A bone screw assembly includes a fastener including a shaft and a head disposed on the shaft. The fastener is configured to be anchored within a subject's bone. A receiving assembly is configured to be movably mounted on the head of the fastener. The receiving assembly includes a receiver disposable around at least a portion of the head of the fastener and defining a channel for receiving a rod member therein. A retaining ring is disposed within the receiver for holding the head of the fastener in the receiver. An insert is disposed in the receiver above the retaining ring. A saddle is disposed in the receiver above the insert. The saddle defines a cradle for seating the rod member in the receiver.

A receiver assembly includes a receiver with upright arms extending upward from a base to define an open channel for receiving a rod, and a central bore communicating with a bottom of the base through a bottom opening and having a discontinuous guide and advancement structure proximate the tops of the upright arms. Each upright arm further includes one or more tool engagement grooves extending horizontally and circumferentially below the top of the upright arm to a front or back outer face the receiver. The assembly also includes a closure with a cylindrical outer surface having a continuous guide and advancement structure that is mateable with the discontinuous guide and advancement structure to secure the rod within the open channel without engaging the tops or side outer faces of the upright arms, with the closure top being selected from a single-piece closure body with a solid closed-off bottom surface and two-piece closure body having an outer ring and an inner set screw with a solid closed-off bottom surface.

A method of assembling a surgical construct includes installing a fastener within a bone of a patient. A connector rod is positioned on the fastener and an interference or press fit is created between the fastener and the rod, with very little effort required on the surgeon's part. No additional steps are necessary or desirable; the surgeon can simply position the rod over the fastener, and very quickly and accurately couple the two one to another. A securing device can be used to couple the fastener and the rod, and a different device can be used to uncouple the fastener from the rod. The securing device engages the fastener and the rod, and pushes the rod over the fastener as the surgeon activates the gripping mechanism.

Systems, devices, and associated methods for correcting spinal column deformities that help minimize a number of attachment anchors utilized for correction, facilitate use of straight or contoured rods, and/or help promote a more natural, physiologic motion of the spinal column.

A pedicle screw fastening system that consists of an anchoring bone screw having a first diameter with threads on one end for use in anchoring the screw to the bone and a spherical ball connector member having a second diameter on the other end, with the second diameter smaller than the first diameter; the spherical ball connector member operating as a pivot point about which a connecting assembly moves in a polyaxial fashion. The connecting assembly has a lower connector member with an attachment ring to secure the spherical ball connector member, allowing the use of the small diameter spherical ball connector member with a large shank anchoring bone screw. A biased retainer member maintains a positive tension between the connecting assembly and the anchored screw. The system allows for large shank screws with small connecting assemblies.

In one example, an implant holder supports a guiding connector that attaches to a vertebrae and that secures to an elongated support member by a cable tie. The implant holder has a handle portion that has a shaft that extends between proximal and distal ends of the handle portion. The distal end of the handle portion can be positioned proximate to the guiding connector when the guiding connector is supported by the implant holder. The implant holder has at least one holder defining a channel therethrough that receives the shaft of the handle portion such that the at least one holder is slidable along the shaft. The at least one holder secures the cable tie and at least one wing of the guiding connector to the handle portion.

A hone screw assembly includes an anchor portion and a head portion, such as a rod-receiving portion, movably mounted to the anchor portion to allow for controlled angulation between the anchor portion and the head portion. The anchor portion is pivotable in one or more selected directions about an axis relative to the head portion. A restriction member, which may be a rod seat, prevents the anchor portion from pivoting in one or more different directions about another axis relative tr the head portion and/or a spinal fixation element received in the head portion. The restriction member may be inserted in the head portion to control direction that the anchor portion pivots relative, to the head portion. The restriction member may also serve as a compression member and/or rod seat for seating a spinal rod coupled to the bone screw assembly.

A connection assembly configured to securely connect a spinal implant to a bone anchor. In particular, a variable angle connection assembly that is able to securely connect the spinal implant to the anchors even when there is a variance in the angle and position of the anchors with respect to the spinal implant. Furthermore, a connection assembly that will not inadvertently lock the components of the connection assembly preventing the relative movement of the components.

Methods and devices for treating spinal deformities are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a low-profile spinal anchoring device is provided for receiving a spinal fixation element, such as a tether, therethrough. The device generally includes a staple body that is adapted to seat a spinal fixation element, a fastening element for fixing the staple body to bone, and a locking assembly for coupling a spinal fixation element to the staple body. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is adapted to couple to the staple body such that the spinal fixation is disposed therebetween, and a locking nut that is adapted to engage the staple body to mate the washer to the staple body.

An implant assembly includes a screw body, including anchor portion and proximal head portion, and a cradle movably mounted in the screw body to allow for controlled angulation between a spinal connection element disposed in the cradle and the screw body. The cradle is pivotable in one or more selected directions about one or more axes relative to the screw body. The cradle may be generally, substantially spherical in shape and allow for unrestricted movement in one or more directions around one or more axis.