An implant stabilizes two adjacent bones of a joint, while enabling a natural kinematic relative movement of the bones. Support components are connected to each bone of the joint, and a flexible core is interposed between them. The core and at least one of the support components are provided with a smooth sliding surface upon which the core and support component may slide relative to each other, enabling a corresponding movement of the bones. The surfaces may have a mating curvature, to mimic a natural movement of the joint. The core is resilient, and may bend or compress, enabling the bones to move towards each other, and or to bend relative to each other.

Disclosed herein are an implant with an attachment feature and a method for attaching to the same. The implant may include a cavity with a porous layer disposed within a non-porous layer wherein the non-porous layer defines a chamber. The chamber may receive and confine liquefiable material and direct liquefiable material to permeate through the porous layer. A method of attaching a device to the implant may include liquefying a liquefiable portion of the device and allowing the liquefied material to interdigitate with the second layer and then solidify to prevent pullout.

A self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatus is disclosed which includes at least first and second sliding boxes. A first screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body is disposed within the first sliding box, and a second screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body disposed within the second sliding box. An adjuster adjusts the height of the sliding boxes. The screw members are screwed into vertebral bodies in order to fuse the vertebral bodies together. A plurality of the self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatuses may be attached together and/or integrated via a plate or cage. Also disclosed is a cervical facet staple that includes a curved staple base and at least two prongs attached to the bottom surface of the curved staple base.

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.

This specification describes technologies relating to an intervertebral disc prosthesis used to strengthen and stabilize the spine. Implementations of the technology described herein comprise a surgical device that is implanted through a small surgical incision into a portion of a human intervertebral disc, various support tools used to insert such a surgical device, and a method by which the device is used to strengthen and stabilize the spine.

An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.

A self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatus is disclosed which includes at least first and second sliding boxes. A first screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body is disposed within the first sliding box, and a second screw member having a tapered end and a threaded body disposed within the second sliding box. An adjuster adjusts the height of the sliding boxes. The screw members are screwed into vertebral bodies in order to fuse the vertebral bodies together. A plurality of the self-drilling bone fusion screw apparatuses may be attached together and/or integrated via a plate or cage. Also disclosed is a cervical facet staple that includes a curved staple base and at least two prongs attached to the bottom surface of the curved staple base.

Various implementations include intervertebral discs and associated methods of use and imaging. One implementation includes an intervertebral disc capable of imaging under MRI, the disc including: an upper plate including a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) portion having a lower bearing surface and an upper vertebra contacting surface, the upper surface formed at least in part from a metal for improved bone attachment; a lower plate including a PAEK portion having an upper bearing surface and a lower vertebra contacting surface, the lower surface formed at least in part from a metal for improved bone attachment; and a ceramic core to mate and articulate with respect to the bearing surfaces of the upper and lower plates, wherein upon imaging under X-ray the PAEK portion of the upper and lower plates are substantially completely invisible and the upper and lower vertebral contacting surfaces of the upper and lower plates are substantially completely visible.

A composite interbody bone implant device is provided including a body having a non-bone composition, such as a polymer, formed into a shape and including one or more cavities. An osteoinductive material, such as bone allograft tissue, may be retained in the one or more cavities of the body. The body is formable via injection molding and/or machining into a shape and size adapted for implantation at a surgical site. The dimensions of the body include a length, a width and a thickness, and the thickness of the body may be less than at least one of the length and width.

Stand-alone interbody fusion devices and corpectomy devices suitable for use with an oblique implantation. The stand-alone interbody fusion devices may include a spacer having a substantially U-shaped body and a plate coupled to the spacer. The overall shape of the implant is asymmetrical such that a median plane, an oblique plane, or both planes divide the spacer and the plate into two asymmetrical halves. The implants are shaped and configured to allow for an oblique or anterolateral approach to the spine or an oblique corpectomy.