A receiver assembly includes a receiver having a first channel, a through-space with internal recesses beneath a guide and advancement structure, and internal ridges projecting inwardly below the internal recesses. The assembly also includes an insert having a second channel, side structures protruding laterally outward below top surfaces, and opposed lower extensions extending downwardly below the second channel, with the insert being loadable into the through-space with the second channel in non-alignment with the first channel. The insert is the non-threadably rotatable within the through-space to align the second channel with the first channel and to move the side structures into the internal recesses above the internal ridges, with subsequent downward displacement of the insert within the through-space causing the opposed lower extensions to engage the capture head of a bone anchor with a frictional engagement that inhibits the bone anchor from moving upward within the through-space.

A bone fixation system includes a bone fastener and a tower including a frangible or detachably linked distal section with a thread formed on an inner surface thereof, the tower having at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section to accommodate and/or mitigate tower interference and/or collision during surgical procedures. The distal section can desirably be separated and/or detached from the tower to function as a head locking unit of the bone fixation assembly, with the detached distal section capable of accommodating set screws, fixation rods and/or other spinal hardware.

An improved cortico-cancello-cortical screw (FIG. 8a-c) to hold properly in the cortical portion at the two ends of vertebral-body which has a threaded portion (L) provided with cortical thread for the cortical bone and cancellous thread for cancellous bone; a neck portion; a shoulder portion that connects the threaded portion to the screw head; a taper of approximately 2° along entire length of the screw to ensure smooth insertion and progress as the screw is fastened so that proximal portion of the screw would engage cortical bone the same way as the intermediate portion that would engage the cancellous bone. L is divided into L1 (proximal section) that engages the cortical bone of vertebra, L2 (intermediate section) that engages the cancellous bone and has flanges bent on itself and L3 (distal section) that engages distal cortical bone to provide increased surface area and better pull out strength.

The invention comprises a medical implant system with implant having a fastener hole for a fastener and further including a fusion screw, positioned to avoid interference with the implant fastener. The medical implant system also includes a guide that is mounted in the fastener hole and from an edge of the implant which provides for defined adjustability for angulation, and optionally depth, to allow for placement of the fusion screw so as to avoid impingement with the implant and the fasteners that secure it in place. The invention also relates to a method of surgery using the system.

A locking clip for retaining a fastener in a bone fixation plate, the locking clip comprising a flexure member and a body member coupled to the flexure member, the body member comprising a locking tab, the locking tab configured to provide an axial limitation to motion of the fastener in a non-rotationally-ratcheting manner, the flexure member resiliently flexible to permit displacement of the locking tab to allow passage of a fastener head of the fastener, the locking tab configured to translate a downward force of the fastener head into a lateral spreading force to effect the displacement, the body member defining a clip tool engagement cavity for translational displacement of the locking tab.

Innovative orthopedic implant assemblies and devices are provided. One example assembly includes two implant devices. An example implant device includes two ends oppositely located with a bulbous portion located at one end and a screw portion located at the opposite end. An example second implant device includes two ends oppositely located with a looped portion defining an aperture located at one end and a nail portion located at the opposite end. The nail portion can include a tip and a smooth or substantially smooth portion. The second implant device can be implanted into a bone by striking the looped portion to facilitate the tip and at least part of the nail portion penetrating the bone.

A compression screw for applying compression at a bone joint. The compression screw includes an axial screw body extending from a distal end to a proximal end with the distal end including a series of bone engaging threads configured to be self-drilling and self-tapping and the proximal end including a head which defines a radially extending shoulder. At least one proximal rotary cutting structure is defined proximally of the bone engaging threads. The at least one proximal rotary cutting structure is configured to be self-drilling such that a proximal portion of the axial screw body cuts into and advances within a bone of the bone joint as the axial screw body is advanced. A method of inserting the compression screw is also provided.

Disclosed is a system for delivering a facet screw assembly to a facet joint. The system includes a facet screw assembly and a delivery device. The distal end of the delivery device includes a facet screw engagement feature, which is keyed to a corresponding delivery device engagement feature. In other embodiments, the system may include a facet screw assembly, a facet access guide, a washer sizer tool removably engaged with the facet access guide, a lateral mass decorticator guide slidably and removably engaged with the washer size tool, a washer implant delivery tool removably engaged with the facet access guide and detachably coupled to the facet screw assembly, and optionally an impact handle detachably coupled to the facet access guide, washer sizer tool, and washer implant delivery tool.

A bone anchoring device for anchoring and fixing vertebrae and for insertion into a pedicle canal is disclosed. A fork head having a U-shaped cut-out in a side view for a correction element, a connecting rod with two legs which terminate proximally and form a threaded section which engages with an adjusting means, wherein the legs have a radially outer circumferential area in which at least one retaining groove or other instrument attachment point is formed for gripping the fork head by a handling instrument, and a bone anchoring element with a proximal end facing away therefrom in the axial direction such that a distal direction and a proximal direction are also defined. The bone anchoring element has a spherical head at the proximal area, and the bone anchoring element is polyaxially pivotable with respect to the fork head, and has a pressure piece distally partially surrounds the bone anchoring element at the ball head, and proximally forms a seat for the connecting rod.

A bone fixation system where an alignment rod is engaged by pedicle screws. The alignment rod has sections of buttress thread. Each pedicle screw has a threaded shaft that supports a slotted receptacle. A set screw threads into the slotted receptacle. A locking plate is interposed between the set screw and the alignment rod. The locking plate contains protrusions that engage the sections of buttress thread on the alignment rod. The threaded shaft of the pedicle screw has an upper section and a lower section. A threaded connecting rod interconnects the sections. The upper section, lower section and threaded connecting rod all have external threads of the same thread pitch.