The present invention describes methods, devices and instruments for resurfacing or replacing facet joints, uncovertebral joints and costovertebral joints. The joints can be prepared by smoothing the articular surface on one side, by distracting the joint and by implant insertion.

Implants can be stabilized against a first articular surface by creating a high level of conformance with said first articular surface, while smoothing the second articular surface with a surgical instrument with a smooth mating implant surface.

Intervertebral implant (1) comprising (i) a first elongated implant member (20) with a longitudinal axis (221), an upper surface (222) and a lower surface (223) for apposition to the endplates of two adjacent vertebrae, and with a lateral circumferential surface (224) and (ii) a second elongated implant member (30) with a longitudinal axis (321), an upper surface (322) and a lower surface (323) for apposition to the same endplates and with a lateral circumferential surface (324). Said elongated implant members (20, 30) are rotatably coupled to a central body (10) for rotation in a central plane (101 essentially parallel to said upper and lower surfaces. Further, a) said first and second elongated implant members (.sub.20, 30) comprise each an inner end portion (225;325) which comprises a segment of a toothed wheel (220;320) with gear teeth (23;33) and with an axis of rotation (227;327) essentially orthogonal to the central plane of the intervertebral implant; and a free outer portion (226;326); and whereby said free outer portions (226;3.sub.26) of said first and second elongated implant members (20, 30) are rotatable around the axis of rotation (227;327) of the segment of a toothed wheel (220;320) of their respective inner end portions (225;325).

An expandable implant includes a top support assembly defining an upper surface configured to engage a first portion of vertebral bone; a bottom support assembly defining a lower surface configured to engage a second portion of vertebral bone; and a control assembly coupled to the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly and configured to control relative movement between the top support assembly and the bottom support assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position. In the collapsed position, the upper surface is generally parallel to the lower surface, and in the expanded position, a portion of the upper surface extends at an acute angle relative to a portion of the lower surface.

An impactor system is for impacting a base of a shoulder implant into a humerus. The system may include a housing having distal stabilizer configured to contact a proximal resected surface of the humerus. The distal stabilizer may define an open space. An impaction member may be slidably received within the housing. The impaction member may have a proximal surface and a distal connection mechanism adapted to connect to the base of the shoulder implant. The impaction member may be movable from a first proximal position in which the base of the shoulder implant, when connected to the impaction member, is positioned within the open space defined by the distal stabilizer, to a second distal position in which the base of the shoulder implant, when connected to the impaction member, is positioned at least partially distal to the open space defined by the distal stabilizer.

Assemblies of one or more implant structures make possible the achievement of diverse interventions involving the fusion and/or stabilization of the SI-joint and/or lumbar and sacral vertebra in a non-invasive manner, with minimal incision, and without the necessitating the removing the intervertebral disc. The representative lumbar spine interventions, which can be performed on adults or children, include, but are not limited to, SI-joint fusion or fixation; lumbar interbody fusion; translaminar lumbar fusion; lumbar facet fusion; trans-iliac lumbar fusion; and the stabilization of a spondylolisthesis.

A method of treating a hip joint of a human patient using a pelvic drill comprising a driving member, a bone contacting and an operating device for operating said driving member. The method comprise the steps of creating a hole passing through the pelvic bone and into the hip joint of the human patient, and providing at least one hip joint surface to the hip joint, through said hole in the pelvic bone of the human patient. In one embodiment the method includes inserting a needle or tube like instrument into the patient's body for filling a part of the patient's body with gas and thereby expanding a cavity within the body.

An implant for interbody fusion of vertebrae comprising a unibody cage structure having an enveloping cage volume and a minimized material volume. The cage structure comprises a first and a second generally planar ring member, each ring member formed from an opposing pair of lengthwise joists and an opposing pair of cross joists, the joists together forming a large opening through the ring member. The ring members are fixedly sandwiched on a plurality of support members, the support members holding the ring members in a spaced apart relationship to thereby provide a large void volume relative to the enveloping cage volume, to thereby allow for receipt of a large volume of bone graft within the cage structure.

An intervertebral implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies or between two bone portions. The implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion operatively coupled to the spacer portion and one or more blades for securing the implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies. The blades preferably include superior and inferior cylindrical pins for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant may be configured to be inserted via a direct lateral trans-psoas approach. Alternatively, the implant may be configured for insertion via an anterior approach.

A surgical instrument for operating hip joint osteoarthritis in a human patient is provided. The hip joint comprises an acetabulum, being a part of the pelvic bone, and a caput femur, being the proximal part of the femoral bone. The surgical instrument is adapted to assist in the operating of the hip joint osteoarthritis from the abdominal side of the pelvic bone of said human patient.

An implant includes a central wall extending from a first side of a peripheral frame portion to a second side of the peripheral frame portion, and a first helical bone contacting member attached at the central wall and disposed within the superior half of the implant. The implant further includes a first support member attached at the central wall at a junction coincident with the first helical bone contacting member and extending to a central region of the implant internal to the first helical bone contacting member. In addition, the implant includes a non-helical bone contacting member extending from a portion of the first support member that is disposed internal to the first helical bone contacting member.