A prosthetic system for implantation between upper and lower vertebrae comprises an upper joint component. The upper joint component comprises an upper contact surface and an upper articulation surface. The system further includes a lower joint component. The lower joint component comprises a lower contact surface and a lower articulation surface configured to movably engage the upper articulation surface to form an articulating joint. The articulating joint is adapted for implantation within a disc space between the upper and lower vertebrae, allowing the upper and lower vertebrae to move relative to one another. The system further includes a bridge component extending posteriorly from one of either the upper or lower joint components and from the disc space. The bridge component has a distal end opposite the one of the either upper or lower joint components. The distal end of the bridge component comprises a connection component adapted to receive a fastener.

A system for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers for stabilizing a respective pair of uncinate joints. Each uncinate joint stabilizer is elongated along a lengthwise dimension and is configured for placement in the respective uncinate joint with the lengthwise dimension substantially oriented along an anterior-to-posterior direction of the cervical spine segment. Each uncinate joint stabilizer has height configured to define spacing of the respective uncinate joint. Each uncinate joint stabilizer includes a generally cylindrical portion with cylinder axis in the lengthwise dimension. The generally cylindrical portion has threads for threading the uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint along the anterior-to-posterior direction. The threads are interrupted by one or more fenestrations configured to accommodate bone graft material, bone growth, and/or tissue displaced from the respective uncinate joint by the uncinate joint stabilizer.

A tunable implant, system, and method enables a tunable implant to be adjusted within a patient. The tunable implant includes a securing mechanism to secure the implant in the patient, a actuation portion that enables the implant to move and an adjustment portion that permits adjustment of the implant after the implant has been positioned within the patient. The method of adjusting the tunable implant includes analyzing the operation of the implant, determining if any adjustments are necessary and adjusting the implant to improve implant performance. The implant system includes both the tunable implant and a telemetric system that is operable to telemetrically receive data from the tunable implant where the data is used to determine if adjustment of the tunable implant is necessary. The system also includes an instrument assembly that is used for performing spinal surgery where the instrument assembly includes a mounting platform and a jig.

A joint prosthesis comprises a first component and a second component being connected via a ball-and-socket-joint, wherein the first component comprises two outward spherical sections, at least one of the spherical sections having a projection; the ball-and-socket-joint comprises two gliding blocks each having an inward spherical section and at least one of the gliding blocks comprising a hole, the gliding blocks being attached to the second component, the outward spherical sections are in gliding engagement with the inward spherical sections of the gliding blocks so that the first component is movably attached to the second component; and the projection is inserted into one of the holes of the gliding blocks, so as to limit the mobility of the ball-and-socket-joint.

The present invention is directed to a hinge joint implant (40) configured to fit in a joint cavity and which can comprise, when in situ, an at least hemi-spherocylindrical configuration, and further a hinge joint implant configured to fit in a joint cavity wherein the implant can extend around the sides of a joint component which may be a bone and/or cartilage. The invention further provides the use of a hinge joint implant according for treating arthritis, and/or torn cartilage, and a method for manufacturing a hinge joint implant from one or more pieces.

An orthopedic drill bit includes a cutting head formed to include diametrically opposed cutting lips leading to a central point and away to a radiused periphery to center said bit. The drill includes flutes extending from a cutting end, said flutes having a dulled periphery to prevent out of round holes. The flute design increases in width progressively from the tip up the shank, to maintain an adequate and unrestricted space for chips to easily move upward, preventing the chips from being compressed into a smaller opening while maintaining the tapered depth of the flutes for strength.

An orthopedic drill bit includes a cutting head formed to include diametrically opposed cutting lips leading to a central point and away to a radiused periphery to center said bit. The drill includes flutes extending from a cutting end, said flutes having a dulled periphery to prevent out of round holes. The flute design increases in width progressively from the tip up the shank, to maintain an adequate and unrestricted space for chips to easily move upward, preventing the chips from being compressed into a smaller opening while maintaining the tapered depth of the flutes for strength.

In one aspect, an implant configured to attach a first bone section to a second bone section comprises an intramedullary portion and an extramedullary portion. The intramedullary portion is configured for insertion into the first bone section. The ex-tramedullary portion is configured to abut a surface of the second bone section and includes a first fastener aperture configured to eceive a bone fastener inserted in the second bone section. The intramedullary portion and the extramedullary portion are coupled such that the extramedullary portion is rotatable with respect to the intramedullary portion.

A spinal interbody implant includes a shaft extending along and rotatable about a central axis. The shaft includes a first threaded region. The implant further includes a first link having a first end with first gear teeth. The first end of the first link is fixed at a first point relative to the central axis such that the first gear teeth engage the first threaded region.

Orthopedic implants, systems, instruments, and methods. A bi-portal lumbar interbody fusion system may include an expandable interbody implant and minimally invasive pedicle-based intradiscal fixation implants. The interbody and intradiscal implants may be installed with intelligent instrumentation capable of repeatably providing precision placement of the implants. The bi-portal system may be robotically-enabled to guide the instruments and implants along desired access trajectories to the surgical area.