Spinal tissue distraction devices that include a member which has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the member, by change of configuration, forms a support structure for separating and supporting layers of spinal tissue.

A biocompatible structure includes a scaffold obtained from a 3D structure. The 3D structure includes base layered structures, each of which includes at least a first layer and a second layer surrounded by the first layer. The first layer includes at least one of first, second and third media. The second layer includes at least another of the first, second and third media. The first medium comprises bone particles. The second medium comprises a polymer dissolvable in a first solvent. The third medium comprises solid particulates dissolvable in a second solvent different than the first solvent. The 3D structure is treated with the second solvent to dissolve the solid particulates so as to form pores at positions of the solid particulates therein, thereby resulting in the scaffold having a porosity adjustable by sizes of the solid particulates and concentration of the solid particulates in the 3D structure.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

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.

The three-dimensional lattice structures disclosed herein have applications including use in medical implants, Some examples of the lattice structure are structural in that they can be used to provide structural support or mechanical spacing In some examples, the lattice can be configured as a scaffold to support bone or tissue growth Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. The lattice structures are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a balloon kyphoplasty surgical device comprising an extrusion tube having internal fluid channels and a support wire, a port arrangement positioned on a proximal end of the extrusion tube and a balloon arrangement positioned on a distal end of the extrusion tube, the balloon arrangement resulting in a cubic shape when inflated by the port arrangement. An exemplary implementation may be configured with multiple inner balloons housed in an outer balloon to create a specific shape. Some designs may be configured with multiple ports designed to individually and independently inflate each inner balloon and outer balloon. The outer balloon may be inflatable. The outer balloon may be sealed off, constraining inflation of the inner balloons to create a cubic-like shape when the inner balloons are inflated within the sealed outer balloon, resulting in improved vertebral structure stabilization by increased surface area lifting the bone.

The methods disclosed herein of generating three-dimensional lattice structures and reducing stress shielding have applications including use in medical implants. One method of generating a three-dimensional lattice structure can be used to generate a structure lattice and/or a lattice scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. One method of reducing stress shielding includes generating a structural lattice to provide sole mechanical spacing across an area for desired bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. Some methods are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

Spinal tissue distraction devices that include a member which has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the member, by change of configuration, forms a support structure for separating and supporting layers of spinal tissue.

The biocompatible lattice structures disclosed herein with an increased or optimized lucency are prepared according to multiple methods of design disclosed herein. The methods allow for the design of a metallic material with sufficient strength for use in an implant and that remains radiolucent for x-ray imaging.