An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue and particularly spinal tissue. The device and method may include insertion of at least one elongated member and an augmenting member to form a structure between the tissues to be distraction, such that a dimensional aspect of the structure is augmented upon movement of the augmenting structure.

The present invention provides an intervertebral implant for implantation in a treated area of an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies of a spine. The implant includes a spacer portion having an inferior and superior surface, wherein the inferior and superior surfaces each have a contact area capable of engaging with anatomy in the treated area, and the inferior and superior surfaces define a through-hole extending through the spacer body. The present invention further provides screw holes extending from a side portion to the inferior and superior surfaces of the spacer portion and a plate portion rigidly coupled to the spacer portion through a coupling means, wherein the plate portion contains screws holes for receiving screws. A screw back out prevention mechanism adapted on the plate portion and prevents the back out of screws from the screw holes.

Placement apparatus and methods of use for impanation of spacers within an inter-vertebral disc space. In one embodiment, the load-bearing superstructure of the implant is subdivided and the bone forming material is positioned within an internal space of the placement instrument but external to the load bearing elements themselves. At least a portion of the bone graft material is freely contained within the disc space. A method of using the device is also described. In one embodiment, the placement device is used to place the implantable spacers at opposing ends of the disc space using a directly lateral surgical approach.

The intervertebral implant is in the form of a three-dimensional structure (10) comprising (a) a top side (1) and an underside (2) which are designed to rest against the end plates of two adjacent vertebras, (b) a left side face (3) and a right side face (4), (c) a front face (5) and a rear face (6), (d) a horizontal center plane situated between the top side (1) and the underside (2), (e) a vertical center plane (8) situated between the left side face (3) and the right side face (8) and (0 a plurality of boreholes (9) passing through the implant structure (10) that are designed to receive longitudinal affixation elements (20), the axes (19) of said elements intersecting the horizontal center plane (7). At least one of the boreholes (9) is designed in a manner that the affixation element (10) received in it can be rigidly connected to the intervertebral implant. Said connection is implemented using a thread or by matching conical surfaces.

A method for inserting an intervertebral artificial disc is provided with the intervertebral disc including a first endplate having a plurality of protrusions for attaching to an adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards a second adjacent vertebrae. A second endplate is provided with a plurality of protrusions for attaching to a second adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards the first adjacent vertebrae. A flexible member having an upper portion and a lower portion and a slider plate positioned within the upper portion of the flexible member is also provided. The extension portion of the first endplate is adapted to fit within a first cavity in the upper portion of the flexible member and the extension portion of the second endplate is adapted to fit within a second cavity in the lower portion of the flexible member.

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.

A method for implanting a spinal plate includes the steps of displaying information about target vertebrae on which the implantation is to be performed and inserting a spacing device between two adjacent vertebrae to achieve a desired relationship there between. The method further includes planning placement of the spinal plate to achieve a desired relationship between the two adjacent vertebrae and defining a virtual cutting boundary on a virtual representation of each of the first and the second vertebrae according to the planned placement of the spinal plate. The method further includes tracking the vertebrae using a tracking array and tracking a position of a cutting tool held by a force feedback device as the tool is manipulated to form a sculpted cavity independently on each vertebrae for receiving the spinal plate, and providing force feedback to the user indicative of interaction between the tool and the virtual cutting boundary.

In the present invention, stand-alone interbody spine implant for fusion of adjacent vertebrae is disclosed. In the preferred configuration, this implant includes one spacer which is placed between adjacent vertebrae and at least one pin/bar/fastener which attaches the spacer to the bones. The spacer includes channel(s) with various configurations which guide the pins/bars/fasteners through the spacer in order to penetrate into bone. The combination of pins/bars/fasteners and spacer together, provides fixation of the implant to bone and fuses the adjacent vertebrae.

A method for securing a first interacting element to a second interacting element is provided. The first interacting element includes a lateral surface established by a first surface and a second surface and at least a portion of the lateral surface includes a thread receipt. The second interacting element includes a distal end and a proximal end that establishes a body therebetween. The body has a thread that is configured to at least partially engage with the thread receipt of the first interacting element. The second interacting element is then inserted at least partially through the surface of an object. The thread receipt of the first interacting element is then abutted adjacent to the thread of the second interacting element. Upon rotation of the second interacting element the thread of the second interacting element at least partially engaged with the thread receipt of the fist interacting element.