A cranial plate is provided for use after a craniectomy. The plate is mounted to the skull and protects the brain exposed in the skull opening. A plate is initially spaced above the skull with gaskets or spacers so as to preclude pressure on the brain. The gaskets or spacers are resorptive, or otherwise dissolve or shrink over time, until the plate settles upon the skull. An elastic web extending over the plate provides a constant force to pull the plate towards the skull as the spacers shrink. The plate is secured to the skull using screws. The plate may include alignment posts residing adjacent the skull opening to maintain proper positioning of the plate as the spacers shrink. The plate eliminates the need for a second cranioplasty surgical procedure.

An expandable intervertebral spacer includes a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The body includes quadrants that form a substantially cylindrical shape in a first configuration and a substantially cuboidal shape in a second configuration. Each quadrant includes a ramp portion with a ramp and a landing and a sliding portion with a sliding side and a foot. The ramp portion of a first quadrant engages the sliding portion of a second quadrant. The proximal end and the distal end couple with the plurality of quadrants and transfer an actuating force to expand the body from the first configuration to the second configuration.

The invention relates to a prosthesis comprising a first component (10) and a second component (60), wherein the first and second components have respective inter-engaging parts (24,64) and wherein at least one of the first or second components comprises an anti-rotational element (32,66) configured to resist rotational movement between the inter-engaging parts and wherein the inter-engaging parts share an axis of rotation such that they are engageable in a plurality of relatively rotated positions and wherein the axis of rotation of the inter-engaging part of one of the first or second components is parallel to but offset from a central axis of said first or second component.

A vertebral fixation plate system and a method for its use in a surgical procedure to fuse adjacent spinal vertebrae. A mounting member is attached to the vertebral fixation plate so that the fixation plate can move with respect to the mounting member through a range of available positions. The mounting member can be attached to a spinal interbody fusion device installed in place of a removed spinal disc, thus also loosely fastening the vertebral fixation plate to the fusion device. A fastener can tighten the vertebral fixation plate to the mounting member and establish a location of the vertebral fixation plate with respect to the vertebrae to be fused. Confronting surfaces of the mounting member and the vertebral fixation plate cooperate to keep the vertebral fixation plate in a desired location while it is fastened to the vertebrae being fused.

Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus that (1) delivers a fusion member between two vertebral bodies after at least a portion of the fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebral bodies has been removed, and (2) affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes (1) a fusion member that is delivered and positioned between the vertebral bodies, (2) a delivery mechanism that delivers and positions the fusion member between the vertebral bodies, and (3) an anchoring member that affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies.

A spinal implant includes an implant body extending between an anterior surface and a posterior surface. The implant body includes a first vertebral engaging surface and a second vertebral engaging surface. The implant body defines a cavity. A plate is connectable with the implant body via a coupling member adjacent the cavity and is translatable relative thereto. The coupling member has a portion including a frangible torque limit. The plate defines at least one opening oriented to implant a fastener with tissue. Systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.

An assembly for attachment to a first implant component has a size and shape of a second implant component to be implanted together with the first implant component. The assembly includes a first body including a plug having a projection, and a second body including a recess having an internal surface defining at least one indentation. In a temporary configuration, when the plug is disposed within the recess and the projection is disposed at least partially within one of the at least one indentations, the first and second bodies are removably connected such that the first and second bodies are prevented from separating. A method of assembling the assembly includes removably connecting the plug of the first body into the recess of the second body by locating the projection within an indentation, such that the bodies are prevented from separating, and positioning the assembly on the first implant component.

The present application relates to an endoprosthesis including a first member which is connected to a patient's bone; a second member which is adjustably coupled to the first member by a coupling device; wherein the coupling device is configured to generate a movement of the second member relative to the first member. The present application also relates to an artificial joint including such an endoprosthesis and to an endoprosthesis placement system including such an endoprosthesis or artificial joint and a projection device which is configured to project visible light markings, acquired from pre-operational and/or intra-operational patient data, onto the patient and/or the endoprosthesis, thus enabling visible alignment markings of the endoprosthesis to be aligned with respect to projected visible light markings so as to allow a proper adjustment of the endoprosthesis.