in a cone-shaped protrusion on the other plate member. Thereby, the plate members are angulatable with respect to one another. Further, the disc assembly will not come apart under tension loads applied to the plate members, and the location of the ball joint coupling provides the disc assembly with a stationary centroid of motion that is centrally located between the vertebral bone surfaces, both causing the disc assembly to behave similarly in these respects to a healthy natural intervertebral disc.

Abstract: A trial spacer kit has a plurality of trial spacers of varying heights. Each spacer includes a disc having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a height of said spacer, an annular groove formed in said disc that defines a central trunk of said spacer, the central trunk extending between the top and bottom surfaces of said spacer, a first radial flange provided at an upper end of the central trunk and a second radial flange provided at a lower end of the central trunk. The annular grooves of the spacers have a common dimension. The radial flanges of a first one of the spacers is thicker than the radial flanges of a second one of the spacers so that the first one of the spacers has a greater height than the second one of the spacers.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a wave washer having a circumferential extent surrounding a central bore. Various wave washer embodiments disclosed include circumferential extents that are ring-shaped, spiral-shaped, straight, bowed, grooved, wavy, thinning, thickening, and slotted. Various central bores disclosed include simple bores and bores that form a curvate socket. Various plate embodiments disclosed include plates having, on inwardly facing surfaces, a flat surface, a circular recess, or a ball-shaped protuberance that is mateable with the curvate socket. The wave washers are disposable between the plates, through various disclosed couplings, so that the plates compress, rotate and angulate freely relative to one another, enabling the artificial disc to mimic a healthy natural intervertebral disc.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a wave washer. In a first embodiment the wave washer is ring-shaped. In a second embodiment the wave washer is spiral-shaped.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one spirally slotted belleville washer having radially extending grooves. In a preferred embodiment there is a single such belleville which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified Belleville washer can be rotatably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate. The belleville washer has at least one radially extending groove and at least one spiral slot.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is an arched strip spring. In a first embodiment there are multiple springs positioned independently about the area of the opposing plates. In a second embodiment there is a single arched strip spring modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this second embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The spring and post members are flexibly coupled such that the upper and lower plates may rotate relative to one another.