A bone fixation system includes a bone fastener and a tower including a frangible or detachably linked distal section with a thread formed on an inner surface thereof, the tower having at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section to accommodate and/or mitigate tower interference and/or collision during surgical procedures. The distal section can desirably be separated and/or detached from the tower to function as a head locking unit of the bone fixation assembly, with the detached distal section capable of accommodating set screws, fixation rods and/or other spinal hardware.

A bone anchor having a rod housing including a base that has an internal groove oriented at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis of the base, a capture ring situated within the groove and oriented at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis, and a bone fastener extending into the rod housing and including a fastener head situated within the base and having a surface that mates with the capture surface of the capture ring to maintain a connection between the bone fastener and the rod housing.

A minimally invasive spinal instrument and method for use of the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, a body includes an outer shaft and an inner shaft. A passageway accepts the inner shaft such that the outer shaft at least partially encloses the inner shaft. Each of the outer shaft and the inner shaft have spaced rings with locking grooves interleaved therewith. Each set of locking grooves is sized to accept a clamp such that the spaced rings mitigate longitudinal sliding of the clamp. A locking knob selectively secures the outer shaft and inner shaft thereto. A tip is removably secured to the inner shaft. In a single shaft configuration, in response to the locking knob being selectively disengaged from the outer shaft, the inner shaft and the locking knob are separated from the outer shaft such that the passageway is accessible to accept a metallic wire therethrough.

A receiver assembly for securing an elongate rod to a bone anchor includes a receiver having a channel configured to receive the elongate rod, a helically wound receiver guide and advancement structure formed into the interior surfaces of the receiver. The receiver assembly further includes a fastener configured for positioning within the channel to secure the elongate rod to the receiver in a locked configuration, with the fastener having an outer surface with a mating continuous helically wound guide and advancement structure configured for rotatable engagement with the receiver guide and advancement structure.

An anchoring device (40) for anchoring one or more sub-laminar bands or tapes (60a, 60b) to a pedicle screw (30), the device (40) comprising: a first portion (41) configured for attachment to at least a base portion (32 L) of a head portion (32) of the pedicle screw (32); and at least one second portion (46a, 46b) for anchoring thereto a or a respective sub-laminar band or tape (60a, 60b); wherein the first portion (41) includes first interengagement means (42Na, 42 Nb) for interengagement with corresponding notches or recesses (32Na, 32 Nb) in the head portion (32) of the pedicle screw (32) to effect the said attachment of the first portion (41) of the anchoring device (40) thereto.

A system is utilized, which comprises a cross connector for use in spinal fixation, further comprising multiple connection features configured to accommodate for direct attachment to multiple rods. Teachings are directed to a device that not only provides increased construct stiffness in flexion, extension and lateral bending, but also in torsion. The system adds stiffness in standard constructs. Joining multiple adjacent constructs with varying rod sizes for load distribution are also benefits of the system.

A bone attachment assembly may include an attachment head, a set screw configured to attach to the attachment head, and a rod surface with a first raised portion and a second raised portion that define a lowered portion positioned between the first raised portion and the second raised portion. The first raised portion, the second raised portion, and the set screw may be configured to directly contact a rod in order to retain the rod within the attachment head.

This application describes surgical instruments and implants for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. More specifically, the application describes instruments and methods for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column in a minimally invasive fashion.

An apparatus (10) includes a fastener (16) engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member (12) to the bone portion. A housing (40) has a first passage (42) configured to receive the longitudinal member (12) and a second passage (44) extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener (16) extends through an opening (50) in the housing (40) into the second passage (44). A longitudinal axis (18) of the fastener (16) is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to a longitudinal axis (46) of the second passage (44). A spacer (60) received in the second passage (44) of the housing (40) is engageable with the fastener (16) and the longitudinal member (12). A member (70) applies a force to prevent relative movement between the fastener (16) and the housing (40) and permit manual movement of the fastener (16) relative to the housing (40) against the force when the longitudinal member (12) is disengaged from the spacer (60). A clamping mechanism (90) clamps the longitudinal member (12), the spacer (60), and the housing (40) to the fastener (16) to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing.

Provided are rod coupler devices, systems, kits and methods, which include at least one saddle having a concave configuration that either abuts a bone fastener and/or a locking cap and is shaped so as to contact the rod in two or more lines of contact, which reduces pressure on the rod, and therefore permits use of a rod having various materials, such as PEEK, without significant deformation of the rod. Also provided is the saddle itself and integrated locking caps that include a saddle, the locking cap and a set screw. Also provided are elongate rods having advantageous shapes, configurations, and/or compositions for rod coupler devices, systems and methods. Further provided are screw and cap devices and systems that themselves include a concave configuration so as to contact a rod in two or more lines of contact, which reduces pressure on the rod.