An implant includes a body having a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. The leading edge portion includes a substantially smooth surface forming a substantial majority of a leading edge surface of the leading edge portion. The trailing edge portion includes a monolithic structure including at least one receptacle configured to receive an insertion tool. In addition, the intermediate portion includes a plurality of elongate curved structural members.

Minimally invasive compliant devices for spinal disc replacement are discussed herein. In various embodiments, the device comprises a contact-aided compliant mechanism comprising a first rigid component, a second rigid component, a third rigid component, a first flexible component, a second flexible component. Additionally, the first flexible component can be disposed between the first rigid component and the second rigid component while the second flexible components disposed between the second rigid component and the third rigid component. In many embodiments, the rigid components can include a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface selectively engages another bearing surface of another rigid component.

An implant includes a first body member and a second body member connected by a plurality of bone contacting elements. Some of the bone contacting elements may have a generally helical geometry. Some of the bone contacting elements may have an undulating planar geometry. The bone contacting elements may have a rounded cross-sectional shape or a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

An implant strip is disclosed. In some cases, the prosthesis can take the form of an implant strip that may be implanted through the use of a surgical procedure that minimizes incision sizes and may be considered less invasive than typical spinal implant procedures. The implant strip includes provisions for implantation, including teeth, spacing provisions, and various shapes.

An intervertebral implant including a non-linear bone contacting outer member having an elongate geometry. The implant further includes a support member having an elongate geometry, wherein the support member is attached to the outer member. In addition, the outer member has a bone contacting outer surface configured to contact a vertebra, wherein the geometry of the outer member provides a first distal surface region, a first proximal surface region, and a second distal surface region, wherein the first distal surface region, the first proximal surface region, and the second distal surface region are all oriented outwardly on a superior side or an inferior side of the implant, wherein the support member attaches to the outer member at a portion of the outer member that includes the first proximal surface region.

Coiled spinal implants for disc, vertebral body, and spinal motion segment replacement or reconstruction comprise a plurality of loops and spaces between the loops, with the loops formed of a hollow material and having a plurality of apertures or a longitudinal gap that extend(s) through the sidewalls of the loops and into the hollow center. The coiled implants include one or more balloons within the hollow center, the spaces between the coil loops, and/or within the central void that the coil surrounds. Filling the balloon expands the loops and thereby increases the height of the coil. Bone graft material or bone cement may be deployed from the apertures or gap.

An implant for use in a spine includes a body and a plurality of structural members. The plurality of structural members includes outer members that are arranged to contact a vertebra upon implantation and support members that provide reinforcement and stability to the outer members. The outer members may have sections with a generalized helical geometry. The generalized helical geometry provides distal and proximal outwardly facing surface regions and creates a series of protected fusion zones along the superior and inferior surfaces of the implant to foster adjacent bone growth.

A soft tissue repair system is provided for covering or filling openings in the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The soft tissue repair system uses a single plug or a combination of a first plug and a second plug. The second plug is a flowable plug such as an adhesive material or a material that hardens to a flexible plug material. Each plug is configured to close the opening in the annulus and can be positioned within the opening, over the opening at the exterior surface or over the opening at the interior surface. The plug can also be combined with a clamping mechanism that engages the annulus to secure the plug in the opening.

The invention encompasses devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized intervertebral discs to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Specifically, the invention encompasses intervertebral nucleus and annulus implants that are resistant to migration in and/or expulsion from an intervertebral disc space. The invention further encompasses kits including the implantable devices of the invention and associated delivery tools to treat annular and nuclear tissue.

Coiled spinal implants for disc, vertebral body, and spinal motion segment replacement or reconstruction comprise a plurality of loops and spaces between the loops, with the loops formed of a hollow material and having a plurality of apertures or a longitudinal gap that extend(s) through the sidewalls of the loops and into the hollow center. The coiled implants include one or more balloons within the hollow center, the spaces between the coil loops, and/or within the central void that the coil surrounds. Filling the balloon expands the loops and thereby increases the height of the coil. Bone graft material or bone cement may be deployed from the apertures or gap.