A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, a superior implant with a superior articular surface, and an optional crossbar. The inferior implant and the superior implant are each polyaxially adjustably connected to fixation elements which anchor the implants to adjacent vertebrae. The optional crossbar may be polyaxially adjustably connected to bilateral implants. The system components may be provided in kits which provide components of various sizes and shapes. A set of surgical instruments may facilitate implantation of the facet joint replacement system by providing tools for bone preparation, trialing, implant insertion, implant alignment, and lock-out of modular interconnections.

A method of treating a spine includes implanting a spinal implant within a patient. The spinal implant includes a first member having a first wall defining an axial passageway and a first opening, the first opening being in communication with the axial passageway. A second member includes a second wall defining an axial channel having the first member disposed therein, the second wall defining a second opening in communication with the axial channel. Bone graft is injected through the first opening and into the axial passageway and through the second opening and into the axial channel after the spinal implant is implanted within the patient.

An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

A surgical tool, enabling extraction of a prosthesis from a bony implantation site of that prosthesis, defines a proximo-distal axis and includes a distal end head adapted both to cut at least partially the bonding interface between the prosthesis and the bony material of the implantation site and to fix itself to the prosthesis by rotation centered on the proximo-distal axis, according to embodiments of the present invention.

A method of treating a spine includes implanting a spinal implant within a patient. The spinal implant includes a first member having a first wall defining an axial passageway and a first opening, the first opening being in communication with the axial passageway. A second member includes a second wall defining an axial channel having the first member disposed therein, the second wall defining a second opening in communication with the axial channel. Bone graft is injected through the first opening and into the axial passageway and through the second opening and into the axial channel after the spinal implant is implanted within the patient.

Example spinal implants and related apparatus, tools and methods are disclosed. An example spinal implant includes an outer corpus and an inner corpus axially displaceably coupled to the outer corpus. The example implant includes a transport admission provided on at least one of the outer corpus or the inner corpus and a lever admission provided on the other of the inner corpus or the outer corpus. The lever admission and the transport admission are arranged to receive a tool, wherein the tool to distract the spinal implant. The example further includes a tool lock arranged in the transport admission to lock the tool and a lever rotator engagement device provided in the lever admission. The lever rotator engagement device is to engage a lever rotator of the tool. In addition, the example includes a first guide provided on the inner corpus and a second guide provided on the outer corpus. The first guide and the second guide allow an axial displacement of the inner corpus relative to the outer corpus and prevent a rotation of the inner corpus relative to the outer corpus. In addition, in the example, the first guide and the second guide include a tongue and groove.

An intervertebral implant (100) for the fusion between two vertebral bodies of a vertebral column comprising: a fusion cage (1), extending from a posterior side to an anterior side, adapted to be interposed between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient; an asymmetrical fixing plate (2), attached to the fusion cage (1) and having a plurality of passageways (16; 7) for the insertion of bone screws on a single side.

The present invention provides artificial disc prostheses, methods and instrumentation for implantation and revision thereof. Each prosthesis may comprise superior and inferior end plates and a nucleus positioned between articular surfaces of the end plates. The end plates may have planar bone engagement surfaces with a plurality of self-cutting teeth. The articular surfaces of the end plates may be planar or include a flattened portion. The nucleus includes superior and inferior articular surfaces which may comprise flattened portions such that when the articular surfaces of the nucleus and the end plates are placed in cooperation in a preferred orientation, the flattened and/or planar portions are aligned. Each prosthesis may provide flexion/extension, anterior/posterior translation, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation degrees of freedom. One embodiment comprises a prosthesis with a first joint providing flexion/extension and anterior/posterior translation, and a second joint providing lateral bending and axial rotation.

Disclosed is a system to assist in a procedure. During the procedure an object may be moved relative to a subject, such as being positioned and/or placed within a subject. The system and related method may be used to assist in displaying and/or determining a pose of the object relative to a subject, such as rigid portions of a subject.

An intervertebral implant has a hollow space formed within the implant and accessible through an elongate opening extending through a recessed portion of the side wall, and the hollow space is shaped to receive an engagement portion of a drive shaft of an insertion tool; and the intervertebral implant includes at least two guiding surfaces facing each other and being configured for sliding engagement by a portion of a sleeve of the insertion tool movably holding the drive shaft.