A fastener configured for spinal applications includes a head having a channel adapted to receive a spinal rod and a shaft extending from the head to a distal tip and having a thread, at least a portion of the thread being serrated. The serrated portion of the thread includes peaks and troughs and can extend along about 35 percent of a length of the thread.

A fixation device includes a head, a tapered body coupled to the head and extending along a central longitudinal axis, and a flexible tail extending distally from the tapered body and defining a central bore therethrough. The flexible tail is movable from an initial configuration aligned with the central longitudinal axis to a deflected configuration that extends away from the central longitudinal axis when a force is applied to the flexible tail.

A cervical polyaxial bone anchor includes a longitudinal connecting member receiver structure and a cooperating shank. The shank has a body and an integral head with first and second spherical surfaces of different radii and a plurality of spaced curvate apertures for receiving portions of the longitudinal connecting member to result in a greater angle of inclination of the shank with respect to the receiver. The receiver has an upper channel and a lower cavity that further includes an expansion area and an operational seat for a split retainer ring that captures and fixes the shank head within the receiver.

An absorbable screw fastener and a method of firing with an applicator capable of applying a surgical fastener to tissue in order to form tissue connection to secure objects to tissue, the fastener including a body portion having a helical thread, a head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion. The head portion includes a driver receiving configuration on its outer surface. The screw fastener further includes a cannulated center lumen with an opening extending from the head portion through the longitudinal length of the body portion.

A polyaxial spinal screw including a head and a threaded body. The head is defined by a portion of a first sphere that has a first center and a portion of a second sphere that has a second center, wherein the second center is approximately concentric with the first center. The threaded body extends from the portion of first sphere, wherein the portion of the first sphere is compressible approximately through the first center via compression of the portion of the second sphere.

A Universal implant-to-bone anchoring system including an anchor having a shaft terminated at one end by a head and one or more tins, generally planar and having two surfaces, portions of which come together at a free edge, and attached to the shaft and angled about a minor radius thereof along an imaginary helix and an inserter operative to be attached to the head of the anchor and having one or more ports operative to accommodate an anchor driving tool.

A spinal plate assembly includes a spinal plate and a cap. The spinal plate includes an opening through the spinal plate and an associated recess in the spinal plate that is eccentric with the opening. The cap includes an alignment opening and is configured to be rotationally engaged in the recess between a first rotational configuration and a second rotational configuration. The first rotational configuration enables a threaded body of a screw to be thread into a vertebra in a selected trajectory through the alignment opening and the opening in the spinal plate, and further enables a portion of the opening to engage a head of the screw in the selected trajectory. The second rotational configuration enables the cap to compress the head of the screw approximately through its center into the engaged portion of the opening.

A system includes and implant and an elongate device. The implant includes a first bone engaging portion and a flexible portion coupled to an end of the first bone engaging portion at an engagement portion. The flexible portion is configured to be compressed toward a longitudinal axis defined by the flexible portion. The elongate device includes an engagement end that is sized and configured to engage the engagement portion of the implant.

A compression screw comprising a threaded shaft and a head associated with the proximal end of the shaft. The head has a plurality of outwardly extending projections spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of recesses there between for receiving a screw drive in such a way that rotational force may be transferred from the screw drive to the screw. The projections of the head may be provided with suture fixation holes or a suture coupling may be positioned over the shaft so as to extend between the projections of the head.

A spinal implant includes an intermediate portion and a first portion extending in a transverse orientation from the intermediate portion. The first portion includes an inner surface connectable with vertebral tissue adjacent a lamina. A second portion is spaced from the first portion and extends in a transverse orientation from the intermediate portion. The second portion includes an inner surface connectable with vertebral tissue adjacent a lamina. At least one of the first portion and the second portion includes an outer surface having a mating element engageable with a mating element of a surgical instrument. Systems, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.