According to some embodiments, a method of inserting a lateral implant within an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebral member and a lower vertebral member includes creating a lateral passage through a subject in order to provide minimally invasive access to the intervertebral space, at least partially clearing out native tissue of the subject within and/or near the intervertebral space, positioning a base plate within the intervertebral space, wherein the base plate comprise an upper base plate and a lower base plate and advancing an implant between the upper base plate and the lower base plate so that the implant is urged into the intervertebral space and the upper vertebral member is distracted relative to the lower vertebral member.

Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.

An apparatus for transferring a viscous material comprising: a) a first container capable of containing a viscous material; b) a transfer piston insertable in the first container so that the piston forms a circumferential seal with respect to the container, the transfer piston including a hole; and c) a mechanism for attaching an aperture of a second container to the hole in the transfer piston wherein insertion of the transfer piston into the first container causes the viscous material to pass through the aperture into the second container.

Expandable spinal interbody implants include a body and at least one extendable support element connected thereto. Such an implant may include a second extendable support element and a tool selectively positionable with respect to the implant so as to independently or simultaneously expand both extendable support elements. In another example, such an implant may include, at each of a first and second location, a respective movable member and a respective locking element. The at least one extendable support element may be actuatable to expand so as to induce movement of at least one of the movable members away from the body. The locking elements at each of the first and second locations may be selectively lockable such that, when locked, the locking element restrains movement of the associated movable member at that location away from the body without restraining movement of the other movable member away from the body.

A stabilization system and implant for preventing relative motion between tissue sections of a patient, for example, an ilium and a sacrum defining a sacroiliac joint. The stabilization system comprises an implant comprising an elongate trunk, a proximal anchor configured to be positioned within the ilium, and a distal anchor configured to be positioned within the sacrum. The proximal anchor comprises a deformable feature configured to engage the ilium and the distal anchor comprises an expandable member configured to engage the sacrum. The stabilization system further comprises a tool removably coupled to the anchor to insert the implant in the patient and selectively engage the anchors with the respective bones. The implant is configured to be implanted through a minimally invasive incision.

A bone structural device including a plurality of bone structural segments, wherein adjacent bone structural segments are pivotally connected to one another about a pivot axis, and the bone structural segments are expandable in height, which is in a direction generally parallel to the pivot axis.

An expandable interbody implant is expandable from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration by moving opposing first and second vertebral-engaging surfaces apart from one another. The implant includes a locking system for restraining contraction of the implant. The locking system may have a locked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are prevented from moving back towards the contracted configuration, and the locking system may have an unlocked configuration, in which the first and second surfaces are permitted to move back towards the contracted configuration. The locking system may be controlled by rotation of one or more pinions. The pinions may, in turn, be controlled by linear movement of a rack. The rack may be configured so as to bias the locking system towards the locked configuration. The implant may also include a stop for constraining the maximum expansion of the implant.

Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.

A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one fixation element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to engage a surface of an adjacent vertebral body and secure the implant between two vertebral bodies. Preferably, the implant is expandable and has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it must pass to be deployed within the intervertebral space. Once within the space between vertebral bodies, the implant can be expanded so as to engage the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can be corrected, and natural curvatures restored and maintained.

A spinal implant for placement between vertebral bodies includes a first member for engaging one of the vertebral bodies, a second member for engaging an opposing one of the vertebral bodies, and at least one extendable support element for inducing movement of the entire first member away from the second member. The first member is connected to the second member such that the first member moves away from the second member by a larger distance at a first end of the implant than at a second end of the implant. A connecting member may connect the first and second members together at the second end of the implant. The connecting member may include one or more rotatable linkages, or the connecting member may be an extension of one of the first and second members slidably received within a track defined within the other of the first and second members.