Abstract: A tongue elevator device having a handle portion, an elongated neck portion and a manipulator end portion. The handle preferably has an oblong main body having a relatively thin flat portion and a relatively thick transversely-extending end portion for secure and comfortable gripping between the fingers and thumb of the user. The elongated neck portion extends distally from the flat portion of the handle portion, and may be provided with measuring indicia to visually illustrate distances from the manipulator end portion of the device. The manipulator end portion has a concave distal edge, which may be formed angularly or arcuately, and a central recess or slot is provided in the concave distal edge to receive the frenulum tissue. A concave thumb recess may be disposed on the handle portion.

Abstract: A bone fixation system includes a bone plate having an outer surface, an opposed bone-facing surface, and an interior surface that defines a hole extending from the outer surface to the bone-facing surface along a central hole axis. The interior surface further defines a compression surface. The system includes a bone fixation member having a shaft extending from a head along a central fixation member axis. The head has an exterior surface that defines a threaded head portion configured for variable angle locking with a complimentary variable angle plate locking structure. The compression surface and the threaded head portion are cooperatively configured to translate the bone plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central hole axis when the threaded head portion contacts the compression surface when the bone fixation member axis is offset from the central hole axis at an offset parameter as the head advances within the hole.

Abstract: A device for hydrating particulate bone material is provided. The device comprises a tubular member having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface is configured to receive the particulate bone material and a hydration fluid. The exterior surface has a plurality of pores configured to allow the hydration fluid to flow into the interior surface of the tubular member and hydrate the particulate bone material. The plurality of pores are smaller in size than the particulate bone material. Methods of dispensing particulate the bone material are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical device systems, and methods thereof, for automatically detecting access to a medullary cavity. Embodiments include intraosseous access systems with sensing obturators, configured to detect a change in modality, e.g. pressure, oxygen saturation, electrical impedance, etc. at a distal tip thereof. Signals can be transmitted to a control logic that can modify the activation of a driver in response. Signals can be transmitted by way of wired or wireless communication. In an embodiment, signals can be transmitted through conductive polymer material that forms the obturator and allows the obturator to be flexible enough to mitigate accidental needle stick injuries.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a position of a first bone part relative to a second bone part. The apparatus has a unitary body made up of at least one elongate formed wire component and a base. A fastener is used to anchor the base to one of the bone parts to thereby maintain the apparatus in an operative position wherein at least a portion of the one elongate formed wire component engages at least the other bone part.

Abstract: A percutaneous targeting device comprises a body holding an extension. The body has a target guide holding a target pin which may be a K-wire. The extension has two guide sleeves, holding a guide wire. All wires are held in a common plane. The guide wires serve as a guide for cannulated fixation screws. The extension is movable against the body to adjust the angle between the target pin and the guide wires.

Abstract: A method facilitates the treatment of the spine of a patient by providing simultaneous access through at least a first opening and a second opening formed in the patient. For example, the method can include the acts of positioning the patient on a surgical table, providing the first opening into a posterior portion of the patient, providing the second opening into a lateral portion of the patient, inserting a first device through the first opening into the patient to contact the spine in a first direction that is transverse to the coronal plane of the patient, and inserting a second device through the second opening into the patient to contact the spine in a second direction that is transverse to the sagittal plane of the patient, where the first and second openings are accessible simultaneously, and, when the first and second devises are inserted into the patient, the position of the patient is stationary with respect to a portion of the table.

Abstract: An orthopedic instrument, comprising a pair of pivotally-connected arms, extending beyond a pivot axis of a first pivot; a pair of feet mounted to ends of the pair of pivotally-connected arms; and a quadrilateral linkage configured to maintain parallelism between the pair of feet over a range of angles and to selectively alter a distance between the pair of feet.

Abstract: A compression device made of a superelastic material having a peripheral portion with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a central opening extending therethrough is provided. Tips of one or more resilient structures of the compression device project inward of the peripheral portion and form an opening. The one or more resilient structures are configured to exert a biasing force in a direction when deformed in an opposite direction. Also provided is a bone plate assembly comprising a captively retained compression device and a bone plate comprising one or more integrally formed resilient structures.

Abstract: An electronically assisted artificial vertebral disc having an upper disc plate and a lower disc plate is disclosed. An actuator imparts movement to at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. A control device controls the actuator and the amount of movement between the disc plates. The actuator includes a plurality of either linear actuators or rotary actuators that are driven by electric motors in response to the control device. The control device includes at least a first sensor for detecting the position of the actuator and at least a second sensor for detecting the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. The control device also preferably includes a microprocessor that calculates the desired positions of the upper and lower disc plates and provides a control signal to the actuator to drive the upper and lower disc plates to their desired positions.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods for fixation of bone or bone fragments using an orthopedic plate having a slot that causes the bone or bone fragments to compress as a screw is inserted into the slot and rotated therein. By anchoring the orthopedic plate to a first bone or bone fragment and rotating the screw into the second bone or bone fragment at an angle that may be up to approximately fifteen degrees from perpendicular to the top surface of the orthopedic plate, the screw head causes the orthopedic plate to traverse away from the first screw thereby causing the first bone or bone fragment to be drawn toward and/or compress with the second bone or bone fragment.

Abstract: An artificial disc replacement device is disclosed. The device includes an upper endplate and a lower endplate, as well as a core assembly disposed between the endplates. The core assembly includes a core member with a curved engaging surface and a matrix member. The matrix member is more compressible than the core member. The curved engaging surface of the core member engages a recess in the upper endplate so that the upper endplate can translate along the curved engaging surface. The curved engaging surface has a greater curvature at its posterior end than at its anterior end to facilitate different ranges of motion during extension and flexion.

Abstract: A pin lock may be used to prevent a compressor-distractor from pushing off of a surgical pin as the compressor-distractor is actuated to move one bone relative to another bone. In some examples, the compressor-distractor is attached to a metatarsal with a first pin and to a cuneiform with a second pin. The pin lock can be inserted onto the first pin or the second pin, optionally with a second pin lock inserted onto the other pin. The compressor-distractor can then be actuated while the compressor-distractor is locked by the pin lock from moving up along the axial length of the first pin or the second pin.

Abstract: An intraosseous device may include a chamber portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end includes a base, a tensile puller configured to extend through the chamber portion and slidingly engage the base, the tensile puller comprising a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator on the proximal end of the tensile puller, and a connector on the distal end of the tensile puller adapted to engage a needle.

Abstract: Intervertebral endoprosthesis discs suitable for surgical implantation between two vertebrae having and methods thereof. The prosthetic disc may have an endoprosthesis body including an anterior region and a posterior region designed to be positioned between a first vertebra and a second vertebra with a first and second movable insert positioned rotatably in anterior cavities and is rotatable to adjust the fasteners.

Abstract: A surgical guide includes a base and a drill guide coupled to the base. The drill guide includes a drill guide body defining a drill bore for receiving a drill bit and extending through the drill guide, the drill guide being configured to translate relative the base to adjust a drill guide angle defined by the drill bore and the base, the drill guide further being configured to transition between a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the drill guide angle is fixed in the locked state and the drill guide angle is adjustable in the unlocked state.

Abstract: An implant device includes a connection bridge to cause retraction or distraction of first and second bone segments. The connection bridge overlaps a surface of the segments and exerts a force to one of the first and second bone segments by translation motion of connection bridge. The bridge includes a first insertion structure mountable to the first segment and has at least one rack. An internal repositioning tool has a pinion to engage the rack causing the motion. A locking mechanism selectively locks the motion of the repositioning tool. A second insertion structure mounts to the second segment or a third bone segment between the first and second segments. The second structure includes a housing to house at least one of the pinion and the lock mechanism and receive a portion of the at least one rack to engage the at least one the pinion and the lock mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for a spinal retractor utilizing spirally retracting blades to provide a surgical portal. The retractor system comprises a blade assembly and mechanism to open and close the blades. The blade assembly comprises a set of blades arranged in a mostly circular formation coupled to an actuator. The retractor system utilizes a mechanism such as a slot-and-follower to actuate the blades in a spiral motion. Each blade in the blade assembly maintains tangential contact to each adjacent blade during expansion and contraction of the device. The circumferential retractor blade arrangement completely separates the soft tissue being retracted from the surgical portal being created allowing for the surgical site to be free from any encroaching internal tissue.

Abstract: An orthopedic fastener including a shaft may have a plurality of compound parabolic petals extending helically around the shaft. The petals may be configured for compressing trabecular bone through which the petals are inserted. The shaft may further include one or more force diffusion areas that may more efficiently redirect/distribute radial forces caused by an external force applied to the orthopedic fastener, to keystone portions of trabecular bone compressed respectively against the force diffusion areas.

Abstract: A device for assessing the solidity of a material comprising an ancillary tool (2) having an end (2B) in the form of a point or blade, an impactor (4) for striking the ancillary tool (2), a sensor (12) and a processing unit (30). The ancillary tool (2) is placed between a material (8) and the impactor (4) and transmits the impact force generated by the impactor (4) to the material (8). The sensor (12) is capable of measuring a quantity from among the impact force and the deformation of the impactor, and of supplying a measurement signal. The processing unit (30) is suitable for calculating, from the measurement signal, an indicator representative of the solidity of the material (8). The indicator corresponds to the duration of a time window between the first peak (P1) of maximum amplitude of the measurement signal and the second peak of maximum amplitude (P2).