A pretensionable locking system, a method for producing a locking system and a medical-technical instrument including a locking system. The locking system (2) includes a locking body (10) with an inner thread (12), and an inner locking body (20) with an outer thread (22). In a pretensioned position, the inner thread lies against the outer thread in a first longitudinal axial direction (80) and is pretensioned against the outer thread. In a locked position, the outer locking body is fixed on the inner locking body by screwing the inner thread onto the outer thread. The outer locking body has a resilient retaining element (14) that projects radially inward, and the inner locking body has a rigid bulge (24) that projects radially outward. In the pretensioned position, the retaining element lies against the bulge in a second longitudinal axial direction (85) that is opposite the first longitudinal axial direction.

Surgical instruments and devices including drivers, inserters, and reducers. The driver includes a ratcheting mechanism configured to provide uni-directional motion when engaged. The inserter includes a rack, pinion, and cam system designed to secure an implant and release an implant in-situ. The reducer includes a geared system for persuading together surgical components and aligning misaligned vertebrae.

A screwdriver for driving a screw in bone includes a first body configured to engage a tulip of the screw, a first central bore extending through the first body, a second body having a second central bore extending through the second body and an external surface having a spline member positioned at least partially within the cavity, an inner shaft configured to drive a screw into bone and being rotatably coupled with the second body, a spring-biased pawl engageable with the spline member of the second body, a collar rotatable relative to the first body and the second body and having a cammed inner surface, when the collar is rotated in a first direction about the first body, the cammed inner surface pushes the spring-biased pawl into engagement with the spline member to rotatably couple the first body and the second body.

Methods and devices are provided for using a bone anchor driver for driving inner and outer set closure mechanisms or set screws into a bone anchor assembly. In one embodiment, a bone anchor driver is provided that includes an outer shaft configured to engage an outer set screw coupled to a bone anchor assembly, an inner shaft disposed within the outer shaft and configured to engage an inner set screw coupled to the bone anchor assembly, and a torque limiting mechanism configured to automatically switch between a first position in which it is disengaged from the inner shaft and is engaged with the outer shaft, and a second position in which it is disengaged from the outer shaft and is engaged with the inner shaft.

Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for the delivery of spinal screws to a spinal implant site. A variety of exemplary configurations and implementations are provided, but, in general, a handheld tool is provided having a guide member with a lumen formed therein that is configured to deliver a spinal screw to a cervical spine implant. The tool can include various features that facilitate the delivery of the spinal screw to the implant. The tool can include a storage component, such as a magazine, that is configured to hold a plurality of spinal screws for delivery of multiple spinal screws during a surgical procedure.

An implant kit has an adapter having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first and to the second end, wherein the first end is configured for removably receiving and engaging an implant and the second end is configured for removably coupling to a driver shaft of an implant driving tool, and an implant preloaded into the first end of the adapter, the implant having an elongated threaded portion; and a blade portion extending from the elongated threaded portion, and having two serrated edges, wherein the blade portion is received in the first end of the adapter and the elongated threaded portion of the implant is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

A guide and method useful in cutting and rejoining bones is presented. The guide is particularly useful in performing an osteotomy of a long bone adjacent a joint such as a hand or foot.

A fixing system for cervical vertebrae includes a fixing apparatus for cervical vertebrae in which a cervical vertebrae-fixing plate is made close contact with cervical vertebrae and a screw is inserted into the cervical vertebrae through a screw hole formed in the cervical vertebrae-fixing plate, and a driver that rotates the screw. Here, clips for holding the inserted screw are provided in the screw hole, a convex portion is positioned at the rear of a front end portion of the driver which is fitted in a groove on the screw, and the driver loosens the inserted screw while spreading the clips using the convex portion, when the inserted screw is loosened.

Apparatus and methods for spinal surgery include a retractor with an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end and an opposite proximal end. The retractor defines a passage between the distal and proximal ends and a window opening into the passage adjacent to the distal end. The apparatus also includes a guide member extending laterally from the proximal end of the retractor and the guide member includes a body extending along an arc. The body defines a number of trajectories each intersecting the window of the retractor. The apparatus further includes an instrument removably mounted to the guide member and the instrument is movable along the guide member and securable to the guide member in any one of the number of trajectories so that the instrument can be moved along the selected trajectory through the window.

A fastener removal tool has a proximal end, a distal end, and a rotatable and translatable body between the proximal end and the distal end. There is a spring positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the spring is configured to allow the rotatable and translatable body to translate. Rotation and translation of the rotatable and translatable body is configured to provide a compressive force to at least a portion of a fastener for removal of the fastener. Methods for using fastener removal tools are also disclosed.