There is provided an intervertebral fusion cage which is expandable in multiple dimensions. The fusion cage finds use in surgery, particularly minimally invasive spinal surgery. There is also provided a method of using the fusion cage in spinal surgery.

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 intervertebral implant is configured to be implanted in an intervertebral space in a first initial configuration. Subsequently, an actuator is configured to be driven in an actuation direction such that the actuator urges the implant to expand along a first expansion direction. Once the implant has been fully expanded along the first expansion direction, the actuator is configured to be further driven in the actuation direction so as to expand the implant in a second expansion direction that is perpendicular to the first expansion direction.

A tool for delivery and/or compaction of bone graft material includes a cannula with an inner lumen extending along a longitudinal axis from a hopper end of the cannula to a delivery tip of the cannula. A hopper with an internal volume for storing bone graft material is connected to the hopper end of the cannula with the internal volume of the hopper in communication with the inner lumen of the cannula for delivery of bone graft material from the hopper to the delivery tip of the cannula. An output shaft within the inner lumen extends along the longitudinal axis. The output shaft includes a helical screw thread extending radially outward from the output shaft toward an inner surface of the cannula. An actuator is connected to the hopper and to the output shaft to drive the output shaft rotationally relative to the hopper and to the cannula.

The present invention provides a support element for implantation into or between a subject's bones, characterized in that: the support element is a hollow nestable structure having expandable elasticity, and can be in a contracted configuration or a distended configuration. The present invention also provides an implant component, comprising: the support element; and a limiting member to prevent the support element from expanding and thereby keep the support element in the contracted configuration. The present invention also provides an implant system applicable to a subject's spine, the implant system comprising: the support element as a first support element; and optionally one or a plurality of the support elements in the hollow nestable structure of the first support element. The support element can be nested until the support provided by the entire implant system reaches the desired level.

Deployable Euler Spiral Connectors (DESCs) are introduced as compliant deployable flexures that can span gaps between segments in a mechanism and then lay flat when under strain in a stowed position. This paper presents models of Euler spiral beams combined in series and parallel that can be used to design compact compliant mechanisms. Constraints on the flexure parameters of DESCs are also presented. Analytic models developed for the force-deflection behavior and stress were compared to finite element analysis and experimental data. A spinal implant and a linear ratcheting system are presented as illustrative applications of DESCs.

A method and system for performing bone fusion and/or securing one or more bones, such as adjacent vertebra, are disclosed.

Disclosed are surgical implants for providing therapy to a treatment site, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and deploying the implants within the spines. The treatment site may be a vertebral body, disc, and/or motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine.

A locking member for implantation in a hip joint of a patient is provided. The hip joint has a caput femur integrated with a collum femur having a center axis extending longitudinal along the collum and caput femur in the center thereof. The locking member is adapted to assist in the fixation of a medical device, having an artificial hollow caput femur surface, to the collum and/or caput femur, wherein said artificial caput femur surface comprises at least one extending portion adapted to clasp a portion of the caput and/or collum femur, and wherein said locking member comprises an element adapted to lock said artificial caput femur surface such that the caput femur remains clasped and restrained in said artificial caput femur surface.

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.