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.

In one embodiment, an intervertebral implant includes a body and a locking element. The body includes a leading surface and a trailing surface opposite the leading surface. The body also includes first and second bone fastener passageways through the implant body and a cavity in between the first and second passageways. The cavity includes a trailing wall that separates the cavity from the trailing surface. The locking element is disposed in the cavity such that part of the locking element is visible through an access opening in the trailing wall so that the locking element may be rotated from outside of the implant. In a first rotational position, a first part of the locking element is located within one of the first and second passageways and in a second rotational position, the first part of the locking element is inside the body covered by the trailing wall.

The invention is generally related to an intervertebral implant for replacing an intervertebral disc of the human spine. The intervertebral implant includes a first conformable endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to a boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load, a second endplate and a core between the endplates, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the boney vertebral endplate. The invention is also directed to a method of replacing an intervertebral disc. The method includes removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc to form an intervertebral disc space, implanting a first conformable endplate, into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a first boney vertebral endplate, the first conformable endplate being conformable to the first boney vertebral endplate under an anatomical load; implanting a second endplate into the intervertebral disc space and in contact with a second boney vertebral endplate; and implanting a core between the first conformable endplate and the second endplate, wherein the first conformable endplate partitions the core from the first boney vertebral endplate, whereby the core does not contact the first boney vertebral endplate.

An interbody fusion cage having upper and lower canals for receiving the heads of bone screws that have been pre-installed in opposing vertebral body endplates. The proximal wall of the cage preferably has a vertical slot that communicates with each canal and is adapted to allow access by a screwdriver and tightening of the screws.

A joint spacer for therapeutically maintains separation of bones of a joint. A frame defines a longitudinal axis extending between distal and proximal ends. A carriage is slideably retained within the frame and has at least one ramped surface and a threaded portion. An actuator screw is threadably engaged with the threaded portion, and bears against said frame to cause the carriage to slideably move within the frame when the actuator screw is rotated. A first endplate engages a bone of the joint, and has at least one ramped surface that is mateable with the ramped surface of the carriage.

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 spinal implant includes a body having opposite first and second end walls and opposite first and second side walls. The side walls each extend from the first end wall to the second end wall. A first cap is coupled to top ends of the walls. A second cap is coupled to bottom ends of the walls. The implant includes an opening extending through the caps such that the first cap defines a first ledge extending from the walls to the opening and the second cap defines a second ledge extending from the walls to the opening. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.

A personalized fixation system includes a surgical planning software tool configured to adjust relationships of relevant anatomy of a subject, at least one bone anchor, a plate having a shape that does not conform to a single plane, the plate configured to accept the at least one bone anchor, wherein the shape of the plate is at least partially determined by the surgical planning software tool, and wherein the plate includes at least one node having a hole configured to receive the at least one bone anchor, and a locking element configured to connect the at least one bone anchor to the plate, wherein the plate is manufactured using additive manufacturing.

A spinal fixation system includes an expandable disc replacement body and an angle-setting disc replacement holder; The expandable disc replacement body includes a first wall, a second wall, and a hinge connecting the first wall and the second wall. An insertion instrument may be used to implant the expandable disc replacement body into a subject. The disc replacement holder is positioned between the first wall and the second wall, and an angle and/or height between the first wall and the second wall can be varied by adjustment of the disc replacement holder and locked into place using locking mechanisms.

An implant and method for fusing adjacent spinal vertebrae is disclosed. In an embodiment for a spinal implant of the present invention, the implant includes a spacer body assembly and two retention members. The two retention members each include split fork tangs wherein the tangs of each retention member are simultaneously extendable from the spacer body assembly into the adjacent vertebra. A method of fusing adjacent vertebrae includes the step of inserting an implant between adjacent vertebrae with retention members. The method also includes the step of configuring the retention members wherein a portion of each tang of a retention member simultaneously extends from the implant into one of the adjacent vertebra.