A system for implanting an inter-body device between adjacent vertebrae comprises an inter-body device having a plurality of cans secured to a flexible bridge and having a relief portion therebetween. An inserter tube and complementary bullnoses are advantageously secured to the vertebrae by an extension arm for securing the assembly precisely in place. A plurality of articulating trial implants are provided to test fit a disc space for the proper sized inter-body device.

An intervertebral spacer is designed particularly for patients who are not candidates for total disc replacement. The spacer maintains disc height and prevents subsidence with a large vertebral body contacting surface area while substantially reducing recovery time by eliminating the need for bridging bone. The intervertebral spacer or fusion spacer includes a rigid spacer body sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space between two vertebral bodies. In one embodiment, the spacer body has two opposed metallic vertebral contacting surfaces, at least one fin extending from each of the vertebral contacting surfaces and configured to be positioned within slots cut into the two vertebral bodies. Holes, if present, cover less than 40 percent of the entire vertebral body contacting surfaces to provide increased bone ongrowth surfaces and to prevent subsidence.

An implant device for use in achieving spinal fusion, includes an implant having an implant body. The device includes a graded radiopacity calibration tool integrated with the implant body. The tool has a plurality of graded levels of radiopacity representative of a range of bone density parameter amounts. Each of the graded levels corresponds to a different bone density parameter amount. A method is provided that uses the device to determine a degree of one of bone maturity, strength, osteoporotic state, state of healing and state of degrading bone tissue based on a comparison of a bone at the site in the image and radiopacity correlated from a calibration standardized curve defined by the standard, with a range of grey levels representative of degrees of one of the bone maturity, the strength, the osteoporotic state, the state of healing and the state of degrading bone tissue.

Devices and methods are provided for optimized spinal fixation using additive manufacturing techniques to create implants with optimized structure for various surgical approaches, anatomies, etc. One exemplary embodiment includes a cage having an X-shaped connection that can bear a load during cage impaction. The cage can be additively manufactured to incorporate features such as variable wall thickness or material density to adjust properties of the cage, including load bearing capability, flexibility, radiolucency, etc. The cage can further include one or more of the connectors disposed between upper and lower endplates. In some embodiments, the cage can include a feature for coupling an insertion device thereto for introducing the cage into the body of a patient. In some embodiments, a plate can be appended to or integrally formed with a proximal end of the cage to assist with securing the cage to vertebral bodies.

An interbody device configured for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a body comprising and exterior surface and an interior surface defining a cavity. The body comprises a visualization window extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface, where the visualization window comprises a lattice of radiopaque structures. A density of the lattice in a central region of the visualization window is less than in the density of the lattice in an outer region of the visualization window such that the visualization window is radiolucent through the central region.

An intervertebral spacer is designed particularly for patients who are not candidates for total disc replacement. The intervertebral spacer maintains disc height and prevents subsidence with a large vertebral body contacting surface area while substantially reducing recovery time by eliminating the need for bridging bone. The intervertebral spacer or fusion spacer includes a rigid spacer body sized and shaped to fit within an intervertebral space between two vertebral bodies. In one embodiment, the intervertebral spacer body has two opposed metallic vertebral contacting surfaces, at least one fin extending from each of the vertebral contacting surfaces and configured to be positioned within slots cut into the two vertebral bodies. Holes within the vertebral body contacting surfaces to provide increased bone on growth surfaces and to prevent subsidence.

An interbody implant includes an implant body extending between an anterior surface and a posterior surface. The implant body includes a first vertebral engaging surface and a second vertebral engaging surface. At least one of the vertebral engaging surfaces defines a cavity configured for disposal of bone growth detectable via medical imaging. Systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

A cage to be inserted between vertebrae reduces a risk of damage to organs and nerves in the process of insertion surgery and facilitates the process of insertion surgery. The cage can be inserted in one insertion direction between a plurality of vertebrae, wherein the insertion direction forms a predetermined insertion angle with respect to the anterior aspect of the spine, and an upper surface and a lower surface of the cage are provided to correspond to a lower surface and an upper surface of the vertebrae. Also, the cage is stably fixed, and side effects after surgery is reduced. Also, the surgery time is reduced, and a burden on the patient is reduced. In addition, advantages of anterior insertion and direct lateral insertion are combined, and thus post-surgery outcomes in patients may be improved.

An apparatus for sacroiliac fusion surgery is provided. The apparatus includes a tube that allows x-ray visualization of objects passing through the tube, the tube having a proximal end with an opening and a distal end with an opening. The tube further has one or more mounts on its distal end for attaching removable anchoring tips thereto. The apparatus further has one or more removable anchoring tips attached to the distal end of the tube with the one or more mounts. The tube is made of a material that is radiolucent and permits x-ray visualization of objects that are passed through the tube.

An interbody device configured for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a body comprising and exterior surface and an interior surface defining a cavity. The body comprises a visualization window extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface, where the visualization window comprises a lattice of radiopaque structures. A density of the lattice in a central region of the visualization window is less than in the density of the lattice in an outer region of the visualization window such that the visualization window is radiolucent through the central region.