A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a receiver with an upper channel for receiving a rod and a central bore extending downward through the channel having a support surface adjacent a bottom opening, a guide and advancement structure adjacent the top of the receiver, and a downward-facing surface below the guide and advancement structure. The assembly also includes a shank with a head portion pivotably supported by the support surface with the shank extending downwardly through the bottom opening, and an insert with a lower surface engageable with the head portion of the shank, an insert channel for receiving the rod, an upward-facing surface located radially outward from the insert channel, and one or more slots configured to make the insert resiliently axially compressible when the upward-facing surface of the insert abuts the downward-facing surface of the central bore to apply a downwardly directed pressure against the head portion of the shank.

Treatment of spinal irregularities, including, in one or more embodiments, dynamic spine stabilizers and systems that can be used to stabilize one or more motion segments in a patient's spine. Spine stabilization systems may comprise a first bone fastener configured to attach the spine stabilization system to a first vertebra. Spine stabilization systems further may comprise a second bone fastener configured to attach the spine stabilization system to a second vertebra. Spine stabilization systems further may comprise a dynamic spine stabilizer configured to connect the first bone fastener and the second bone fastener with at least some relative movement between the first bone fastener and the second bone fastener.

A spinal stabilization system generally comprises first and second anchor members configured to be secured to first and second vertebrae within a patient's body, a flexible element secured to the first anchor member, and a rigid element secured to the second anchor member. An end portion of the rigid element is coupled to an end portion of the flexible so that the system is able to provide both rigid and dynamic stabilization. The coupling is maintained even if the flexible element relaxes after a period of time within the patient's body.

The present invention provides for a joint fixation device and method utilizing magnetic members with at least one magnetic member positioned on each of opposite sides of a joint and secured to skeletal components. The magnetic members include at least one permanent magnet. The magnetic members can be configured to provide an attracting force or a repelling force. They can also be configured to provide a torque about the joint.

A stemless implantable device for arthroplasty. In one example, the device can include a flexible connector having a proximal rod sleeve integrated in a proximal portion of the flexible connector and a distal rod sleeve integrated in a distal portion of the flexible connector. A proximal fixation rod can be configured to be inserted into the proximal rod sleeve. A distal fixation rod can be configured to be inserted into the distal rod sleeve. In another example, the device can include a proximal fixation hollow cylinder comprising a proximal opening and proximal flanges framing the proximal opening, and a distal fixation hollow cylinder comprising a distal opening and distal flanges framing the distal opening. A flexible connector can be configured to be held by the proximal flanges and the distal flanges.

An articulating assembly includes a first elongated element for attachment to a first anatomical region, and a second elongated element for attachment to a second anatomical region. In at least one embodiment, a coupling connects the first and second elongated elements. The coupling includes a moveable joint configured to allow polyaxial movement of the first elongated element with respect to the second elongated element. The assembly further includes a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operable in an unlocked condition to permit polyaxial movement of the first elongated element with respect to the second elongated element, and a locked condition to immobilize the movable joint and fix the position of the first elongated element with respect to the second elongated element.

Methods of correcting a spinal deformity, including securing a first rod on a first side of a spine, securing an anchor on a second side of a spine, securing a lateral coupling between the rod and the anchor, translating and/or derotating the spine and securing a second rod on a second side of the spine to provide secondary stabilization to the spine.

A spinal adjustment system which includes at least three implant modules, wherein each implant module includes: engaging means for engaging the implant module with a vertebra; and a semirigid, resilient elongated force application means which in use is secured to said engaging means and extends from one implant module to the or each adjacent implant module; wherein: said force application means in use engages said the or each adjacent implant to module such that said force application means can slide relative thereto in the plane of the force application means; each force application means in use applies a lifting force to the corresponding implant module and said at least three implant modules together in use apply a rotational force to said system; and the force application means extending from one implant module to an adjacent implant module extends alongside the force application means extending from said adjacent implant module to said one implant module.

An implant for the stabilization of bones or vertebrae is provided, the implant being a solid body including a longitudinal axis that defines a longitudinal direction and including a flexible section that has a surface and has a length in the longitudinal direction, the flexible section including at least one cavity located near the surface and having a width in the longitudinal direction that is smaller than the length of the flexible section, the at least one cavity being connected to the surface through at least one slit, and a width of the slit in the longitudinal direction being smaller than the width of the cavity.

A spinal implant includes a plurality of frame segments that define a first frame array, the first frame array being coupled to a first mounting connection. A plurality of contiguous segments define a second frame array, the plurality of contiguous segments being coupled to a second mounting connection and being coupled to the first frame array. The first frame array and the second frame array are positioned relative to one another such that application of a force in a first direction to the first and second mounting connections results in application of a force in an opposing direction to the plurality of contiguous segments.