Various spinal plating systems for use in treating spinal pathologies are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, the spinal plating systems can be configured to allow a surgeon to select a bone screw construct having a particular range of motion for attaching a spinal plate to bone as needed based on the intended use. In one exemplary embodiment, the spinal plating system includes a first bone screw that is polyaxially movable relative to the spinal plate, and a second bone screw that has a range of motion that is substantially limited to a single plane.

A fastener, for example a bone screw, is sized to pass into an aperture of an implant, for example, a bone plate, the fastener having an anchor portion engageable with body tissue, and a head portion formed by an assembly of an insert and an anchor extension. The insert and anchor extension cooperate to form a reduced dimension passable into the aperture, and an expanded dimension not passable out of the aperture. The size of the assembly may be configurable, for example, by tabs, ramped surfaces, or an expanding diameter of a threadable insert.

A locking mechanism assembly to allow locking of a fastener in an orthopedic implant having its axis at a variable angle relative to the axis of threaded through opening in the implant. The assembly includes a locking insert, having threads which mates with the threads of the through opening and which includes a smooth opening that forms a torque driving recess and an annular flange. A fixator has a head portion with external threads of a harder material than that which forms the through opening so that the threads of the fixator will deform the insert to lock the fixator in a desired position relative to the plate.

An implant or endoprosthesis suitable to be implanted in human or animal tissue includes two (or more than two) parts to be joined in situ. Each one of the parts includes a joining location, the two joining locations facing each other when the device parts are positioned for being joined together, wherein one of the joining locations includes a material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration and the other one of the joining locations includes a material which is not liquefiable by mechanical vibration and a structure (e.g. undercut cavities or protrusions) suitable for forming a positive fit connection with the liquefiable material. The joining process is effected by pressing the two device parts against each other and by applying ultrasonic vibration to one of the device parts when the two parts are positioned relative to each other such that the two joining locations are in contact with each other.

A spine plate implant utilizes cam lock setscrews to retain bone screws in the plate once implanted. A cam lock setscrew is received in a setscrew pocket adjacent a configured bone screw bore of the plate and is configured to allow a bone screw to be received in the plate when in an unlocked rotational position, and to retain the received bone screw when in a locked rotational position. The bone screw includes a tang that allows engagement with external teeth of the cam lock setscrew when the cam lock setscrew is rotated into the locked position. Once the cam lock setscrew is in the locked position, the bone screw is inhibited from backing out of the bone screw bore. When the cam lock setscrew is in the unlocked position, a flat of the cam lock setscrew is adjacent the bone screw tang so the bone screw may be removed.

An implant system for total shoulder arthroplasties, hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties including a humeral stem having an enlarged head portion with interfaces adapted to removably receive various modular interchangeable components, such as articulating liners, spacers, and adapter inserts. The humeral stem functions as a universal platform that may be used in either conventional or “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties, as well as hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and may remain implanted in place during a revision in which the implant system is converted between the foregoing configurations, for example.

An orthopedic device for repairing a portion of a body comprises an orthopedic plate and a tissue protector. The orthopedic plate is configured to attach to at least one bone. The tissue protector is securely attached to the orthopedic plate and configured to at least partially detach from the orthopedic plate after a force is applied to the tissue protector. The tissue protector includes a thinned region at a portion of the tissue protector proximate to the orthopedic plate. A method of repairing parts of a body with an orthopedic device having an orthopedic plate and a tissue protector securely attached to the orthopedic plate comprises placing the orthopedic plate on at least one bone; fastening a fastener into the tissue protector and then the orthopedic plate; and detaching the tissue protector from the orthopedic plate after the fastener is completely fastened into the tissue protector and the orthopedic plate.

A bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus includes an intervertebral cage having a plurality of internal angled screw guides and screw members and a screw locking mechanism. The screw locking mechanism has leaf springs mechanically interacting with ratcheted screw heads of the screws and allowing the ratchet teeth of the screw heads to rotate only in a penetrating direction and preventing rotation of the screw head in an opposite direction. The intervertebral cage is adapted for posterior lumbar intervertebral placement, anterior lumbar intervertebral placement, anterio-lateral thoracic intervertebral placement, or anterior cervical intervertebral placement.

An insert for receipt within a plate aperture having an inner wall along the plate aperture includes a body and collar. The body has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface defines an insert aperture having a longitudinal axis. The collar extends from the outer surface in a first radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and extends along only a portion of the outer surface in a second radial direction transverse to the first radial direction and the longitudinal axis. The collar defines a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis at a first position of the collar and a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis at a second position of the collar that differs from the first radial distance. A fixation system includes the plate and insert which is receivable within the plate aperture such that the collar contacts and is slideable along the inner wall.

The present invention relates to dynamic bone fixation elements and a surgical method to stabilize bone or bone fragments. The dynamic bone fixation elements preferably include a bone engaging component and a load carrier engaging component. The bone engaging component preferably includes a plurality of threads for engaging a patient's bone and a lumen. The load carrier engaging component preferably includes a head portion for engaging a load carrier (e.g., bone plate) and a shaft portion. The shaft portion preferably at least partially extends into the lumen. Preferably at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft portion is spaced away from at least a portion of an inner surface of the lumen via a gap so that the head portion can move with respect to the bone engaging component. The distal end of the shaft portion is preferably coupled to the lumen.