Apparatus and methods for preparing the interior of a bone for therapy. The therapy may include therapy for a bone fracture. The apparatus and methods may involve orienting a surgical instrument for proper deployment in the interior of the bone. An instrument guide may be positioned and retained against translation along, and rotation about one or more of three substantially orthogonal axes. Apparatus placed exterior to the bone may register the guide to a region inside the bone that is designated for preparation or treatment. One or more broaching members may be used to prepare the region for treatment. A broaching member may be expandable inside the bone. A broaching member may be flexible such that it broaches bone having a relatively lower density and it leaves bone having a relatively higher density substantially intact.

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 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.

A bone screw, such as a pedicle screw, comprises an anchor portion and a sleeve portion, the anchor portion including an angled or curved portion and an externally threaded portion. The sleeve portion having an external thread for engaging bone, and a threaded internal bore for engaging the externally threaded portion of the anchor portion.

Apparatus and methods for treating a spinal body having an interior. The method may include augmenting a height of the spinal body by radially expanding a first mesh cage in the interior. The method may include removing the first cage from the interior. The method may include supporting the spinal body in an elevated position by radially expanding a second mesh cage in the interior. The method may also include surgically enclosing the second cage in the interior.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. An access cannula may be introduced over the first dilator tube. A drill may be inserted through the access cannula and used to perform a foraminoplasty. Surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and/or insert an intervertebral implant.

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.

Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants with detachable fixation tabs.

A surgical measurement instrument for use in surgery is configured so that a measurement operation can be more readily performed using this surgical measurement instrument. The surgical measurement instrument has a laser application portion. The laser application portion is used in surgery to perform treatment on a tibia of a patient. The laser application portion can apply a laser beam to measure a positional relationship between the tibia and a knee joint center.

A rotary cutting tool including an elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongated housing extends circumferentially around a first axis. A drive shaft disposed within the elongated housing and extending between the proximal end and the distal end and rotatable about the first axis. A cutting bit housing coupled to the distal end of the elongated housing and rotatable relative to the drive shaft about an articulation axis between a non-articulated position and one or more articulated positions. A rotary cutting bit coupled to the cutting bit housing and the drive shaft and rotatable about the articulation axis with the cutting bit housing, the rotary cutting bit and drive shaft forming a constant velocity joint.