The present invention provides a compression and distraction shaft assembly used to apply compression and distraction to bones including vertebrae. Shaft A assembly and shaft B assembly are attached together via a polyaxial fulcrum. The polyaxial fulcrum allows all rotational degrees of freedom between shaft A assembly and shaft B assembly. Such fulcrum, during compression and distraction, does not impart ancillary stresses or motion to vertebrae. An hourglass-shaped bore for engaging pliers is formed in approximately middle of both the shaft A assembly and the shaft B assembly. Distraction pliers having cylindrical tips are used to apply distraction to vertebrae. Once handles are pressed to impart an appropriate amount of distraction to the vertebrae, they are locked in this position. Compression pliers having cylindrical tips are used to apply compression to vertebrae. Once handles are pressed to impart an appropriate amount of compression to the vertebrae, they are locked in this position.

Connectors for connecting or linking one instrument or object to one or more other instruments or objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a connector can include a first arm with a first attachment feature for attaching to a first object, such as a surgical access device, and a second arm with a second attachment feature for attaching to a second object, such as a support. The connector can have an unlocked state, in which the position and orientation of the access device can be adjusted relative to the support, and a locked state in which movement of the access device relative to the support is prevented or limited. Locking the connector can also be effective to clamp or otherwise attach the connector to the access device and the support, or said attachment can be independent of the locking of the connector.

An endoscopic portal protective shield assembly has an elongate portal shaft and an elongated protective shield. The elongate portal shaft has a viewing portal. The shaft has a slotted tubular body with interior surfaces. The shaft has a distal end and a proximal end and a slotted opening at the distal end extending partially along the slotted tubular body toward the proximal end. The elongated protective shield has a longitudinal shield body, a proximal end and a distal end. The protective shield is configured to be slid into the slotted opening of the tubular body with an interior portion of the longitudinal shield body being inserted inside the tubular body while maintaining the viewing portal open.

In order to provide an external corrective appliance that corrects spinal deformity through operation from outside of the body during implementation of correction and fusion of the spinal deformity using a spinal deformity correction and fusion system to improve correction force, to easily attain the correction intended by an operator, and to eliminate complexity of correction and fusion surgery implemented using the spinal deformity correction and fusion system, thereby reducing burden on the patient, the external corrective appliance includes: shaft members removably attached to corresponding right and left screw members in a pair fixed to the one vertebra, and extending toward the outside of the body of the patient; and a lateral arm member coupled to the shaft members in a pair outside the body of the patient.

A method facilitates the treatment of the spine of a patient by providing simultaneous access through at least a first opening and a second opening formed in the patient. For example, the method can include the acts of positioning the patient on a surgical table, providing the first opening into a posterior portion of the patient, providing the second opening into a lateral portion of the patient, inserting a first device through the first opening into the patient to contact the spine in a first direction that is transverse to the coronal plane of the patient, and inserting a second device through the second opening into the patient to contact the spine in a second direction that is transverse to the sagittal plane of the patient, where the first and second openings are accessible simultaneously, and, when the first and second devises are inserted into the patient, the position of the patient is stationary with respect to a portion of the table.

A surgical instrument includes a member connectable with a longitudinal element of a surgical distractor connected with vertebrae. At least one blade is connected with the member adjacent to an axis oriented transverse to the longitudinal element and being movable to space tissue adjacent the vertebrae. The at least one blade being intra-operatively translatable relative to the member along the axis. Surgical systems, constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.

A system, medical devices, and methods for use in surgical procedures, such as spinal surgeries. The system, medical devices, and methods are designed to provide a surgeon the ability to add a screw connector, or screw head such as a tulip, to pre-existing implanted bone, such as pedicle, facet, lateral mass, etc., screw system without having to remove the previously implanted screws and/or rods already existing in a patient.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

A surgical instrument assembly includes a support frame system, and a surgical tool engageable with the support frame system. The support frame system is adapted for providing a surgical tool attachment and articulation locus that is maintained during the course of a surgical procedure to direct a fixed and repeatable delivery path for introduction and manipulation of one or more surgical instruments and implants at a surgical site in or on the patient's anatomy. The delivery path can be substantially curvilinear along an arc that is defined by a radius of curvature and length defined by the surgical tool, and a predetermined range of articulation of the tool at the articulation locus.

A delivery instrument for placing an interbody implant into an intervertebral space of a patient comprises a plurality of elongated plates disposed adjacent one another. Each elongated plate has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion is sized and shaped to fit into the intervertebral space, and is configured to engage a vertebral body in the intervertebral space. An expandable member is coupled to the plurality of elongated plates so as to form an enclosed tube that is sized and shaped to receive the interbody implant. The expandable member allows for translation of the plurality of elongated plates relative to one another as the interbody implant passes through the tube.