Compression devices for joining tissue and methods for using and fabricating the same.

A surgical instrument comprises a first member including a drive engageable with a first mating surface of a bone fastener. A second member is rotatable relative to the first member and includes an element engageable with a second mating surface of the bone fastener. An actuator is connected with the second member and includes visual indicia of engagement of the element with the second mating surface. Systems, spinal implants and methods are disclosed.

Driver instruments and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for applying a fastener to a bone anchor. Various features are disclosed for retaining the fastener to the driver instrument, such as tapered drive tips, as are various features for impacting the driver instrument into the fastener, such as slidable slap-hammer type handles. Driver instruments with interchangeable handles or handle geometries that can be changed without separating the instrument from an attached fastener are also disclosed.

An external fixation frame system may include a first ring, a second ring, and at least three struts configured to couple the first ring to the second ring, each strut having a rotatable head portion and a counter torque portion. The system may also include an adjustment tool that includes a driver portion having an inner engagement portion for engaging the head portion of the strut, an outer engagement portion for engaging the counter torque portion of the strut, and a feedback mechanism rotatably coupled to the inner and outer engagement portions. The tool may further include a plunger having an inner portion positioned at least partially within the inner engagement portion, and an outer portion positioned at least partially between the inner engagement portion and the outer engagement portions, the plunger being axially translatable with respect to the inner and outer engagement portions.

A system for fastening soft tissue to bone includes a bone screw having a threaded shaft and a screw head having an underside with malleable protuberances that project toward a distal end of the threaded shaft. A fixation plate is coupled with the threaded shaft. The fixation plate has a proximal face that opposes the underside of the screw head, a distal face that faces away from the underside of the screw head, an outer peripheral edge that extends between the proximal and distal faces, a central opening for receiving the threaded shaft, and protrusions spaced from one another around the outer peripheral edge that extend distally beyond the distal face of the fixation plate. The system includes an insertion tool having a handle and a tubular shaft extending distally from the handle. The tubular shaft has a proximal shaft section having an inner diameter that closely matches an outer diameter of the screw head, and a distal shaft section having an inner surface with a groove that seats the outer peripheral edge of the fixation plate for releasable retaining the fixation plate within the distal shaft section. A cartridge contains the bone screw and the fixation plate coupled with the bone screw. The cartridge includes a proximal end that seats the screw head and a distal end that seats the fixation plate of the bone screw.

A self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatus is disclosed which includes at least first and second sliding boxes. A first screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body is disposed within the first sliding box, and a second screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body disposed within the second sliding box. An adjuster adjusts the height of the sliding boxes. The screw members are screwed into vertebral bodies in order to fuse the vertebral bodies together. A plurality of the self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatuses may be attached together and/or integrated via a plate or cage. Also disclosed is a cervical facet staple that includes a curved staple base and at least two prongs attached to the bottom surface of the curved staple base.

Disclosed herein is a guide device and a driver, which allows for the preparation of an anatomic cavity for screw fixation of an implant or spacer, including the guidance for hole preparation, and guidance for insertion of screws, and or anchors, while selecting the amount of rigidity, and selecting the amount of visibility.

A self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatus is disclosed which includes at least first and second sliding boxes. A first screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body is disposed within the first sliding box, and a second screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body disposed within the second sliding box. An adjuster adjusts the height of the sliding boxes. The screw members are screwed into vertebral bodies in order to fuse the vertebral bodies together. A plurality of the self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatuses may be attached together and/or integrated via a plate or cage. Also disclosed is a cervical facet staple that includes a curved staple base and at least two prongs attached to the bottom surface of the curved staple base.

A distally expanding facet implant with integrated plate and delivery device for distracting a cervical intervertebral facet joint to treat symptoms of degenerative processes of the cervical spine, including widening the intervertebral space and foramina while maintaining or restoring natural lordosis and preventing kyphosis. The distally expanding facet implant with integrated plate and delivery device generally includes opposed plates having distal and proximal ends, a diverting member having a stationary component and a moveable component comprising a diverting nut with a substantially fusiform cross-section between the plates, and a driving member comprising an elongated screw rotationally coupled with the moveable component. Rotation of the screw causes an engagement surface of the diverting nut to slide against a complementary engagement surface of the stationary component. The dimension of the nut present between the distal ends of the plates increases as the surfaces slide against each other causing the distal ends to divert without diverting the proximal ends. Deployed within a facet joint, the implant produces distraction of the facet joint and widening of the intervertebral spacing and foramina while maintaining natural lordosis and preventing kyphosis.

An external fixation frame system may include a first ring, a second ring, and at least three struts configured to couple the first ring to the second ring, each strut having a rotatable head portion and a counter torque portion. The system may also include an adjustment tool that includes a driver portion having an inner engagement portion for engaging the head portion of the strut, an outer engagement portion for engaging the counter torque portion of the strut, and a feedback mechanism rotatably coupled to the inner and outer engagement portions. The tool may further include a plunger having an inner portion positioned at least partially within the inner engagement portion, and an outer portion positioned at least partially between the inner engagement portion and the outer engagement portions, the plunger being axially translatable with respect to the inner and outer engagement portions.