An anchoring element includes a screw having a shank with a bone thread portion and a head. The anchoring element also includes a receiving part for connecting the screw to a rod-shaped element, the screw and the receiving part being connected to one another in a polyaxial or monoaxial manner, and the shank of the screw being of tubular design and its wall having a plurality of recesses. The bone anchoring element provides for the bone screw to fuse with the surrounding bone substance, and at the same time bone portions or vertebrae can be positioned relative to one another and fixed. Moreover, a substance to be introduced into the bone can be introduced precisely at the desired site.

A power tool for removing an intervertebral disc and preparing vertebral endplates is described. The power tool may include a cutting element, and the height of the cutting element may be adjustable. The cutting element may be a braided cable and may include one or more beads to enhance the effectiveness of the cable. The cutting element may have a minimum height requirement, which may not be satisfied in patients with a collapsed disc due to degenerative disc disorder. For these patients, also described are bone tamps for increasing the intervertebral distance and providing access to tissues distal to the tamp. One type of bone tamp features an inflatable balloon with an inner lumen. Another type of bone tamp includes an expanding distal end and an inner cannula. Also described is a manual expander scraper tool that is compatible with both types of bone tamp.

A unique, universal Zero-Profile Expandable Intervertebral Spacer (ZP-EIS) device for fusion and distraction throughout the entire spine is provided which can be inserted via anterior, anterolateral, lateral, far lateral or posterior surgical approaches dependent on the need and preference. Multiple ZP-EIS embodiments each with unique mechanisms of calibrated expansion are provided. Two of these embodiments incorporate bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screws and five other embodiments do not incorporate BDFT screws. A tool for implantation into the intervertebral device and calibrated device expansion is also disclosed.

A tunable implant, system, and method enables a tunable implant to be adjusted within a patient. The tunable implant includes a securing mechanism to secure the implant in the patient, a actuation portion that enables the implant to move and an adjustment portion that permits adjustment of the implant after the implant has been positioned within the patient. The method of adjusting the tunable implant includes analyzing the operation of the implant, determining if any adjustments are necessary and adjusting the implant to improve implant performance. The implant system includes both the tunable implant and a telemetric system that is operable to telemetrically receive data from the tunable implant where the data is used to determine if adjustment of the tunable implant is necessary. The system also includes an instrument assembly that is used for performing spinal surgery where the instrument assembly includes a mounting platform and a jig.

A medical robot system, including a robot coupled to an effectuator element with the robot configured for controlled movement and positioning. The system may include a transmitter configured to emit signals, and the transmitter is coupled to an instrument coupled to the effectuator element. The system may further include a motor assembly coupled to the robot and a plurality of receivers configured to receive the signals emitted by the transmitter. A control unit is coupled to the motor assembly and the plurality of receivers, and the control unit is configured to supply instruction signals to the motor assembly. The instruction signals can be configured to cause the motor assembly to selectively move the effectuator element and is further configured to (i) calculate a position of the transmitter; (ii) display the position of the at least one transmitter; and (iii) selectively control actuation of the motor assembly.

The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged disc between two vertebrae of a spine and methods for inserting said discs. The intervertebral prosthetic discs are provided with connections for facilitating implantation and removal and features which enhance primary and secondary stability over time.

In one embodiment, a system includes a retractor with a plurality of rods that are cylindrical over part of their length, a light source, and a fiber optic cable, where at least one rod includes a body with an opening therein. The opening extends from an upper surface of the rod, through an interior of the rod, and then to a side surface of the rod located between ends of the rod. The opening is sized so that at least a single monofilament fiber optic cable is disposable therethrough. The system is adapted so that any number of rods may include a fiber optic cable disposed therein and so that the cable may be easily removed or inserted from the rod during use of the retractor.

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes inserting a respective uncinate joint stabilizer into each uncinate joint along a medial-to-lateral direction starting from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, and securing each uncinate joint stabilizer to the respective uncinate joint. A system for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers, each (a) elongated along a lengthwise dimension and configured for placement in the respective uncinate joint with the lengthwise dimension substantially oriented along an anterior-to-posterior direction of the cervical spine segment, (b) having height configured to define spacing of the respective uncinate joint, (c) and including a tapered portion for interfacing with superior and inferior surfaces of the respective uncinate joint and to enable insertion of the uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment.

Systems for positioning a patient are provided. A patient positioning system comprises a set of break assemblies, each break assembly comprising a mount for receiving padding, wherein each break assembly is operable to independently rotate to provide a coronal break relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame; and a set of tilt assemblies mounted to the frame, each tilt assembly operable to independently tilt relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame, wherein the break assemblies are mounted to the tilt assemblies.

A medical device configured to engage a vertebrae body and a method of assembling a medical device. The device may include a head piece containing two distraction blades and a mechanism operable by the handle for driving apart/together the distraction blades. The device may further include an interface on the handle operable to engage and drive the mechanism of the head piece. The removable handle may include a grip portion separated from the interface by an elongate rod so that the handle, when attached to the head piece, is operable for insertion of the head piece into a corridor of a patient, and for driving the mechanism. With the medical device, a surgeon may operate to expose the disc space on at least one of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar vertebrae.