An intervertebral spacer is designed particularly for patients who are not candidates for total disc replacement. The spacer maintains disc height and prevents subsidence with a large vertebral body contacting surface area while substantially reducing recovery time by eliminating the need for bridging bone. The intervertebral spacer or fusion spacer includes a rigid spacer body sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space between two vertebral bodies. In one embodiment, the spacer body has two opposed metallic vertebral contacting surfaces, at least one fin extending from each of the vertebral contacting surfaces and configured to be positioned within slots cut into the two vertebral bodies. Holes, if present, cover less than 40 percent of the entire vertebral body contacting surfaces to provide increased bone ongrowth surfaces and to prevent subsidence.

An expansion member for distributing graft material through a cage and into an intervertebral space is provided. The expansion member has a central beam with an entry port in fluid communication with an exit port for distribution of the graft material. The central beam is inserted into a cage having a reversible collapse from an expanded state into a collapsed state, the expanded state forming a graft distribution window. The expanded state, for example, can be configured to open the graft distribution window which at least substantially closes upon the reversible collapse.

An intervertebral fusion mechanism includes a disc cage having a scaffolding structure to support bone growth and a porous cancellous bone feeder anchor, connected to the disc cage, for providing a biological material transference interface between cancellous bone and the disc cage.

Spinal cage devices, systems, and methods of assembly and implanting the devices and systems are disclosed. The cage system includes a cage and at least one locking screw assembly configured to couple to the cage. The spinal cage system includes a cage with a body portion, an external plate, and a rod. The body portion includes at least one opening positioned between the first and second ends, a center opening in the first end, and at least one hole adjacent the center opening. The external plate includes an opening and at least two holes on opposite sides of the opening. The rod extends through the center opening in the cage, the first end configured to couple to the external plate, and the second end positioned in the at least one opening. Methods for assembling a spinal cage system and for implanting a cage system are also disclosed.

Spinal interbody fusion implants for use in posterior lumbar interbody fusions (PLIF), anterior lumbar interbody fusions (ALIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIF) and transpsoas interbody fusions (DLIF), each of the implants including a 3-D printed titanium frame having meshed sidewalls, open top and bottom faces and a selectively closeable back plate for enclosing a posterior end of the frame. A machined, acid treated allograft bone graft is contained within the frame, the bone graft having a window for containing a biomaterial, anti-migration teeth and a ridge configured to mate with a slot within the frame for locking the graft in the frame.

Methods and devices for correcting wear pattern defects in joints. The methods and devices described herein allow for the restoration of correcting abnormal biomechanical loading conditions in a joint brought on by wear pattern defects, and also can, in embodiments, permit correction of proper kinematic movement.

Provided herein are biomimetic osteochondral implants that are generally useful for the at least partial resurfacing of damaged cartilage within a joint. The implants are constructed to have a modular, layered structure in which the physical properties (e.g., stiffness and lubricity) or dimensions of each layer can be adjusted (e.g., by using the appropriate material and controlling the thickness thereof) based on the anatomy to be replaced. For example, the material and or thicknesses of the layers can be selected to approximate the physical properties and/or dimensions of cartilage (and, optionally, chondral and subchondral bone). Also provided herein are methods of treatment involving the use of said biomimetic osteochondral implants to repair an osteochondral defect in a joint.

An intervertebral spacer is designed particularly for patients who are not candidates for total disc replacement. The intervertebral spacer maintains disc height and prevents subsidence with a large vertebral body contacting surface area while substantially reducing recovery time by eliminating the need for bridging bone. The intervertebral spacer or fusion spacer includes a rigid spacer body sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space between two vertebral bodies. In one embodiment, the intervertebral spacer body has two opposed metallic vertebral contacting surfaces, at least one fin extending from each of the vertebral contacting surfaces and configured to be positioned within slots cut into the two vertebral bodies. Holes within the vertebral body contacting surfaces to provide increased bone on growth surfaces and to prevent subsidence.

A biocompatible polymer hybrid nanocomposite coating on a surface of a substrate, such as titanium and its alloys. The coating can be achieved by an electrostatic spray coating, preferably using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a matrix for the coating. For example, up to 2.95 wt. % carbon nanotubes can be used as reinforcement, as can up to 4.95 wt. % hydroxyapatite. A dispersion of CNTs and HA in the coating is substantially uniform. The tribological performance of such coatings include high hardness, improved scratch resistance, excellent wear resistance, and corrosion resistance compared to pure UHMWPE coatings.