A four-component artificial intervertebral disc may provide six degrees of movement: flexion, extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, axial deflection, and anterior/posterior translation. The disc may include a superior endplate, a superior core, an inferior core, and an inferior endplate. The superior endplate may include a concave mating surface, and the inferior endplate may include a spherical mating surface. The superior endplate may roll across the superior core to provide flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The superior endplate may twist or rotate atop the superior core to provide axial rotation, and the superior endplate may slide over the superior core to provide anterior/posterior translation. The superior core may be connected to the inferior core, and the inferior core may be connected to the inferior endplate. The inferior core may be made from a flexible material that may enable the artificial disc to expand or compress vertically.

Disclosed are systems, devices, methods and surgical procedures for altering and/or correcting the alignment of adjacent bones, including bones of the spine.

An intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral space between vertebrae. The implant includes a body extending from an upper surface to a lower surface. The body has a front end, a rear end and a pair of spaced apart first and second side walls extending between the front and rear walls such that an interior chamber is defined within the front and rear ends and the first and second walls. The body defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter extending about the internal chamber. At least one of the side walls is defined by a solid support structure and an integral porous structure, the porous structure extending from the outer perimeter to the inner perimeter. The porous structure embeds or encapsulates at least a portion of the solid support structure.

A method for anchoring a sensory nerve stimulator (SNS) lead to the anatomy of a patient, the method comprising: providing an anchor assembly comprising: a body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, a bore extending through the body substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, a flexible finger extending distally within the body, the flexible finger being formed by a recess formed on one side of the body and a U-shaped slot formed on the opposing side of the body, wherein the distal end of the finger is spaced from an opposing portion of the body; and a suture having a first end and a second end, the suture extending through the bore of the body, forming a loop adjacent to the body, back through the bore of the body, passing through the recess and extending out of the U-shaped slot; forming an opening through the dermis and the superficial fascia; positioning the body of the anchor anterior to the thorocolumbar fascia; positioning the SNS lead through the loop in the anchor assembly; positioning the SNS lead on the fat layer disposed anterior to the superficial fascia; and pulling a portion of the suture so as to cause the body of the anchor to engage the anterior surface of the thorocolumbar fascia and to cause the SNS lead to move anteriorly through the fat layer and toward the thorocolumbar fascia until the SNS lead reaches a desired depth in the fat layer.

An intervertebral prosthesis or disk prosthesis comprising a front side, a rear side, an upper side which can be placed on the base plate of vertebral body, a lower side which can be placed on the base plate of a vertebral body, a right side, a left side, a cavity which can receive a fluid hydraulic osteocementum, an opening in the cavity and several outlets out from the cavity. The total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets S.sub.V on the front side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets S.sub.H on the rear side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets S.sub.R on the right side and the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets on the left side satisfy the following conditions: S.sub.L>S.sub.R or S.sub.R>S.sub.L or S.sub.H>S.sub.V or S.sub.V>S.sub.H.

A method includes tracking one or more of a plurality of vertebrae of a patient, planning a planned alignment of the plurality of vertebrae, creating an implant placement plan based on the planned alignment, and robotically preparing the plurality of vertebrae to receive an implant in accordance with the implant placement plan.

Stand-alone interbody fusion devices for engagement between adjacent vertebrae. The stand-alone interbody fusion devices may include frames and one or more endplates coupled to the frame. The frame may be configured and designed to provide the apertures which are designed to retain bone fasteners, such as screws or anchors, and secure the implant to the adjacent vertebrae.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to tissue anchors and methods of delivering same to the intervertebral disc or other sites within the body. In some embodiments, the anchors provide pull-out resistance, stability and/or maximize contact with tissue involving a minimum amount of penetration. In some embodiments, delivery methods are minimally invasive and include linear, lateral, and off-angle implantation or driving of anchors along, against or within tissue surfaces.

An intervertebral cage and intervertebral cage apparatus and a method for using the intervertebral cage and/or the intervertebral cage apparatus. The intervertebral cage can be any desired material including a memory material. The intervertebral cage apparatus can include the intervertebral cage and one or both of a variable volume pouch and a deployment cable. The variable volume pouch can be inserted into an internal volume of the intervertebral cage and affixed to the intervertebral cage. The variable volume pouch can be filled with material to achieve an expanded state. The variable volume pouch can assist in the deployment of the intervertebral cage. The deployment cable can be attached to the intervertebral cage and can include features to facilitate that attachment. The deployment cable can apply a force to the intervertebral cage to deploy the intervertebral cage, and can include features to lock the intervertebral cage in the deployed configuration. An implantation tool can be used to apply force to the intervertebral cage to deploy the intervertebral cage.

Methods for accessing a disc space of a patient as a part of an interbody fusion, as well as the tools employed therewith. An exemplary method may include inserting a leading end of a tool into the patient's back at a location on the posterior surface that is laterally offset from a patient's spinous process and disc. The tool's initial entry into the patient may be from a posterior approach. As the tool is advanced along its designated path, it begins to deviate from the posterior approach towards a lateral approach. When the leading end reaches the disc, it may access the disc from a lateral or substantially lateral location. The tool may be used to access the disc location, to remove disc material, to deliver a cutting tool for removing the disc material, and other steps associated with the spinal interbody fusion procedure.