A method of revising a patient having a fusion cage implanted within a spinal column, involving percutaneously delivering a first end of a tube to the spinal column, fluidly connecting the first end of the tube to the fusion cage, and delivering a bone growth agent into the fusion cage through the tube.

Reinforced biocomposite materials. According to at least some embodiments, medical implants are provided that incorporate novel structures, alignments, orientations and forms comprised of such reinforced bioabsorbable materials, as well as methods of treatment thereof.

Multiple, small, staple-like supports are inserted through a small tube into the disc space then rotated into position on the edge of the vertebral bodies. The tooth-like geometry of the proximal and distal faces of these staples mates with the outer edge of the vertebral body, extending past the front of the endplate anteriorly. The staples have teeth that dig into the endplate on the inside of the rim as well.

A mosaic implant (2010) comprises a mesh support frame comprising a plurality of polygonal support rings (2040 A, B, C) connected by a plurality of struts (2014), and a plurality of mosaic plates (2012). The support rings are positioned within the mosaic plates; the struts extend between adjacent plates. An implant (1510) for filling a bore hole comprises a plate (1512) and a support frame (1520) having a central portion (1522) located at least partially within the plate, a polygonal outer rim (1524) having a plurality of fastening points for attaching the implant to bone surrounding a bore hole, and a plurality of arms (1530) extending between the central portion and the outer rim. The plurality of arms extend inwardly and downwardly away from the outer rim such that the central portion is located below the plane of the outer rim and the upper surface of the plate is flush with or slightly above the upper surface of the outer rim.

Techniques and systems for distracting a spinal disc space and supporting adjacent vertebrae are provided. Trial instruments are insertable into the disc space to determine a desired disc space height and to select a corresponding implant. Implants can be also be self-distracting and the implant providing the desired disc space height can be implanted in the spinal disc space.

An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion by posterior approach, designed to be inserted in pairs between two vertebral bodies, said prosthesis consisting of a prosthesis body extending in a longitudinal direction of intervertebral insertion, including peripheral faces delimiting, on the inside, an inner space for receiving a bone substitute. The prosthesis includes a prosthesis body of which the lower and upper bearing faces have a convex profile having continuously variable convexity in the longitudinal direction. The invention is intended for the treatment of individuals suffering from disc degeneration in the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae.

An intervertebral disc includes a superior endplate having an upper vertebral contacting surface and a lower bearing surface, wherein the upper vertebral contacting surface of the superior endplate has a central portion that is raised relative to a peripheral portion of the superior endplate, and wherein the lower bearing surface has a concavity disposed opposite the raised central portion. The disc includes an inferior endplate having a lower vertebral contacting surface and an upper surface, wherein the lower vertebral contacting surface of the inferior endplate has a central portion and wherein the upper bearing surface has a concavity disposed opposite the central portion. A core is positioned between the upper and inferior endplates, the core having upper and lower core bearing surfaces configured to mate with the bearing surfaces of the upper and inferior endplates. The upper vertebral contacting surface of the superior end plate has a different shape than the lower vertebral contacting surface of the inferior end plate.

An artificial intervertebral disc with shock absorption includes upper and lower plates disposed about a shock absorbing movable core. The upper and lower plates have an outer surface which engages a vertebrae and an inner bearing surface. The shock absorbing core includes a unitary member of a rigid material having at least one lateral cut between upper and lower surfaces of the core to allow the upper and lower surfaces to move resiliently toward and away from each other. This allows the core to absorb forces applied to it by the vertebrae.

A tool for use with an orthopaedic implant includes: a tubular assembly including a tubular passage having a first end and a second end, the first end including a means for attachment to an implant body; a plug; and a plunger coupled to the plug. The tubular passage is configured to receive, via the second end, a material agent and the plunger coupled to the plug. The plunger is configured to slide through the tubular passage for expelling the material agent from the tubular passage into a load bearing member via the at least one first opening. The plunger is configured to rotate within the tubular passage for coupling the plug with the first opening to seal the first opening against expulsion of the material agent from the load bearing member via the first opening.

Systems for bone fracture repair are disclosed. One system includes a biocompatible putty that may be packed about a bone fracture to provide full loadbearing capabilities within days. The disclosed putties create an osteoconductive scaffold for bone regeneration and degrade over time to harmless resorbable byproducts. Fixation devices for contacting an endosteal wall of an intramedullary (IM) canal of a fractured bone are also disclosed. One such fixation device includes a woven elongated structure fabricated from resorbable polymer filaments. The woven elongated structure has resilient properties that allow the woven structure to be radially compressed and delivered to the IM canal using an insertion tube. When the insertion tube is removed, the woven structure expands towards its relaxed cross-sectional width to engage the endosteal wall. The woven elongated structure is impregnated with a resorbable polymer resin that cures in situ, or in the IM canal.