The retractor of claim 20, wherein: said lateral separator extends laterally from said first and second portions transversely to a lateral separation direction of said first and second portions; and said rotational separator extends proximally from said first and second portions. view more

The kit of claim 56, wherein said lateral separator extends laterally from said first and second portions transversely to a lateral separation direction of said first and second portions and said rotational separator extends proximally from said first and second portions. view more

The method of claim 63, wherein forming the working channel includes sequentially dilating tissue through the incision before inserting the distal end of the retractor.

A plate system adapted for use in the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspect of at least two cervical vertebral bodies, said plate system comprising:</claim-text> a plate having a longitudinal axis and a length sufficient to a disc space and overlap portions of at least two adjacent vertebral bodies, said plate having a lower surface for placement against the vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave along a substantial portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate; at least two bone screws each having a central longitudinal axis and being adapted to engage each of the at least two vertebral bodies, respectively, each of said bone screws having a leading end for insertion into the vertebral body and a trailing end opposite said leading end, at least one of said bone screws including proximate said trailing end a maximum cross sectional dimension transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said bone screw, said bone screw having a contact surface area at the maximum cross sectional dimension; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said plate from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes having a central longitudinal axis and being adapted to receive one of said bone screws to attach said plate to the vertebral bodies; and a plurality of locking elements each adapted to lock to said plate only one each of said bone screws inserted into one each of said bone screw receiving holes, said locking elements each adapted to coaxially engage only a respective one of said bone screw receiving holes and to contact said contact surface area of a respective one each of said bone screws so as to retain said respective one of said bone screws to said plate, said locking elements each having an outer perimeter contacting at least a portion of the perimeter of one of said bone screw receiving holes, said locking elements each having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a through-hole passing through said upper surface and said lower surface, said through-hole having a central longitudinal axis coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of one of said bone screw receiving holes. view more

A plate system adapted for use in the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspect of at least two cervical vertebral bodies, said plate system comprising:</claim-text> a plate having a longitudinal axis and a length sufficient to a disc space and overlap portions of at least two adjacent vertebral bodies, said plate having a lower surface for placement against the vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface of said plate being concave along a substantial portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate; at least two bone screws each having a central longitudinal axis and being adapted to engage each of the at least two vertebral bodies, respectively, each of said bone screws having a leading end for insertion into the vertebral bodies and a trailing end opposite said leading end, said trailing end having a top at least one upper facing surface oriented toward said upper surface of said plate and a bottom surface opposite said at least one upper facing surface oriented toward said lower surface of said plate; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said plate from said upper surface to said lower surface, at least a first of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie a first of the vertebral bodies and at least a second of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie a second of the vertebral bodies, each of said bone screw receiving holes being configured to prevent said bottom surface of said trailing end of said bone screw from protruding below said lower surface of said plate; and a plurality of locking elements each adapted to lock to said plate only one each of said bone screws inserted into one each of said bone screw receiving holes said locking elements each having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a through-hole passing through said upper surface and said lower surface, said through-hole having a central longitudinal axis coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of one of said bone screw receiving holes, said locking elements each having a central longitudinal axis that passes through one of said bone screw receiving holes, respectively, to retain said one of said bone screws to said plate, said locking element each having an outer perimeter contacting at least a portion of the perimeter of one of said bone screw receiving holes, and at least one of said locking elements being above said bottom surface of said trailing end of said bone screw. view more

The plate system of claim 146, wherein said shank is tapered along at least a portion of its length.

The implant of claim 1 for use in the lumbar spine in which the length of said implant is in the range of approximately 35 mm to 50 mm.

The spinal implant of claim 40 in which said surface roughenings include a plurality of ratchetings.

The spinal fusion implant of claim 41, in which said ratchetings face one direction.

The implant of claim 35 in which said implant is generally rectangular in shape.

A translateral spinal fusion implant for insertion from the lateral aspect of the spine in the disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, said implant having a length that is greater than one half the transverse width of the vertebrae, said length being substantially greater than the depth of the vertebrae, and a height for contacting each of the two adjacent vertebrae; said implant having an outer surface with a plurality of openings passing through said implant, said plurality of openings capable of retaining fusion promoting substances and capable of permitting bone growth in continuity from one of said adjacent vertebrae to the other of said two adjacent vertebrae to permit fusion of said two adjacent vertebrae to occur at least in part through said implants capable of engaging both of said vertebrae. view more