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.

A vertebral body spacer of the present invention is used by being inserted between a vertebral body and a vertebral body (intervertebral space). The vertebral body spacer has a block body constituted of titanium or a titanium alloy as a main component thereof, and provided with a pair of contact surfaces to be made contact with the vertebral body and the vertebral body. The block body includes a frame-shaped dense part and a porous part provided inside the dense part, and a porosity of at least a surface of the porous part is larger than a porosity of the dense part. According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain an appropriate size between the vertebral bodies (intervertebral space).

The present invention relates to a spinal arthrodesis system including at least two types of implants from among the three following types: an intersomatic implant (IS), including at least one passage (40) mating at least one anchoring device (1); an interspinous implant (IE), including at least two wings able to run along a portion of the vertebral spines (EI, ES); a facet implant (IF) including a bone attachment.

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.

Surgical kits comprising a tool having a handle and a shaft affixed to the handle at one end and a free end having a threaded connection, at least two disc inserts, each disc insert comprising a rounded square having an annular wall surrounding a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a threaded catch is formed in each disc insert to mate with the threaded connection, and wherein the interface between the disc insert top surface and annular wall forms a first perimeter and the interface between the disc insert bottom surface and the annular wall forms a second perimeter. At least a portion of the disc inserts can be radiopaque and a portion can be radiolucent. Also provided are kits having one or more disc inserts and one or more trial plates, each trial plate comprising a plurality of positioning guides.

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.

Devices and methods for fixing defects in the anulus fibrosus (vertebral disc) of a patient are described. The devices include a mesh patch, and first and second suture assemblies, each of which include an anchor and a suture. The anchor has a first portion adapted to be inserted into a bone and a second portion having an opening therethrough. The suture is adapted to be disposed through the opening and has a first end is adapted to couple to the mesh patch. The method of treatment includes inserting the first portion of the first anchor into a cranial vertebra and inserting the second portion of the second anchor into a caudal vertebra. The first ends of the sutures are attached to the mesh patch. The mesh patch is positioned adjacent the defect by pulling on, or applying tension to, the second ends of the sutures.

One or more sutures can be used in spinal applications to hold an intradiscal device in place between two vertebrae or repair a defect in the soft tissue of the spine, such as the annulus fibrosis or the dura. Tension can also be applied to the sutures to stabilize a spinal segment having an intradiscal device to prevent or minimize excessive spinal extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation of the spinal segment. Anchors are placed in two adjacent vertebrae and sutures are passed through each anchor. The sutures can be passed through portions of the intradiscal device. Alternatively, the sutures can be passed through a mesh patch which is held against the vertebrae to hold the intradiscal device in place. Tension is applied to the first and second ends of the sutures and the sutures are welded together. The sutures can be welded in a cross-braced arrangement minimize or prevent extension, lateral bending, and rotation of the spinal segment. For example, the sutures can be welded in a diagonal pattern, a horizontal pattern, a vertical pattern or any combination thereof across the adjacent vertebrae.

Spinal implants are described that may be surgically implanted into the spine to replace damaged or diseased discs using a posterior approach. The implants are prosthetic devices that can approach or mimic the physiological motion and reaction of the natural disc. The implants are adapted to be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures.

An expandable implant for treating bone preferably in a minimally invasive manner includes a preferably cylindrical core element extending along a longitudinal axis and preferably a plurality of nestable, expandable sleeves extending along a longitudinal axis for placement radially about the core element. The plurality of nestable sleeves are sequentially insertable over the core element in such a manner that a first nestable sleeve is inserted over the core element and each subsequently inserted nestable sleeve is received between the core element and the previously inserted nestable sleeve such that the insertion of each additional sleeve causes each previously inserted sleeve to outwardly expand.