An intervertebral implant component of an intervertebral implant includes an outer surface for engaging an adjacent vertebra and an inner surface. A keel extends from the outer surface and is designed to be disposed in a slot provided in the adjacent vertebra. This keel extends in a plane which is non-perpendicular to the outer surface; and preferably there are two of the keels extending from the outer surface which are preferably offset laterally from one another. In another embodiment, an anterior shelf is provided at an anterior end of the outer surface, and this anterior shelf extends vertically away from the inner surface in order to help prevent bone growth from the adjacent vertebra towards the inner surface. Further in accordance with disclosed embodiments, various materials, shapes and forms of construction of the component and/or keel provide various benefits.

Artificial meniscal scaffolds characterized by a composite of circumferential polymer fiber network and orthogonal polymer fiber network embedded in an arcuate bioresorbable matrix comprised of collagen and hyaluronic acid. The orthogonal polymer fiber network prevents separation of the circumferential polymer fiber networks. The polymer fiber networks convert axial compressive forces on the scaffolds to tensile loads on the circumferential polymer fibers. The composite scaffold can be anchored to bone by novel anchoring components that protect the polymer fibers and ensure immediate securement of the artificial meniscal scaffold to bone.

The biocompatible lattice structures and implants disclosed herein have an increased or optimized lucency, even when constructed from a metallic material. The lattice structures can also provide an increased or optimized lucency in a material that is not generally considered to be radiolucent. Lucency can include disparity, maximum variation in lucency properties across a structure, or dispersion, minimum variation in lucency properties across a structure. The implants and lattice structures disclosed herein may be optimized for disparity or dispersion in any desired direction. A desired direction with respect to lucency can include the anticipated x-ray viewing direction of an implant in the expected implantation orientation.

In some implementations, the interbody implant may include an anterior side, a posterior side, a cephalad side, a caudal side, a right side, and a left side. In addition, the interbody implant may include a proximal end and a distal end. The interbody implant may include a mesh having a first set of pores having a first diameter based on a first relationship to a first locus and a second set of pores having a second diameter based on a second relationship to the first locus. Moreover, the interbody implant may include where at least one of the anterior side, posterior side, left side, right side, cephalad side, and caudal side may include the mesh.

A method of resurfacing a facet joint with a facet implant system. The facet joint includes a superior facet and an inferior facet that are adjacent to each other and movable with respect to each other. A first facet implant component is provided that has a first visualization marker. The first visualization marker includes a first marker section and a second marker section. The first marker section is oriented at an angle with respect to the second marker section. The first facet implant component between the superior facet and the inferior facet. A location and an orientation of the first facet implant component are determined using an imaging technique that locates the first visualization marker.

An interbody implant includes an implant body extending between an anterior surface and a posterior surface. The implant body includes a first vertebral engaging surface and a second vertebral engaging surface. At least one of the vertebral engaging surfaces defines a cavity configured for disposal of bone growth detectable via medical imaging. Systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

Spinal implant trials are provided having various configurations and sizes that aid the selection of spinal implants having similar configurations and sizes. A surgeon during surgery can insert various configurations and sizes of the spinal implant trials into a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient to enable the selection of a spinal implant configured and sized to fit the patient's disc space. Fluoroscopic images can be used in aiding the selection of an appropriately configured and sized spinal implant corresponding to one of the spinal implant trials. The spinal implant trials include features that reveal on the fluoroscopic images whether the spinal implant trials are properly oriented and positioned in the disc space. As such, the selection of the configuration and size of the spinal implants can be made after it is determined that the spinal implant trials are properly oriented and positioned within the disc space.

The embodiments provide a spinal implant that is configured for midline insertion into a patient's intervertebral disc space. The spinal implant may have a body and the body comprises one or more apertures. The apertures receive fixation elements, such as a screw and the like. The fixation element may comprise one or more anti-backout features, such as a split ring. In addition, at least some of the apertures are designed to permit a predetermined amount of nutation by a fixation element. The apertures that allow nutation enable the fixation element to toggle from one position to another, for example, during subsidence of the implant in situ. Some of the apertures may be configured to rigidly lock with the fixation elements. Moreover, the spinal implant may include features, such as one or more bores, that can accommodate imaging marks to help guide a surgeon.

Surgical kits comprising a tool having a handle and a shaft affixed to the handle at one end and a free end having a threaded connection, at least two disc inserts, each disc insert comprising a rounded square having an annular wall surrounding a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a threaded catch is formed in each disc insert to mate with the threaded connection, and wherein the interface between the disc insert top surface and annular wall forms a first perimeter and the interface between the disc insert bottom surface and the annular wall forms a second perimeter. At least a portion of the disc inserts can be radiopaque and a portion can be radiolucent. Also provided are kits having one or more disc inserts and one or more trial plates, each trial plate comprising a plurality of positioning guides.

A spinal cage with a wall extending in a longitudinal direction defining an interior space is disclosed. There is also provided a deployable element in movable relation to the spinal cage.