An interbody spinal implant for implantation in a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies, and an insertion instrument facilitating such implantation is provided. The spinal implant includes a body portion and an extended end portion, where at least the body portion can include a biconvex upper and lower surfaces. And the insertion instrument is engageable to a proximal end portion of the interbody spinal implant to facilitate insertion of the interbody spinal implant into the disc space.

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

An expandable fusion device is capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. The fusion device may include a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

A spinal disc implant including a body defined by a plurality of interwoven or braided nitinol strands. The body includes a first end and a second end. The nitinol strands come together at the first end and are secured with a first fitting. The nitinol strands also come together at the second end and are secured with a second fitting. The second fitting can include a snare hook. The braided nitinol skeleton is internally assembled within the intervertebral disc. The implant is filled with liquid, gel or silicone when utilized as a motion preserving nucleus pulpous implant. The implant is filled with bone graft material when utilized as an inter-body fusion implant. An instrument and technique that provides a minimally invasive “needle based” solution to address degenerative disc disease with enhanced structural integrity of the spine compared to conventional surgical devices and techniques.

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and/or insert an intervertebral implant.

A spinal disc implant including a body defined by a plurality of interwoven or braided nitinol strands. The body includes a first end and a second end. The nitinol strands come together at the first end and are secured with a first fitting. The nitinol strands also come together at the second end and are secured with a second fitting. The second fitting can include a snare hook. The braided nitinol skeleton is internally assembled within the intervertebral disc. The implant is filled with liquid, gel or silicone when utilized as a motion preserving nucleus pulpous implant. The implant is filled with bone graft material when utilized as an inter-body fusion implant. An instrument and technique that provides a minimally invasive “needle based” solution to address degenerative disc disease with enhanced structural integrity of the spine compared to conventional surgical devices and techniques.

An interbody spinal implant for implantation in a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies, and an insertion instrument facilitating such implantation is provided. The spinal implant includes a body portion and an extended end portion, where at least the body portion can include a biconvex upper and lower surfaces. And the insertion instrument is engageable to a proximal end portion of the interbody spinal implant to facilitate insertion of the interbody spinal implant into the disc space.

An expandable fusion device is capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. The fusion device may include a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.