The present invention provides a drug eluting surgical screw and a method for manufacturing a drug eluting surgical screw. The drug eluting surgical screw may include a shaft having a threaded portion, a head having a drive recess disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, the drive recess having a reservoir region and a driver engagement region, and at least one or more drug eluting components disposed within the reservoir region of the drive recess in a manner that does not substantially impair a connection between a driver and the surgical screw when the driver is operably disposed within the driver engagement region, each of the at least one or more drug eluting components including a carrier matrix and a therapeutic agent, the therapeutic agent being at least 20 wt % of the drug eluting component prior to any implantation of the drug eluting surgical screw.

This invention relates to a transdiscal screw capable of following a non-linear trajectory. The screw assembly includes a first screw and second screw coupled at a poly-axial joint. The first screw and the second screw capable of rotating independently of each other. The screw can also include a third screw coupled to the second screw at a poly-axial joint such that the first screw, second screw and third screw can rotate independently of each other.

Systems, methods, and program products for providing and administering a digital asset network of cooperative nodes with rapid transaction settlements are disclosed.

In described embodiments, an implant assembly includes a first implant having a body with a first end and a second end and a hollow passage extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first implant is sized for insertion into a first bone segment. A connector has a first end rotatably connected to the first implant at the first end of the first implant, a second end insertable into a second bone segment, and a connector body extending through the hollow passage of the first connector. A method of inserting the implant assembly is also provided.

A dynamic bone fixation element can include a sleeve elongate along a first direction and a fixation member. The sleeve can define a channel that extends from a proximal end through to a distal end along the first direction. The channel has a first cross-sectional dimension. The fixation member has a head, a shaft extending from the head and elongate along a second direction, and an abutment member extending from the shaft and integral with the shaft, wherein the shaft extends through the channel such that the sleeve is captured between the abutment member and the head. At least a portion of the shaft that is within the channel has a second cross-sectional dimension that is less than the first cross-sectional dimension such that the fixation member is moveable with respect to the sleeve along a direction that has a directional component transverse to the first direction.

This disclosure presents a polyaxial pedicle screw system. The system may comprise one or more of a screw body, a screw insert, a head component, a bushing, and/or other components. The screw body may have a major diameter. The screw insert may comprise a spherical head having a head diameter. The head component may have an axial bore forming an interior surface which defines a bore diameter of the axial bore. The interior surface may define a narrowest part of the bore diameter of the axial bore at a first end of the head component. The head diameter of the spherical head of the screw insert and/or the major diameter of the screw body may be larger than the narrowest part of bore diameter of the axial bore.

A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in a receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. The upper portion expands a retaining member in the receiver cavity to capture the shank upper portion in the receiver. In some embodiment either the retaining member or an insert provide for a friction fit of the shank upper portion in the receiver resulting in non-floppy placement of the shank with respect to the receiver. Some retainers and inserts have a lock-and-release feature. Final locking of the polyaxial mechanism is provided by frictional engagement between the shank upper portion and the retaining member. A pre-assembled receiver, retaining member and optional insert may be popped-on or snapped-on to the shank upper portion prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra.

A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a receiver having central bore with a partially spherical engagement surface adjacent a lower opening, and a shank having a capture portion at a proximal end that is uploadable into the central bore of the receiver through the lower opening. The assembly also includes a retainer comprising a compressible, open ring-shaped body having at least a slit or missing section, a center opening, and an outer partially spherical surface configured for pivotal engagement with the partially spherical engagement surface of the receiver. The assembly further includes an insert comprising a center aperture configured to provide access to the internal drive socket for the drive tool, an upper surface configured to engage the fixation rod, and a lower surface configured to transfer the downwardly-directed force toward the capture portion of the shank to lock the assembly.

Embodiments of the bone anchor assembly (36, 50) described herein have adjustable lengths and therefore accommodate many needs. Therefore, the physician does not need to maintain a multitude of bone anchors having a variety of lengths in order to be prepared for many situations. The bone anchor assembly (36, 50) has an elongated hollow shaft portion (38, 52) formed of multiple shaft segments (46, 58) joined together. The length of the shaft portion (38, 52) is adjusted after the implanting of the bone anchor assembly into the bone by removing shaft segments (46, 58).

A method and system for performing bone fusion and/or securing one or more bones, such as adjacent vertebra, are disclosed. The screws include a threaded tip connected to a main shaft and a threaded outer sleeve that rotates relative to the outer shaft until locked down. Independent rotation of the threaded outer sleeve relative to the threaded distal tip allows compression or distraction to modify the gap between the vertebral bodies. The screws are passed from the inferior to superior vertebra or superior to inferior, for example, through a trans-pedicular route to avoid neurological compromise. At the same time, the path of screw insertion is oriented to reach superior or inferior vertebra. An intervertebral cage of the system is configured for lateral expansion from a nearly straight configuration to form a large footprint in the disc space. The screws and cage may be combined for improved fixation with minimal invasiveness.