A surgical screw configured to expand and prevent or minimize bone growth inside of the surgical screw is provided. Accordingly, the surgical screw is configured to increase the purchase of the surgical screw with respect to the bone, but also to be withdrawn from the bone without damaging the bone as a result of bone ingrowth. The surgical screw includes a center post with an inner bore and an outer sleeve concentric to the center post. An outer surface of the outer sleeve includes a thread to engage bone. The outer sleeve includes a cut pattern defining an expandable region configurable between a first state with a first radius measured from a longitudinal axis of the surgical screw to the outer surface and a second state having a second radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface.

In a surgical method, an elongate probe is inserted into a spinal disc exemplarily into a nucleus pulposus thereof in a direction generally parallel to vertebral end faces adjacent to the spinal disc. During the inserting of the elongate probe, the probe is ultrasonically vibrated. Thereafter, while ultrasonically vibrating the elongate probe, one moves the elongate probe to sever a prismatic portion of the spinal disc including a prismatic section of the nucleus pulposus. The prismatic portion of the spinal disc is removed from a remaining portion of the spinal disc.

An elongate ultrasonic dissector-shaver probe has a laterally enlarged head extending distally and transversely from a distal end of a shaft and provided with sets of spiraling ribs. In a disc space preparation procedure, the probe is inserted into a spinal disc between two vertebral endplates, ultrasonic vibratory energy is conducted into the probe, and the probe is manipulated to move the laterally enlarged head in three spatial directions within the spinal disc to thereby disrupt and shred the spinal disc material into fragments extracted from the space, in part by suction and in part by using forceps to pull spinal disc fragments from the operative space or surgical site between the vertebral endplates.

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.

A surgical screw configured to expand and prevent or minimize bone growth inside of the surgical screw is provided. Accordingly, the surgical screw is configured to increase the purchase of the surgical screw with respect to the bone, but also to be withdrawn from the bone without damaging the bone as a result of bone ingrowth. The surgical screw includes a center post with an inner bore and an outer sleeve concentric to the center post. An outer surface of the outer sleeve includes a thread to engage bone. The outer sleeve includes a cut pattern defining an expandable region configurable between a first state with a first radius measured from a longitudinal axis of the surgical screw to the outer surface and a second state having a second radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface.

An ultrasonically assisted clamping system and method for extending a spinal support rod system to additional vertebrae of the spine. A clamp assembly and a receptacle assembly securely couple an additional extension rod to an existing spinal support rod. Various embodiments further include an ultrasonic assist for cutting through tissue that may be present in the vicinity of the existing spinal support rods. In some embodiments, the clamp assembly is configured to augment the ultrasonic aspect of the system. The system cuts through and locally removes tissue from and proximate to the spinal support rods where the clamp assembly is to be mounted, without the need for a separate surgical procedure for removing the tissue prior to implantation, thereby providing a secure clamping of the newly implanted extension rod to the existing base spinal support rod.

A surgical instrument is connectable to a bone anchor insertion device having a drive shaft that defines a coaxial channel for receiving a needle therethrough. The instrument includes a handle portion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner to transmit torque to the drive shaft, a needle holder configured to hold a needle and movable axially relative to the handle portion, an actuator rotatable relative to the handle portion, and a transmission member connectable to the needle holder and movable axially relative to the actuator and comprising a first advancement surface engageable with a second advancement surface of the handle portion to convert rotational movement of the actuator into axial movement of the needle holder relative to the handle portion for axially advancing and retracting a needle held by the needle holder relative to the handle portion.

A medical device for penetrating a bone structure including a processing unit having a transfer function that associates an electrical conductivity value S with a depth value d, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a threshold selected from amongst an absolute threshold, a relative threshold and a critical gradient, and to emit a warning signal and/or control signal responsive to detection of the threshold.

A bone graft delivery system can include an elongate tube and a handle having a trigger and a ratcheting mechanism. The trigger is actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube. The bone graft delivery system can further include a distal tip at a distal end of the tube. The tip has one or more openings to deliver the bone graft material to a desired location and includes a surface suitable to act as a rasp for decorticating bone. A method for delivering bone graft material to a desired surgical location includes providing a bone graft delivery device, positioning the device adjacent the surgical location, decorticating bone, and delivering bone graft material to the surgical location.

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.