A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in a receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. The upper portion expands a retaining member in the receiver cavity to capture the shank upper portion in the receiver. In some embodiment either the retaining member or an insert provide for a friction fit of the shank upper portion in the receiver resulting in non-floppy placement of the shank with respect to the receiver. Some retainers and inserts have a lock-and-release feature. Final locking of the polyaxial mechanism is provided by frictional engagement between the shank upper portion and the retaining member. A pre-assembled receiver, retaining member and optional insert may be popped-on or snapped-on to the shank upper portion prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra.

An implant for the stabilization of bones or vertebrae is provided, the implant being a solid body including a longitudinal axis that defines a longitudinal direction and including a flexible section that has a surface and has a length in the longitudinal direction, the flexible section including at least one cavity located near the surface and having a width in the longitudinal direction that is smaller than the length of the flexible section, the at least one cavity being connected to the surface through at least one slit, and a width of the slit in the longitudinal direction being smaller than the width of the cavity.

A system for use during a surgical procedure includes a control unit configured to obtain a first anatomical characteristic of a patient; measure a second anatomical characteristic of a patient; create a targeted second anatomical characteristic; and convert at least one of the measured second anatomical characteristic and the targeted second anatomical characteristics to a patient position.

A bone anchoring system having a flexible member with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A fastener provided at a first end of the flexible member for retaining the flexible member within a bone. A rigid member is provided to ensure movement or pull-through of the flexible member does not occur.

Implementations described herein include a system that may include a deliver device, an annular anchor and an implant. The delivery device may include a distal end, a proximal and a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end. The annular anchor may be removably coupleable to the distal end of the delivery device. The annular anchor may be implantable at a target site in a patient via manipulation of the delivery device. The delivery device may be extendable outside the patient when the anchor is implanted at the target site. The implant may be deliverable through the delivery device to the target delivery site and implantable through the annular anchor. The delivery device may be coupled to the annular anchor to control a trajectory of the implant to the target site.

For a differentiated treatment of individual motion segments of the spine, a plastic rod (41, 42, 46) for the dynamic stabilization of the spine has different degrees of stiffness in its longitudinal direction. The different rod segments are interconnected along an oblique plane (13).

A system for use during a surgical procedure includes a control unit configured to obtain a first anatomical characteristic of a patient; measure a second anatomical characteristic of a patient; create a targeted second anatomical characteristic; and convert at least one of the measured second anatomical characteristic and the targeted second anatomical characteristics to a patient position.

This disclosure discloses a line coupled to a spine of a user at two points such that the line can be movable relative to those two points. The line can be encased by a protective member between those two points. The line can be covered by a compound between those two points. The line can be guided between those two points.

A method of inserting a spinal stabilization system into a patient generally comprises inserting a first positioning tool through a first location on a patient's skin and along a path generally toward a first vertebral anchor, coupling an end of the first positioning tool to the first vertebral anchor, positioning at least a portion of a delivery device over a connecting element, and inserting the delivery device and the connecting element through the patient's skin at the first location and along at least a portion of the first positioning tool. The first positioning tool is configured to facilitate directing the delivery device and connecting element generally toward a second vertebral anchor within the patient's body.

A spinal fixation construct for aligning vertebral bodies includes a bone screw, a spinal rod, a flexible member, and a fixation member. The spinal rod is disposed within a saddle portion of a housing of the bone screw, and includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. The spinal rod is formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. The flexible member is coupled to the spinal rod, and includes an elongated body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The flexible member is formed from a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that is different from the first modulus of elasticity. The fixation member includes a threaded body portion and a head portion defining a hole therethrough. A portion of the flexible member extends through the hole of the head portion.