An insertion assembly may include a flexible tool and a DTS guide configured to engage an intervertebral spacer having a fastener channel oriented at a first angle. The DTS guide may include a DTS guide channel oriented at the first angle which may be aligned with the fastener channel. The flexible tool may include a flexible shaft and a working member disposed at a distal end of the flexible shaft. The working member may be received through the DTS guide channel at the first angle. At least a portion of the flexible shaft adjacent the DTS guide member may flex while the working member is received through the DTS guide channel, such that a distal portion of the flexible shaft may be at a greater absolute angle relative to a DTS guide shaft than a proximal portion of the flexible shaft.

Systems are described for conducting minimally invasive medical interventions utilizing instruments and assemblies thereof to stabilize and/or fixate a dysfunctional sacroiliac (SI) joint. The systems include a drill guide having a bone dislodging member adapted to create a pilot SI joint opening in the dysfunctional SI joint through an incision comprising a length no greater than 3.0 cm; portions of the pilot SI joint opening being disposed in the sacrum and ilium bone structures. The drill guide includes a tri-mode fixation system adapted to position and stabilize the drill guide during creation of the pilot SI joint opening in the dysfunctional SI joint and delivery of the SI joint prosthesis therein. The systems also include a SI joint prosthesis configured to be inserted into the pilot SI joint opening of the dysfunctional SI joint, a prosthesis deployment assembly configured to engage the SI joint prosthesis and advance the SI joint prosthesis into the dysfunctional SI joint, and a bone harvesting assembly adapted to extract and collect dislodge bone material from the bone dislodging member after creation of the pilot SI joint opening.

A system for implanting an interbody device between adjacent vertebrae comprises an interbody device having a plurality of lobes extending outwardly from a longitudinal rib, and having a relaxed shape approximating the shape of the disc being replaced. An insertion guide has a bore therein from a proximal end to a distal end thereof to accept the interbody device in an unrelaxed shape. The distal end is shaped for insertion into an intervertebral space. The insertion rod may be positioned within the bore of the insertion guide whereby the interbody device is positioned within the intervertebral space by advancing the insertion rod into the insertion guide.

In one embodiment, an intervertebral implant includes a body and a locking element. The body includes a leading surface and a trailing surface opposite the leading surface. The body also includes first and second bone fastener passageways through the implant body and a cavity in between the first and second passageways. The cavity includes a trailing wall that separates the cavity from the trailing surface. The locking element is disposed in the cavity such that part of the locking element is visible through an access opening in the trailing wall so that the locking element may be rotated from outside of the implant. In a first rotational position, a first part of the locking element is located within one of the first and second passageways and in a second rotational position, the first part of the locking element is inside the body covered by the trailing wall.

Intervertebral implant systems include spacers that may have solid and porous bodies integrally formed together as a single part. The bone-facing sides of the spacers include asymmetric lobes which may include solid and/or porous portions. Bone anchor holes may extend through the spacers and lobes, to receive bone anchors. A helically fluted bone anchor may be received in the bone anchor holes.

A graft collar includes a body of cylindrical shape, including an upper surface and a spaced apart lower surface defining an outer wall and surface therebetween; an engagement section located on the upper surface of the body sized and shaped to engage a head of a bone fastener; an through hole extending axially through the body between the upper surface and the lower surface thereof, the through hole being sized to receive therethrough an elongate threaded shank extending from the head of the bone fastener, where the graft collar is formed from at least one of soft cadaveric allograft, hard cadaveric allograft, and synthetic bone void fillers.

A delivery device includes a guide tool and an impact tool. The guide tool includes an elongate body formed with a longitudinal guide channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of an implant. The elongate body is formed with a longitudinal impact-tool channel, whose inner perimeter is made to complement an outer contour of the impact tool.

The fusion device for fusing a synovial joint of a human or animal patient, in particular a human facet joint, finger joint or toe joint, includes two pin-shaped anchorage portions and arranged therebetween a stabilization portion. The anchorage portions include a thermoplastic material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration. The stabilization portion preferably has a surface which is equipped for enhancing osseointegration. The anchorage portions have a greater thickness and a greater depth than the stabilization portion. Then the fusion device is pushed between the articular surfaces and mechanical vibration, in particular ultrasonic vibration, is applied to the proximal face of the fusion device. Thereby the liquefiable material is liquefied where in contact with the bone tissue and penetrates into the bone tissue, where after re-solidification it constitutes a positive fit connection between the fusion device and the bone tissue.

A system for performing surgical repair of the spine includes a distractor and a permanently implanted bone plate system. A surgical repair methodology is also disclosed that employs an implanted bone plate system with a substantially void internal volume which is attached to adjacent vertebrae subsequent to the distraction and adjustment of curvature of the vertebrae and prior to the excision of disc and/or end plate tissue through the bone plate. The device further facilitates the subsequent delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization, such as by disc arthroplasty. The plate may be permanently implanted, such as when a fusion between the attached vertebral bodies is desired, but it need not be permanently implanted.

The invention relates to a longitudinal bone implant with a substantially circular cross-sectional profile, comprising a front section having a front end and a shaft section having a rear end, wherein the front section comprises at least three longitudinal groove-like cut-outs extending in the axial direction of the front section and opening towards the front end of the implant, circumferentially alternating with at least three longitudinal, radially protruding ribs extending in an axial direction, wherein the ribs have an increased cross-sectional width in the section radially more distant to the central longitudinal axis of the implant as compared to the width in a section radially closer to the central longitudinal axis of the implant. Furthermore, the invention relates to uses of the implant and methods that employ the implant.