The present invention relates to a system and method for spinal disc replacement surgery via a lateral approach. The invention also relates to a spinal disc replacement device that is designed to be inserted via the lateral approach disc replacement surgery. The invention further relates to tools used for the spinal disc replacement surgery via the lateral approach.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a tapered implant for treating osteochondral/subchondral defects. The tapered implant comprises a top portion that includes a shape that approximates an osteochondral/subchondral surface to be replaced. A bottom portion of the tapered implant is configured to be implanted into a hole drilled in bone. A cylindrical sidewall of the tapered implant has a diameter that generally decreases from a first diameter of the top portion to a second diameter of the bottom portion. The tapered implant comprises any homogenous synthetic or natural material suitable for implantation into bone, including any of collagen, human or animal allograft, silicone, bioglass, peek, polyethylene, titanium, and cobalt chrome, and any combination thereof.

The disclosure is related to a suture that is configured to connect two or more tissue portions. The suture includes an elongate body. The elongate body can include a capture section extending along a longitudinal axis with a radial dimension sized to extend through an opening through tissue, and a proximal and distal capture elements protruding radially at the ends of the capture section. The capture elements can have a capture element radial dimension that is sufficiently larger than the filament radial dimension to prevent the capture elements from sliding into the opening to thereby capture the tissue therebetween on the capture filament section for suturing the tissue.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a tapered implant for treating osteochondral/subchondral defects. The tapered implant comprises a top portion that includes a shape that approximates an osteochondral/subchondral surface to be replaced. A bottom portion of the tapered implant is configured to be implanted into a hole drilled in bone. A cylindrical sidewall of the tapered implant has a diameter that generally decreases from a first diameter of the top portion to a second diameter of the bottom portion. The tapered implant comprises any homogenous synthetic or natural material suitable for implantation into bone, including any of collagen, human allograft or autograft, animal xenograft, silicone, bioglass, peek, polyethylene, titanium, and cobalt chrome, and any combination thereof.

A spinal bone graft includes one or more cortical bone portions forming a first unit. The first unit includes an engagement surface for contacting bone, and a mating surface. The mating surface forms at least one first undercut. The bone graft also includes one or more cortical bone portions forming a second unit. The second unit includes an engagement surface for contacting bone, and a mating surface. The mating surface forms either at least one second undercut, or at least one connector. In the former, at least one connector is received in each of the first and second undercuts to interconnect the first and second units. In the latter, the at least one connector of the second unit is received in the first undercut of the first unit to interconnect the first unit and second unit.

An intervertebral implant comprising a body formed as an open truss structure, the body having a generally annular shape with a superior surface, an inferior surface, and a perimeter surface extending around an outer periphery of the body. The body has a central portion and a peripheral portion, the peripheral portion extending inward from the perimeter surface toward the central portion. The peripheral portion includes a first set of trusses having a first density of trusses, and the central portion includes a second set of trusses having a second density of trusses. The first density of trusses in the peripheral portion is greater than the second density of trusses in the central portion. The first set of trusses includes a first strut and a first node, and the second set of trusses includes a second strut, wherein the first node connects the first strut with the second strut.

A tibial implant may include a plurality of implant subunits. The implant subunits may be configured for individual insertion within a wedge-shaped-void of the tibia. The implant subunits may further be configured for assembly in order to provide an implant substantially covering an exposed portion of cortical bone formed when performing a surgical osteotomy. Methods and kits for insertion and assembly of implants are further described.

An intervertebral implant includes a body and a plate. The body has an upper surface defining an upper plane and a lower surface defining a lower plane. First and second fastener holes of the plate are configured to retain the heads of first and second fasteners. A portion of each of the shanks of the first and second fasteners extends from the first and second fastener holes beyond the upper plane. The shank portions of the first and second fasteners are curved in a direction away from the upper surface. The third fastener hole is configured to retain the head of the third fastener between the upper and lower planes. A portion of the shank of the third fastener extends from the third fastener hole beyond the lower plane. The shank portion of the third fastener is curved in a direction away from the lower surface.

A glenoid implant comprises a body comprising: an articular surface and a scapula-engaging surface, the scapula-engaging surface including first and second portions angled relative to each other; and a fixation feature extending from the scapula-engaging surface. A method comprises: forming a planar bone surface at a glenoid using a guide pin; forming a first bore into the glenoid located near the guide pin; forming a second bore into the glenoid offset from the first bore; inserting an augment ream guide into the first and second bores; and forming an angled bone surface at the glenoid relative to the planar bone surface using the augment ream guide. A ream guide comprises: a base having first and second surfaces; a bone peg extending from the first surface; an alignment peg spaced from the bone peg; and a guide peg extending from the second surface at an oblique angle to the bone peg.

An expandable interbody device for use in the spine is configured to fit through Kambin's Triangle. The expandable interbody device can include a body defining a front end, a rear end and a plurality of sidewalls spanning between the front and rear ends, an expandable member pivotally attached to the body such that the expandable member pivots outwardly from one of the plurality of sidewalls and a screw threaded into the body through the rear end thereof. The expandable member defines an actuator flange that projects into the body. The screw abuts the actuator flange such that contracting the screw into the body causes the expandable member to pivot outwardly from the body.