A cervical plate assembly is disclosed. The cervical plate assembly includes a base plate including: (1) at least two bone screw seats, each bone screw seat including a borehole dimensioned to receive a bone screw, and (2) a first blocking seat positioned between the at least two bone screw seats. The cervical plate assembly includes a blocking mechanism retained within the first blocking seat of the base plate. The blocking mechanism is selectively positionable between a closed position in which the blocking mechanism obstructs at least one bone screw seat to retain a bone screw with the base plate, and an open position in which the bone screw seats are unobstructed.

A bone screw comprises a main body including a shank portion, a head portion attached to the shank portion, and a cap moveably attached to the head portion. The head portion includes a tool interface structure therein having a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween. A tool lock recess is provided in at least one of the sidewalls of the tool interface structure. The tool interface structure is accessible through an opening within an exterior surface of the cap.

A modular system for treating a bone includes a main body including a channel extending therethrough. A distal end includes a driving feature sized and shaped to engage a corresponding driving structure of one of first and second bone screws. The system also includes an inner shaft sized and shaped to be inserted into the channel and including a distal end including a retaining feature for engaging a corresponding retaining structure extending within a recess at a proximal end of the first screw. Furthermore, the system includes an outer shaft extending longitudinally and including a channel extending therethrough. The channel of the outer shaft is sized and shaped to slidably receive the main body therein and including a retaining feature extending along a distal end thereof. The retaining feature of the outer shaft engages a retaining structure extending along an exterior surface of the second screw.

An approach is provided for engaging a set screw to an implant. The approach includes a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may include a shaft having an elongated rigid structure, and a driver head positioned on a distal end of the surgical instrument. The driver head may include at least one groove or at least one protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction of the surgical instrument and a pin positioned at least partially within the driver head. The pin may be configured to deploy and retract in a lateral direction from with the driver head portion.

A system for performing a minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion. The system may be in the form of a disposable kit, with the components streamlined so that the procedure can be performed in a few minutes. The screw components are self-drilling and self-tapping. The system may deploy blades through the walls of the primary screw which cut away material as the primary screw is set, for denuding the sacroiliac joint. The primary screw is designed bore through and internalize bone tissue in an autografting process. The implant system may include components for packing bone grafting material into the screw to supplement autograft bone tissue internalized in the primary screw during placement. At least one side screw is passed through a head of the primary screw to anchor the head and prevent it from backing out after implantation.

Spinal bone anchor attachment device for improving the attachment of a bone screw to skeletal portions of a patient, the device reducing the risk of screw failure, and improving patient outcomes. The device is composed of a biomaterial compatible with bone and provides an enhanced surface area on outer surfaces of the device for engaging the bone, and an enhanced surface area within the device for engaging the bone screw. The device may also have a guiding slanted tip with a bias element for facilitating the placement of the device into bone tissue and rescuing an improper tract. The device may further be used to secure the placement of pedicle screws, and as a component of an intervertebral stabilization system commonly used in spinal fusion surgeries.

Compression devices for joining tissue and methods for using and fabricating the same.

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 s 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.

A provisional engagement feature for selectively connecting a fastener such as a screw to a driving tool, the fastener incorporating a head with a recess extending therein and a projection contained within the recess for engagement with a corresponding engagement feature and/or selective locking feature of the driving tool.

A method of shaping a bone screw with an automated device having a CNC unit includes rotating a blank coupled to a spindle about an axis defined by a coordinate system of the CNC unit, advancing a cutting tool proximally through an exterior of the blank at a speed to form a helical thread along a shaft, and reducing the speed to provide a variable, proximally decreasing pitch along at least a portion of the shaft. A first cutting tool is automatically transitioned toward disengagement from the blank when 1) a relative axial position between the first cutting tool and the blank coincides with a first coordinate of a predetermined location, and 2) a relative rotational position between the first cutting tool and the blank coincides with a second coordinate of the predetermined location. The first coordinate is along the axis, the second coordinate is an angular position about the axis, and the first and second coordinates are defined by the coordinate system. A second cutting tool is moved into engagement with the exterior of the blank so that the second cutting tool engages the blank substantially at the predetermined location, in a manner enabling continuation of the thread.