A method of inserting an intervertebral disc implant into a disc space includes accessing a spinal segment having a first vertebral body, a second vertebral body and a disc space between the first and second vertebral bodies. The method includes securing a first pin to the first vertebral body and a second pin to the second vertebral body, using the first and second pins for distracting the disc space, and providing an inserter holding the intervertebral disc implant. The method also desirably includes engaging the inserter with the first and second pins, and advancing the inserter toward the disc space for inserting the intervertebral disc implant into the disc space, whereby the first and second pins align and guide the inserter toward the disc space.

A distally expanding facet joint implant and delivery device for distally distracting a facet joint. The facet joint implant generally includes an outer part and an inner part. The outer part includes a pair of opposed distally expandable facet plates connected by a hinge. The inner part includes a wedge that is selectively movable against the facet plates to distally expand and contract the facet joint implant into open and closed states. Teeth on the outer part engage indents on the inner part to maintain the facet joint implant in the distally expanded state. The outer and inner parts include outer and inner connectors, and the delivery device includes corresponding outer and inner connectors adapted to be in locked engagement with the outer and inner connectors to hold the implant and selectively cause it to distally expand and contract.

Systems and methods are disclosed for treating back pain associated with a vertebral body of a patient. The system may include an external energy source configured to be positioned at a location external to the body of the patient, a linear configured to drive translation of the external source in one or more axes, a computer coupled to the external source and linear drive and programming executable on said computer for determining a target treatment site within or near the vertebral body based on acquired imaging data, positioning a focal point of the external energy source to substantially coincide with the target treatment site, and delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy at said target treatment site, wherein the treatment dose is configured to modulate a nerve within or near the vertebral body.

Surgical tissue retraction systems and methods are described herein. Such systems and methods can be employed in some embodiments to provide medial-lateral tissue retraction to increase access to a surgical site. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument can include a body configured to couple to an implantable anchor, a first tissue manipulating implement coupled to the body and capable of polyaxial movement relative thereto, and a second tissue manipulating implement coupled to the body and capable of polyaxial movement relative thereto. Further, the first and second tissue manipulating implements can be opposed to one another such that they can move any of toward and away from one another.

A retractor mounting assembly including an end-effector having a body extending between first and second faces. The first face is configured for attachment to an interface plate on the robotic arm of a surgical robot. The second face defines an arm mount. An arm extending between first and second ends with the first end configured for attachment to the end-effector arm mount and the second end providing a retractor mount configured for supportive attachment of a retractor.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

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.

This application describes surgical instruments and implants for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. More specifically, the application describes instruments and methods for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column in a minimally invasive fashion.

A spinal implant comprising an upper and a lower end plate connected by inner and outer lateral walls, said outer lateral walls forming an anterior wall, a posterior wall and two longitudinal walls, said inner lateral walls encompassing a receiving space, and engagement elements being arranged on and projecting from said upper and lower end plates. According to the invention, in order to avoid wear and abrasion when implanted and to improve ingrowth of the spinal implant into the tissue, said spinal implant consists of a ceramic material and carries a porous ceramic foam in at least some sub-sections.

Various embodiments of an anchor and intradiscal implant for surgical realignment of a misaligned spine are disclosed herein.