A vertebral facet distractor intended to be positioned between first and second articular facets in an articular facet joint to provide distraction between the first and second articular facets includes an elongated generally cylindrical contour including opposed top and bottom surfaces, an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a central lumen that defines an opening in the bottom surface. The outer sidewall is provided with a surface irregularity to promote bone fusion when the vertebral facet distractor is positioned between the first and second articular facets in the articular facet joint.

A surgical instrument and method for inserting a spinal implant in the intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae and an anchor engageable with the implant and an adjacent vertebra are provided. The instrument includes an inserter having an engagement portion including a distal engagement surface for interfacing with the implant and a handle portion. The engagement portion includes a track for slidably translating the anchor toward the engagement surface. A kit is provided including the inserter and a tamp to force the anchor into engagement with the implant and the adjacent vertebra. The kit may also include a cutter for piercing the adjacent vertebra.

An expandable spinal implant configured for positioning within a space between adjacent vertebral bodies includes an upper body, a lower body, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of bone screws. The upper body and lower body are pivotably affixed at a first end and are capable of movement relative to each other. The ratchet mechanism is slidably disposed on one of the upper and lower body and is capable of engaging the opposite one of the upper and lower body thereby permitting movement of the upper and lower body relative to each other in a first direction, but not in a second direction. An insertion instrument capable of being attached to the expandable spinal instrument and a method of performing spinal surgery is also disclosed.

A device for treatment of spondylotic disease includes a distractor for distracting vertebral facets of first and second vertebrae located adjacent each other. The distractor includes a first abutment surface for interfacing with an inferior articular facet of the first vertebra. The distractor also includes a second abutment surface for interfacing with the superior articular facet of the second vertebra corresponding to the inferior articular facet of the first vertebra. The first and second abutment surfaces of the distractor engage with each other and are separated by a predetermined distance.

A first prosthetic ankle component (10) comprising: a first bearing surface (12) configured to engage a second bearing surface (22) of a second prosthetic ankle component (20); and a protrusion (16) or slot (26) on the first bearing surface, the protrusion or slot being configured to engage a respective slot (26) or protrusion (16) in the second bearing surface of the second prosthetic ankle component, wherein the protrusion or slot is further configured such that the interaction with the respective slot or protrusion permits the first and second prosthetic ankle components to slide with respect to one another in an interface plane defined by the interface between the first and second bearing surfaces, and wherein the protrusion or slot is further configured to restrict the first and second prosthetic ankle components moving away from one another in a direction with a component perpendicular to the interface plane.

A fiber-based surgical implant stabilized against fraying, includes a thermally crimped flat-knitted fabric of a biocompatible, optionally biodegradable, polymer material having a glass transition temperature or other thermally induced secondary conformational mobility threshold in the temperature range of from 20 C. to +170 C. Also disclosed is a corresponding fabric and methods of producing the implant and the fabric.

A surgical instrument and method for inserting a spinal implant in the intervertebral disc space between two adjacent vertebrae and an anchor engageable with the implant and an adjacent vertebra are provided. The instrument includes an inserter having an engagement portion including a distal engagement surface for interfacing with the implant and a handle portion. The engagement portion includes a track for slidably translating the anchor toward the engagement surface. A kit is provided including the inserter and a tamp to force the anchor into engagement with the implant and the adjacent vertebra. The kit may also include a cutter for piercing the adjacent vertebra.

The present invention relates to a cervical intervertebral cage with improved stability. Unique structures of the cervical intervertebral cage are wing-shaped protrusions. The protrusions come into contact with the bilateral uncinate processes of the cervical spine to improve stability and bone contact of the cage so that complications after ACDF using cervical cages such as cage subsidence and nonunion can be minimized.

Therefore, the cervical intervertebral cage of the present invention might be effectively used for surgical treatment of the cervical spine.

A composite interbody device for use with spinal fusion surgery is described herein. The composite interbody device comprises a central body made from a radiolucent biocompatible polymer (e.g., PEEK or UHMWPE) and metallic plates, which are placed at the superior and inferior surfaces of the central body. The metallic plates are comprised of an end plate that is adjacent to a vertebral body and an intermediate plate that is adjacent to the central body. The end plates may have one or more arrays of apertures to facilitate bone growth into the end plates to secure the interbody device within the intervertebral space. The intermediate plates may also have one or more arrays of apertures to allow the central body to bond to the end plates through compression molding, injection molding, and/or heat molding. The arrays of apertures in the end plates are not aligned with the arrays of apertures in the intermediate plates so that polymer material of the central body will not penetrate into the end plate, where bone growth is encouraged, and vice versa.

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.