The present invention provides a supporting member for implanting into a vertebra of a subject, including: a hollow body including an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface; a first guiding part formed on the upper surface; a second guiding part corresponding to the first guiding part and formed on the lower surface; a first engaging part formed on the upper surface; and a second engaging part corresponding to the first engaging part and formed on the lower surface; wherein the second guiding part extends out an extending part from a side of the hollow body, and the extending part is configured to be slidably coupled to a first guiding part of another supporting member sliding to the lower surface of the supporting member, as a result two supporting members are slidably coupled to each other and engaged to each other. According to the invention, one single supporting member can be implanted into a vertebra of a subject, or two or more supporting members can be in sequence introduced into a vertebra of a subject and combined together therein.

A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles and a suspending agent comprising hyaluronic acid. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

Improved bone plate systems are described herein. In some instances, a bone plate system can include a base plate, at least one retainer plate, and at least one spacer. The at least one retainer plate is configured to reside on the base plate in a free floating manner and can receive at least one fastener to secure the retainer plate to the at least one spacer, thereby providing a plate system that attaches to a spacer. In other instances, a bone plate system can include a base plate having one or more push plates that can engage at least one spacer.

A device (1, 100) for repairing an intervertebral disc comprising an anchoring body (2, 102), suitable for being advanced into and secured in one of the vertebrae adjacent the intervertebral disc; and a prosthesis (3, 103, 203, 303) attachable in a secure coupling position to the anchoring body (2, 102) and adapted for retaining or replacing the nucleus pulposus in an interior space of an outer annulus of the intervertebral disc, the anchoring body supporting and arranging in the cited coupling position the prosthesis such that the prosthesis is oriented to in a direction toward and through a hole in the outer annulus, the prosthesis comprising at least one active portion (4) adapted to assume and maintain a first placement shape (A) suitable for permitting the active portion to be inserted into and through the hole in the outer annulus during a placement thereof into the interior space of the outer annulus, and at least a second operative shape (B) suitable for at least partially occluding the hole in the outer annulus and/or replacing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus upon the active portion assuming a placement position in the interior space of the outer annulus.

Devices and methods for fixing defects in the anulus fibrosus (vertebral disc) of a patient are described. The devices include a mesh patch, and first and second suture assemblies, each of which include an anchor and a suture. The anchor has a first portion adapted to be inserted into a bone and a second portion having an opening therethrough. The suture is adapted to be disposed through the opening and has a first end is adapted to couple to the mesh patch. The method of treatment includes inserting the first portion of the first anchor into a cranial vertebra and inserting the second portion of the second anchor into a caudal vertebra. The first ends of the sutures are attached to the mesh patch. The mesh patch is positioned adjacent the defect by pulling on, or applying tension to, the second ends of the sutures.

An intervertebral implant is configured to be implanted in an intervertebral space in a first initial configuration. Subsequently, an actuator is configured to be driven in an actuation direction such that the actuator urges the implant to expand along a first expansion direction. Once the implant has been fully expanded along the first expansion direction, the actuator is configured to be further driven in the actuation direction so as to expand the implant in a second expansion direction that is perpendicular to the first expansion direction.

A staged expansion of an intervertebral scaffolding system is provided, and also include a laterovertically-expanding frame operable for a reversible collapse from an expanded state into a collapsed state. The expanded state, for example, can be configured to have an open graft distribution window that at least substantially closes upon the reversible collapse.

An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The device and method can be used to treat compression fractures. The compression fractures can be in the spine. The device can be deployed by compressing the device longitudinally resulting in radial expansion.

A method for growing a channeled spinal implant in situ, using a surgical additive-manufacturing system having a dispensing component, and implants formed thereby. The method can include positioning the dispensing component at least partially within an interbody space, between a first patient vertebra and a second patient vertebra, and maneuvering, in an applying step, the dispensing component within the interbody space and depositing, by the dispensing component, printing material on or adjacent the first vertebra. The applying step includes maneuvering the dispensing component and applying the printing material selectively to form an outer surface of the implant having a channel opening and to form an interior of the implant having at least one elongate channel extending to the opening.

A soft tissue repair system is provided for covering or filling openings in the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The soft tissue repair system uses a single plug or a combination of a first plug and a second plug. The second plug is a flowable plug such as an adhesive material or a material that hardens to a flexible plug material. Each plug is configured to close the opening in the annulus and can be positioned within the opening, over the opening at the exterior surface or over the opening at the interior surface. The plug can also be combined with a clamping mechanism that engages the annulus to secure the plug in the opening.