A tool set for implanting bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws includes a pair of independently mountable and manipulatable elongate guide tools that form a unitary tool guide when desired. Each guide tool includes attachment structure for independent operable connection of the guide tool to an arm of the bone screw. The bone screw/guide tool attachment includes an undercut and/or recess so as to resist separation of the guide tool member from an attached bone screw. Further tools include a removable stabilizer, a cooperating bone screw driver with an attached stabilizer, a closure starter/reduction tool, a closure driver and a counter torque tool.

A horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screw (HTCN) including a body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is opposed to the second end; and a head at the first end of the body portion, wherein the body portion has a predetermined curvilinear shape and includes a pointed tip at the second end of the body portion, and a method of surgically implanting universal horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screws (HTCN) into a plurality of adjacent vertebrae.

A pivotal bone anchor assembly includes a receiver having upright arms defining a receiver channel for receiving an elongate rod, and an axial bore extending downward from the receiver channel to a bottom opening. The upright arms include break-off extensions, outer horizontally extending curvate tool engagement grooves, and side apertures extending inwardly from outer surfaces of the upright arms to deformable crimp wall portions adjacent the axial bore. The assembly also includes a shank having an anchor portion and an integral upper portion that is positionable in the axial bore of the receiver with the shank extending downward through the bottom opening. The assembly further includes an insert with an insert channel positionable within the axial bore and having opposing depressions formed into side surfaces that are configured to cooperate with the crimp wall portions of the receiver to maintain the insert channel in alignment with the receiver channel.

A system includes a first pedicle screw, a second pedicle screw, and an adjustable rod having an outer housing coupled to one of the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw, the outer housing having a threaded shaft secured to one end thereof extending along an interior portion thereof. The system further includes a hollow magnetic assembly disposed within the outer housing and having a magnetic element disposed therein, the hollow magnetic assembly having an internal threaded surface engaged with the threaded shaft, the magnetic assembly being coupled to the other of the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw, wherein the hollow magnetic assembly rotates in response to an externally applied magnetic field to thereby lengthen or shorten the distance between the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw.

A pivotal uniplanar bone anchor assembly includes a shank having a shank head with a partial spherical shape at a proximal end and an anchor portion opposite the shank head for fixation to the bone of a patient. The assembly also includes a receiver having a top portion defining an open channel for receiving an elongate rod and a base defining a cavity in communication with the open channel and with a bottom surface of the receiver through a distal opening. The assembly further includes a retainer positionable into non-pivotal engagement with an inner surface of the cavity prior to the shank head being received within the cavity, with the retainer having a central passage configured to receive and support the shank head within the cavity while restricting pivotal motion between the shank and the receiver to a single plane.

Apparatus and method for dynamic connection between adjacent bones. Various embodiments pertain to a bone anchor that includes a rotatable spool, the spool being configured to place tension on a flexible member, such as a tether, suture, cable, or other. Still further embodiments pertain to tools for interconnecting two bone anchors with a tether.

A medical implant assembly having at least two bone attachment structures cooperating with a dynamic longitudinal connecting member, the improvement wherein the connecting member includes: a first end, a transition portion, and a second end; a substantially rod portion extending longitudinally from the first end to the transition portion, and including a longitudinal axis and a substantially rigid core running substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis; a substantially cord portion joined with the rod portion and extending from the transition portion to the second end; and a substantially flexible jacket portion covering the rod and cord portions.

A tool set for implanting bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws includes a pair of independently mountable and manipulatable elongate guide tools that form a unitary tool guide when desired. Each guide tool includes attachment structure for independent operable connection of the guide tool to an arm of the bone screw. The bone screw/guide tool attachment includes an undercut and/or recess so as to resist separation of the guide tool member from an attached bone screw. Further tools include a removable stabilizer, a cooperating bone screw driver with an attached stabilizer, a closure starter/reduction tool, a closure driver and a counter torque tool.

A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having rigid sleeves for attachment to the bone anchors, at least one spacer engaging the bone anchors and the sleeves, and in some embodiments, an end elastic bumper. A flexible cord is initially slidingly received within the rigid sleeves, the spacer and the bumper. The spacer may include an optional inelastic inner liner, with at least one of the sleeves having an extension slidingly receivable within the liner. Some sleeves include apertures for receiving a closure top portion for locking the cord against the sleeve, or alternatively receiving a closure top that does not extend into the aperture, the slip or grip option provided by the aperture in each sleeve resulting in an overall connector with variable segmental stiffness.

A vertebral stabilisation device, consisting of at least two linking elements arranged to link two separate vertebrae together, and attachment elements for attaching the ends of each linking element to the two separate vertebrae, characterised in that the length of the linking elements and the arrangement of the attachment elements are such that each linking element can extend diagonally between the two vertebrae to which it is attached, intersecting the mean sagittal plane of the vertebral column, the two linking elements intersecting substantially at said plane, and in that at least the attachment elements situated on a same side of the mean sagittal plane of the vertebral column and on separate vertebrae are not attached to each other.