A surgically implantable spacer including an upper and lower saddle member. Each of a proximal end and a distal end of the saddle members are hingeably assembled to respective upper and lower control arm members. The upper and lower control arm members pivot about a respective proximal and distal pivot member. Spacing between the proximal and distal pivot members is controlled by a control member. The control member is preferably threaded. As the pivot members are drawn together by the control member, the upper and lower saddle members separate from one another. Once one end of each of the upper and lower saddle members contacts the surface of the joint, the other end of each of the upper and lower saddle member can continue to separate until complete contact and sufficient support is provided to the opposing surfaces of the joint.

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes inserting a respective uncinate joint stabilizer into each uncinate joint along a medial-to-lateral direction starting from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, and securing each uncinate joint stabilizer to the respective uncinate joint. A system for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers, each (a) elongated along a lengthwise dimension and configured for placement in the respective uncinate joint with the lengthwise dimension substantially oriented along an anterior-to-posterior direction of the cervical spine segment, (b) having height configured to define spacing of the respective uncinate joint, (c) and including a tapered portion for interfacing with superior and inferior surfaces of the respective uncinate joint and to enable insertion of the uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment.

An expandable inter-body fusion device is presented. The expandable inter-body fusion device has a first plate and a second plate that can be manipulated to change the height and angle of lordosis. Also presented is a method of using an expandable inter-body fusion device in an inter-body fusion procedure, and a method of using an expandable trial to size the correct expandable inter-body fusion device for use in the aforementioned procedure.

The embodiments provide various interbody fusion spacers, or cages, for insertion between adjacent vertebrae. The cages may contain an articulating joint to allow expansion and angular adjustment, and enable upper and lower plate components to move relative to one another. The cages may have a first, insertion configuration characterized by a reduced size at each of their insertion ends to facilitate insertion through a narrow access passage and into the intervertebral space. In their second, expanded configuration, the cages are able to maintain the proper disc height and stabilize the spine by restoring sagittal balance and alignment. The intervertebral cages are able to adjust the angle of lordosis, and can accommodate larger lodortic angles in their second, expanded configuration. Further, these cages may promote fusion to further enhance spine stability by immobilizing the adjacent vertebral bodies.

A spacer comprised of individual components as joint replacement in the arthroplasty of shoulder, knee, and hip for the temporary surgical care of infections in the joint. The problems addressed by the invention are those of avoiding an adhesion of the bone to the spacer and a release of wear products, achieving that the patient does substantially not experience any mobility restriction, and keeping the wear and tear of the spacer as little as possible. These problems are solved in that at least one component of the spacer is made of a ceramic material, of a plurality of ceramic materials, or of a non-ceramic material having a ceramic coating.

An expandable assembly for insertion into an intervertebral space is presented. The assembly, in particular aspects, includes an elongate body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion. The assembly may include an expander that is sized and shaped for insertion between the upper portion and lower portion, thereby selectively expanding the upper portion away from the lower portion. The elongate body may also include one or more bone graft windows.

The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, gear member and a locking assembly positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member is axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member and the gear member threadedly engages a threaded portion of the inner member to translate inner member along the axis. The implant is configured to engage the vertebrae in a predetermined alignment and the gear member includes gear teeth exposed to the exterior and configured to be accessible by a tool member at a plurality of angular positions around the perimeter of the implant device.

An example spinal device including an upper plate, a lower plate, at least one front link pivotably coupled to a front portion of the upper plate and pivotably coupled to a front portion of the lower plate, and at least one rear link pivotably coupled to a rear portion of the upper plate and pivotably coupled to a rear portion of the lower plate. The spinal device is selectively movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The spinal device is moved from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration by moving the upper plate relative to the lower plate, the moving of the upper plate relative to the lower plate including pivoting of the front link and the rear link relative to the upper plate and the lower plate, the pivoting of the front link and the rear link causing vertical separation of the upper plate relative to the lower plate.

An adjustable implant (10, 60, 70, 80, 90) has a base (12) and a displaceable element (16) providing opposing tissue contact surfaces (14, 18). A linkage (20, 26) is pivotally connected to the displaceable element. A linkage mover (38, 40), engaged so as to be displaceable along the base, is associated with the linkage (20, 26) so as to define a displaceable pivot location (24, 30) for pivotal motion of the linkage relative to the base, in certain preferred embodiments, the base (12) has an internally threaded track (42, 44) in which a threaded segment of the linkage mover (38, 40) is engaged, so that rotation of the threaded segment about its central axis advances the linkage mover along the threaded track, thereby displacing the displaceable pivot locations and adjusting a separation between the first contact surface and at least part of the second contact surface.

Expandable fusion devices, systems, and methods thereof. The expandable implant may include first and second lateral legs and link plates pivotably joined between them. The lateral legs may include upper and lower endplates configured to engage adjacent vertebrae, an actuator assembly including a rotatable actuator having a shaft and a rotatable nut, and driving ramps positioned along the shaft of the actuator. The actuator assembly may cause independent movement of one or more of the driving ramps, thereby causing an expansion in height of the upper and lower endplates of the lateral legs and passive expansion of the connected link plates.