Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Eric Steven Heinz

David W Castleman

Adrian Mack Nowitzke

John Stewart Young

B Thomas Barker

William R Sears

Peter Francis McCombe

William J Albans

Boyd Thomas Barker, Jr

Bradley G Thomas

Ian Farey

Frank Lee Long

Apparatus, methods, systems, and kits related to surgical procedures and instruments are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for securing a fixation device to a driver for use in a surgical procedure is disclosed. The method comprises engaging a first portion of the driver with the fixation device to limit rotational movement of the fixation device relative to the driver; and engaging a second portion of the driver with the fixation device to limit axial movement of the fixation device relative to the driver; wherein engaging the second portion of the driver with the fixation device comprises actuating an actuator of the driver to cause the second portion of the driver to move relative to the first portion of the driver. In other aspects, surgical drivers, surgical kits, and surgical procedures are disclosed.

Surgical driver

An implant for insertion into a patient includes a superior surface disposed at a first end of the implant and an inferior surface disposed at a second, opposite end of the implant. The superior and inferior surfaces of the implant are constructed with curvatures that approximately match the morphology of vertebral endplates. The inferior surface and superior surface may include the same or different radii of curvature within the coronal and sagittal planes. The inferior surface and superior surface may be defined by spherical radii. The radius of the superior surface may be about 60 percent to 74 percent of the radius of the inferior surface.

Vertebral implants including asymmetric endplate contours and methods of use

Instrumentation is disclosed for use in orthopedic surgery that is capable of use as a compressor, a distractor, and a rod bender. Two pivoting arms have ends that can be used to compress implants, bones, or bone fragments together or to distract such items apart. In orthopedic surgery in which a rod, bar, plate, or other support is used, the instrument may be used to introduce bends into such supports so that the orthopedic structures (e.g. vertebrae) remain in a desired portion. Additional features are provided that permit verification of size of implantable items and packing of material in intervertebral spacers and similar devices.

Multi-function orthopedic instrument

A vertebral implant for use in establishing desired spinal curvatures includes separate implant bodies. Each body may include an associated angle between inferior and superior surfaces of the body. Further, the implant bodies may be stacked so that the associated angles are oriented in different anatomical planes. The implant bodies may be secured to one another with a connector. The implant bodies may be used either independently or in conjunction with one another to achieve a desired spinal curvature. Each implant body may include bone engagement features that extend outward from the superior and inferior surfaces of the implant body. The implant bodies may include recesses that are positioned to correspond to the bone engagement protrusions in other implant bodies to allow contact between the inferior and superior surfaces of the respective implant bodies.

Vertebral implants having predetermined angular correction and method of use

Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retraction of tissue, neural elements, organs or other anatomical structures at locations distally of the retractor sleeve providing percutaneous access to the locations.

Instruments and methods for selective tissue retraction through a retractor sleeve

Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.

Stabilized, adjustable expandable implant and method

Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods having internally contained expansion mechanisms. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.

Self-contained expandable implant and method

Illustrative embodiments disclosed herein are directed to vertebral implants and methods of use. In one embodiment, the implant includes first and second end members with an intermediate cage. The cage may be inflatable such that the implant is positionable between a collapsed state with a first reduced height to facilitate insertion between the first and second vertebral members, and an extended state with a second height greater than the first height that positions the first end member against the first vertebral member and the second end member against the second vertebral member to maintain an intervertebral axial space.

Expandable vertebral implants and methods of use

Spinal fusion rods extend along a longitudinal axis and include a rod portion and a fusion portion along the longitudinal axis. The fusion rods can be employed alone or in combination with one another and with other spinal implant components in spinal stabilization and reconstruction procedures.

Spinal stabilization and reconstruction with fusion rods

A vertebral implant for insertion into a patient includes an insert formed from an osteoconductive material and further including a biocompatible polymer body that is formed into the insert. The insert may extend over part or substantially the entire bone contact surface of the implant. The insert includes a bone contact surface and a substrate interface. The implant may include fibers that extend across the substrate interface from the insert to the body. The insert may be thin relative to the overall thickness of the implant. The insert may be preformed. The insert may be formed using a molding process. The body may be molded onto the insert.

Vertebral implant including preformed osteoconductive insert and methods of forming

A sacral prosthesis for a partial or complete sacrectomy has a central body with a platform on a superior face thereof; first and second arms extending superiorly and laterally from the central body, with the arms including respective terminal portions for anchoring to a respective ilium. The terminal portions are held spaced from one another and the central body is suspended by the arms such that the platform is disposed inferiorly to the terminal portions at a fixed position relative thereto. The sacral prosthesis supports a spinal column against inferior displacement by supporting a vertebral body with the platform, while advantageously simultaneously preventing relative lateral displacement of the ilia. The sacral prosthesis may advantageously be formed of a radiolucent material.

Sacral prosthesis and surgical method

A vertebral implant for use in vertebral fusion surgeries includes a body with an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface defines an interior cavity into which bone growth promoting materials such as bone graft are insertable. The body also includes a plurality of apertures that extend from the exterior surface to the interior surface. Further, the vertebral implant includes a cutting feature to decorticate bone that protrudes outward from the exterior surface at each aperture. The cutting feature is shaped so that as a cutting force is applied to move the implant in a cutting direction, the removed bone matter is directed through the apertures and into the interior cavity.

Vertebral fusion implants and methods of use

A sacral reconstruction fixation device aids in stabilizing the pelvis and the lumbar spine after a sacrectomy in cooperation with a spinal rod and transiliac rod. A pair of the fixation devices may be secured to respective ilia and respective spinal rods. The transiliac rod may be secured to both of the fixation devices. The fixation devices include first and second parts that are initially relatively rotatable about a common axis to aid in connecting the fixation devices to the spinal rod and transiliac rod. The body part is intended to be mated to the spinal rod, while the second part is intended to be mated to the transiliac rod. The fixation device's parts are subsequently locked against rotation and against longitudinal translation, advantageously both relative to each other and the rods.

Sacral reconstruction fixation device

An instrument for distracting vertebrae includes a shaft assembly and a distraction assembly at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The distraction assembly includes first and second distraction members movable from an unexpanded configuration for insertion toward an expanded configuration to separate the vertebrae. The shaft assembly is movable relative to the distraction assembly to facilitate placement of the distraction assembly in the disc space.

Growing community of inventors

Memphis, TN, United States of America

Eric Steven Heinz