Methods and devices for treating spinal deformities are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a low-profile spinal anchoring device is provided for receiving a spinal fixation element, such as a tether, therethrough. The device generally includes a staple body that is adapted to seat a spinal fixation element, a fastening element for fixing the staple body to bone, and a locking assembly for coupling a spinal fixation element to the staple body. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is adapted to couple to the staple body such that the spinal fixation is disposed therebetween, and a locking nut that is adapted to engage the staple body to mate the washer to the staple body.

A method comprises the steps of: imaging a patient anatomy; selecting an implant strategy for at least one bone fastener having a first member; registering the imaging of the patient anatomy with imaging of a surgical driver; engaging the first member with tissue of the patient anatomy via the surgical driver according to the implant strategy; manipulating the patient anatomy; acquiring data points representative of a position of the first member relative to tissue; and retrieving the data points from a computer database for attaching a second member with the first member. Systems, spinal constructs, implants and surgical instruments are disclosed.

Devices, systems and methods for minimally open orthopedic spine surgery are disclosed. A first flexible screw-based retractor is designed to be coupled to each pedicle screw inserted into adjacent vertebral bodies. A retractor system is provided in which a first retractor blade is mounted to one of the screws and a second movable retractor blade is moved away from the first blade, in a medial direction, to create a working channel through which the disc space may be accessed for passing instruments and implants. Light may be incorporated into the device to illuminate the surgical field. One or all of the retractor blades may be made of a sterilizable plastic or metal and be disposable or reusable.

A method comprises the steps of: imaging a patient anatomy; selecting an implant strategy for at least one bone fastener having a first member; registering the imaging of the patient anatomy with imaging of a surgical driver; engaging the first member with tissue of the patient anatomy via the surgical driver according to the implant strategy; manipulating the patient anatomy; acquiring data points representative of a position of the first member relative to tissue; and retrieving the data points from a computer database for attaching a second member with the first member. Systems, spinal constructs, implants and surgical instruments are disclosed.

The invention is a system and a device for use in open or minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as a bone implant fixation procedure. The device is configured to perform various functions during a bone implant fixation procedure, including performing at least one of: penetration of a bone to form a hole or opening for receipt of a screw; neuromonitoring, in cooperation with a neuromonitoring device, of the hole during, or post-, formation of the hole so as to sense any nearby nerves adjacent to the hole that may be in the path of a screw, or otherwise affected, when a screw is placed within the hole; neurostimulation, in cooperation with a neuromonitoring device, of nerves adjacent to the hole during, or post-, formation of the hole; and measuring of a depth of the hole and providing a digital measurement of the depth to assist the surgeon in selecting the appropriate length of screw.

Anchor delivery systems include markings on the surfaces of the delivery device which are visually exposed to the user through openings or fenestrations in the anchor, providing visual feedback to the user on the progress of the anchor's insertion. A suture-locking plug is deformable within the anchor tip, thereby enhancing suture entrapment within the tip of the anchor. A compliant component of the handle places the handle components in tension, thereby absorbing built-in axial looseness in the handle. The handle further includes a spin cavity which allows for free spin of the inserter shaft to finalize insertion of the anchor into bone when the anchor has not been fully seated flush with or below the cortical bone surface.

A medical or dental device for determining a bone's quality by cutting a thread into the bone with a rotating threaded element comprises a control unit having a measurement circuit configured: (i) to determine values of the motor current via a first electrical contact device with which the motor drive is supplied for rotational drive of the threaded element that can be connected to the motor drive, the current values being a measure of the bone's quality; (ii) to monitor and/or to determine the penetration depth of the threaded element into the bone, and (iii) to generate measurement signals which show the relationship between the penetration depth and the determined current values or parameters derived therefrom, and to transmit these signals to a display unit, which displays the relationship between the determined current values or parameters derived therefrom, in particular the bone's quality, and the penetration depth.

A drill bit and method for normalizing bone is provided. The drill bit has a non-round drill bit core that is adapted to cut hard bone and to not cut soft bone. The drill bit has a cutting edge which may be positioned within a compression zone of the non-round drill bit core. The rotational speed of the drill bit and the profile of the drill bit core are tuned so that hard bone recovers into a cutting zone defined by the cutting edge while soft bone remains outside of the cutting zone. The insertion torque of the drill bit can be measured to determine when the normalization is adequate.

In some embodiments, a spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient using quick-connect sleeve assemblies. Each quick-connect sleeve assembly can be coupled to a bone fastener assembly in a fast and intuitive way. In one embodiment, a quick-connect sleeve assembly has a detachable member and a movable member. Both members engage a collar of the bone fastener assembly. In one embodiment, the engagement can be locked via one or more locking features to facilitate screwing a bone fastener of the bone fastener assembly onto a vertebral body in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Each quick-connect sleeve assembly has a low profile and is particularly shaped for minimally invasive entry.

Disclosed is an axial and rotational stopping device for use when creating threads in a predrilled pilot hole or inserting an allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant into a threaded hole. The device can also provide consistent depth control for drilling a pilot hole, tapping the hole to create threads, and implanting an allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant while preventing damage to the threads in the tapped hole that would be caused by continuing to rotate a tap once the depth stop has been reached and the tap can no longer advance in the axial direction, as well as preventing damage to the threads in the tapped hole, the threads on the mating allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant, and the drive features on either the driver instrument or the allograft bony void filler or synthetic implant.