The invention relates a system for implanting an implantable device in bone tissue, a processing unit for such system, a method of implanting an implantable device and a method of providing information for an implanting of an implantable device. In view of the finding that a fat content in cancellous bone is higher than a fat content in compact bone, the lipids fraction, which can be determined by optical means, e.g. spectroscopy, can be used to determine correct screw placement in healthy bone.

A bone fastener includes a screw shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion is formed by a first manufacturing method and defines a distal face. The distal portion is formed onto the distal face by a second manufacturing method. In some embodiments, systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

A self-drilling, self-tapping bone screw is described in which the bone screw has a drill tip free of threads and having a length at least as great as about the thickness of a proximal cortical bone layer, with the drill tip having opposed lands and a helical flute between each of the lands with each of the lands having a cutting edge configured to cut bone as the drill tip is rotated into the bone with the flutes conveying the bone debris away from the drill tip, where a lead thread begins to self-tap internal threads in the proximal cortical bone layer after the drill tip has drilled through the proximal cortical bone layer so as to avoid stripping the threads formed in the bone layer. A method of installation is also disclosed.

A system for establishing an anchorage or augmentation in hard tissue with the aid of a material having thermoplastic properties, which is brought to the site of the anchorage or reinforcement in a solid state, is liquefied in situ, and, in a liquefied state, is displaced to contact the object. The system includes a housing with a proximal housing part and mounted therein, a transmitting piece possibly coupled to an energy source and a driver spring, a distal housing part releasably coupled to the proximal housing part, a permeable sleeve couplable to the distal housing part, and a thermoplastic element positionable in the permeable sleeve. The two housing parts, the transmitting piece, the driver spring and the permeable sleeve form a closed load frame in which the thermoplastic element is compressed between the transmitting piece and the permeable sleeve.

A system to be used for transmitting ultrasonic vibration, the system including a sonotrode designed to vibrate in a stationary wave having at least one node position between the distal end and the proximal end of the sonotrode, and a guide shaft with a through opening. During operation the sonotrode extends through the through opening of the guide shaft and the distal end of the guide shaft is situated on a distal side of the most distal node position of the sonotrode. The sonotrode and the guide shaft are adapted to each other for radial clearance between the sonotrode and the guide shaft to be a minimum for a sonotrode portion comprising the most distal node position.

A bone fastener includes a shaft. The shaft includes a wall that defines a longitudinal cavity and a plurality of openings in communication therewith. The openings are disposed in axial alignment along the shaft and the wall is closed exclusive of the openings. In some embodiments, systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

The present invention is a fastener (30). The current fastener (30) is particularly useful in surgical procedures. Among other things, the surgical fastener (30) is provided with a conduit (50, 210) to dispense or carry biocompatible substances.

A bone screw implant is provided for immobilizing the articular surfaces of two bone segments by securing, fusing, or compression the two segments. The implant may be fabricated from a porous biocompatible metal and have a cylindrical shape and fully or partially threaded and may have variable pitch threads and a variable diameter of the shaft. The implant may include a blunt tip or a fluted self-drilling tip and a headless screwdriver socket. Large pitch cancellous threads may be in the leading-end portion of the cylinder shaft, and smaller pitch cortical threads may be at the trailing edge portion of the shaft. The implant may be fenestrated, it may have a roughened surface, and it may be coated with an osteoconductive material. The implant may be cannulated. In a specific embodiment, the implant is used for immobilizing the articular surfaces of a sacroiliac joint.

A bone anchoring element comprising a shaft (2) for anchoring in a bone, with a plurality of barb elements (7) arranged in at least one helical line around the shaft axis (M) is described, wherein said barb elements are elastically movable relative to the shaft. The bone anchoring element (1) is easy to press into a core hole bore in a bone. The barb elements (7) act in a similar manner as do the threads on a conventional bone screw and thus provide for depth positioning. Moreover, the barb elements at the same time secure the bone anchoring element and prevent it from sliding-out.

A bone fastener includes a screw shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion is formed by a first manufacturing method and defines a distal face. The distal portion is formed onto the distal face by a second manufacturing method. In some embodiments, systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.