Scoliosis can be treated by systems for anterior vertebral body tethering described herein. In some embodiments, installation tools of a system for anterior vertebral body tethering can be used to sequentially tension segments of a tether between adjacent vertebral screws in a controllable and user-friendly manner.

A bone implant includes a proximal end, a distal end, a first portion extending between the proximal and distal ends having a maximum and minimum portion height, and a second portion extending between the proximal and distal ends having a maximum and minimum portion height. The second portion is connected to the first portion at the proximal end and the distal end and at least one of the first portion and the second portion is moveable relative to the other of the first portion and the second portion so as to transition the bone implant between a relaxed state wherein the first and second portions are separated by a first distance and a contracted state wherein the first and second portions are separated by a second distance different from the first distance. At least one of the proximal end and the distal end have the minimum portion height.

The invention provides a method for creating a curvilinear void created in a bony structure. The method includes inserting a distal end of a reamer device through a cannula and into a curvilinear void created in a bony structure, the reamer device having a flexible reamer shaft assembly which includes (i) a pivotable reaming element at a distal end thereof, and (ii) a mechanism for pivoting adjustably the reaming element. The method also includes deploying the reaming element within the curvilinear void and manipulating the reaming element to enlarge the curvilinear void.

The invention is directed in various aspects to a compression fixation system that includes coupling components and locking assemblies for connecting two or more separate elements in a fixed arrangement. For example, the system is useful for connecting and compressing two or more elements selected from bones and bone fragments. The system includes a substantially linear coupling component, such as, for example, a Kirschner Wire (K-Wire) and locking assembly elements that engage with the coupling component in a coaxial orientation. The coupling component includes at least a linear portion and an anchor portion, the anchor portion configured to be fixed within or adjacent to a first one of the elements to be connected and the linear portion configured to be fixed adjacent to a second one of the elements to be connected, where the locking assembly is attached coaxially with and locked against the second element to achieve compression and fixation.

A medical balloon device includes an outer member extending along an axis. An inflatable member has a proximal end extending from a first end of the outer member and a distal end. An inner member is positioned within the outer member and the inflatable member such that a first end of the inner member is coupled to the distal end of the inflatable member. A support member is movably disposed within the inner member and includes a first end configured to removably engage the first end of the inner member. Translation of the support member along the axis causes the inflatable member to move between a first position in which the inflatable member has a first length and a first profile and a second position in which the inflatable member has a second reduced length and a second reduced profile. Methods of use are disclosed.

Fracture distractor pliers comprising: a first arm with a first end and an opposing second end, where the first end of the first arm terminates in a slot capable of engaging a screw head; and a second arm with a first end and an opposing second end, where the first end of the second arm terminates in a recess capable of engaging a plate. The first arm and the second arm may be pivotally joined. The fracture distractor pliers may facilitate precise distraction of fracture fragments of the larger long bones, assist provisional fracture stabilization to facilitate final fixation, and ergonomically overcome compressive forces at a fracture site.

A method of using a robotic guidance system for performing surgery on a spine is provided. The method includes utilizing a computerized tomographic scan image of a location on a spinal column of a patient, such that the computerized tomographic scan image is connected to a computer and visible on a monitor connected to the computer. The method also includes attaching a coupling component to the spinal column of the patient, coupling a marker to the coupling component, and imaging, with a fluoroscope, the view of the spinal column of the patient, wherein the fluoroscope image is transmitted to the computer and visible on the monitor and the at marker is clearly visible in the fluoroscope image. The method also includes positioning a cannula, with a robotic mechanism, to a first position relative to a vertebra in the spinal column of the patient, drilling a passage through the cannula into bone of the vertebra in the spinal column of the patient, inserting a guidewire through the cannula into the passage in the bone of the vertebra in the spinal column of the patient, and positioning a screw into the bone of the vertebra in the spinal column of the patient.

A surgical method and tool for expanding an initial osteotomy (42) to receive a bone implant (44). An osteotome (22) having a tapered working end (28) is inserted into the initial osteotomy (42). The initial osteotomy (42) is enlarged by simultaneously rotating and pushing the working end (28) of the tapered osteotome (22) into the osteotomy (42). When rotated in one direction the burnishing edges (40) concentrate the pushing and rotational force in outward normal and tangential component forces against the interior surface of the osteotomy (42) to incrementally expand the osteotomy (42) with little to no removal of bone material (46). When rotated in the opposite direction the burnishing edges cut the interior surface of the osteotomy. Progressively larger tapered osteotomes (22) are used until an osteotomy (42) of predetermined size is achieved.

A system for performing surgical repair of the spine includes a distractor and a permanently implanted bone plate system. A surgical repair methodology is also disclosed that employs an implanted bone plate system with a substantially void internal volume which is attached to adjacent vertebrae subsequent to the distraction and adjustment of curvature of the vertebrae and prior to the excision of disc and/or end plate tissue through the bone plate. The device further facilitates the subsequent delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization, such as by disc arthroplasty. The plate may be permanently implanted, such as when a fusion between the attached vertebral bodies is desired, but it need not be permanently implanted.

Systems for the minimally invasive repair, stabilization and/or fixation of a fractured bone, such as a rib, are disclosed. The systems include one or more rods/support members that are designed to extend along a dimension of a bone being repaired and secure the fractured bone. The support members can be photodynamic, and are formed using an expandable member that is filled with a light-sensitive liquid that is cured to form the rigid support member. Two or more clamps are used to secure the support member(s) to the rib or other bone. Minimally invasive surgical methods for securing the systems to a fractured bone are also disclosed.