A system and method for providing a surgical instrument having a shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a central lumen extending therethrough; and a tapered head at the distal end. The tapered head has a plurality of longitudinal channels, a plurality of threaded sections, and a plurality of lateral lumens. The plurality of longitudinal channels may form a plurality of flutes configured to cut bone, tissue, or both.

An inflatable and implantable balloon for treatment of degenerative disc disease, bones, lesions, spinal deformities and spinal motion segment instabilities. The balloon is comprised of adjustable and expandable volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, inserting, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the spinal lesion or disease. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing elements of the spine.

A method and system for determining an extent of matter removed from a targeted anatomical structure are disclosed. The method includes acquiring an initial representation of a targeted anatomical structure and then removing matter from the targeted anatomical structure. An instrument is then navigated within the targeted anatomical structure. The instrument includes a tracking array, and a relative position of the instrument within the targeted anatomical structure is determined by the tracking array. The method includes recording the relative position of the instrument within the targeted anatomical structure to determine a final representation of the targeted anatomical structure. Finally, the method includes determining an extent of matter removed from the targeted anatomical structure by comparing the initial representation of the targeted anatomical structure with the final representation of the targeted anatomical structure. Indicators are provided to convey the extent of matter remaining within the targeted anatomical structure.

The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.

The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.

An expandable interspinous spacer implant that is configured to be inserted into an interspinous space that is defined between a spinous process of a superior vertebral body and a spinous process of an inferior vertebral body is provided. The implant may include a superior housing, an inferior housing, and a distracting member. The superior housing may have an outer surface that is configured to engage the spinous process of the superior vertebral body and the inferior housing may have an outer surface that is configured to engage the spinous process of the inferior vertebral body. The distracting member may be disposed between the superior and inferior housings, such that activation of the distracting member distracts the superior and inferior housings apart from each other.

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.

Systems and methods for converting consumer coins, cash, and/or other forms of value for use with mobile commerce platforms implemented on, for example, smart phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a mobile commerce account on a mobile device includes receiving coins and/or other funds from a user at a consumer-operated kiosk. The method can further include counting the coins and/or other funds to determine a value, and then communicating at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the hand-held mobile device for deposit in the mobile commerce account.

An intervertebral implant can include a core and a flexible end plate. The core can have a core body that is elongate along a first direction and defines first and second outer surfaces. The flexible end plate can define an inner surface and an opposed bone facing surface that is configured to abut a vertebral body. The flexible end plate can be coupled to the core such that at least a portion of the inner surface faces the first outer surface and is spaced from the first outer surface. The flexible end plate is configured to resiliently flex toward a compressed configuration such that as the flexible end plate flexes toward the compressed configuration, a first end moves relative to the core along the first direction and the portion of the inner surface moves toward the first outer surface.

An intervertebral implant frame that is configured to engage a spacer can include a pair of arms that extend longitudinally from a support member such that the arms engage the spacer. The spacer can be made from bone graft, and include a first spacer body made of cortical bone, and a second spacer body made of cancellous bone.