Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a “swivel” having a string extending from one end and a string extending from the midpoint between the two ends. The swivel is delivered by pushing it out of a tube which is inserted through a small incision between the ribs of the patient. After the swivel is deployed, the tube is removed and the string which is attached to the center of the swivel is pulled to lift the pericardium. When the procedure is complete, the swivel is removed from the patient by pulling the string attached to the end of the swivel. According to one embodiment, the swivel is a cylinder with a blunt conical end. According to another embodiment, the swivel has a sharp end which is covered by a spring loaded collar.

Abstract: An implant is described having a shaft and a holding element connected therewith for connecting with a rod. A recess is provided in the holding element that includes a U-shaped cross section for accommodation of the rod and two free legs at one end which include an inner thread. A closure element fixes the rod inserted into the U-shaped recess. The closure element has an outer thread cooperating with the inner thread of the legs. An abutment at or in the holding element limits tilting of the closure element about the rod at the time of final tightening of the closure element in the holding element.

Abstract: An endoscopic retractor includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a push rod extending therethrough. The proximal ends of the push rod is provided with a threaded portion. A rotatable handle is coupled to the proximal end of the tube and threadably engages the threaded portion of the push rod such that rotation of the handle causes a translation of the push rod. The distal end of the tube is provided with a clevis through which the distal end of the push rod extends. A multi-segment canopy is coupled to the clevis and the push rod via an articulate linkage. Translation of the push rod in the distal direction causes the canopy to be moved from a starting substantially cylindrical configuration with its axis nearly collinear with the axis of the tube to an opened quasi-planar configuration. Further translation of the push rod in the distal direction causes the quasi-planar canopy to be rotated in the clevis to an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to the axis of the tube.

Abstract: The invention includes a tendon stripper comprising: (a) a frame, including a cautery, that is adapted to separate surrounding tissue along a length of a tendon; (b) a handle mounted to the frame that is adapted to reposition the frame with respect to the tendon; and (c) an actuator in communication with the cautery and operative to activate the cautery, where activation of the cautery is adapted to sever the tendon.

Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a wave washer having a circumferential extent surrounding a central bore. Various wave washer embodiments disclosed include circumferential extents that are ring-shaped, spiral-shaped, straight, bowed, grooved, wavy, thinning, thickening, and slotted. Various central bores disclosed include simple bores and bores that form a curvate socket. Various plate embodiments disclosed include plates having, on inwardly facing surfaces, a flat surface, a circular recess, or a ball-shaped protuberance that is mateable with the curvate socket. The wave washers are disposable between the plates, through various disclosed couplings, so that the plates compress, rotate and angulate freely relative to one another, enabling the artificial disc to mimic a healthy natural intervertebral disc.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a wave washer. In a first embodiment the wave washer is ring-shaped. In a second embodiment the wave washer is spiral-shaped.

Abstract: A device for delivering small spheres of biomaterial into a determined portion of a bone including a cylindrical hollow body of inside diameter D1 having a filling first end and a second end provided with a snap-fastener, a shutter-forming guide rod having a main portion that is cylindrical with an outside diameter D2 and presenting an enlarged cylindrical portion suitable for co-operating with the snap-fastener of the body, and a piston constituted by a cylindrical part presenting an outside diameter D3 and an axial bore of diameter D4. The diameter D3 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter D1 of the body and the inside diameter D4 is slightly greater than the diameter D2 of the rod in such a manner that, once the snap-fastener has been released, the rod can slide inside the piston, and the piston can slide inside the body.

Abstract: A bone plate for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae or ends of a bone has a span for extending across the discontinuity. The span has brackets for attaching to the bone. The brackets have countersunk bores terminating in apertures through which bone screws are placed in the bone. A lock screw aperture is located adjacent the countersunk bores with a portion of the sidewall forming a thin flexible tab in each bore. To prevent back-out of the bone screws, a lock screw is threaded into the lock screw aperture distorting the bore of the bone screw aperture.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant (1), specifically an artificial intervertebral disk, with a central axis (2), and an upper plate-shaped section (10), suitable for laying onto the base plate of a vertebral body lying on top, a lower plate-shaped section (30), suitable for laying onto the cover plate of a vertebral body lying below, wherein a central, plate-shaped section (20) is arranged between the upper and the lower section (10;30), a first circular-cylindrical rod (40) with a longitudinal axle (41) is arranged between the upper section (10) and the central section (20), and a second circular-cylindrical rod (50) with a longitudinal axle (51) is arranged between the lower section (30) and the central section (20).

Abstract: The invention provides a plasticized bone and/or soft tissue product that does not require special conditions of storage, for example refrigeration or freezing, exhibits materials properties that approximate those properties present in natural tissue, is not brittle, does not necessitate rehydration prior to clinical implantation and is not a potential source for disease transmission. Replacement of the chemical plasticizers by water prior to implantation is not required and thus, the plasticized bone or soft tissue product can be placed directly into an implant site without significant preparation in the operating room.

Abstract: A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty. An approximately 3.75-5 centimeter (1.5-2 inch) anterior incision is made and the femoral neck is severed from the femoral shaft and removed through the anterior incision. The acetabulum is prepared for receiving an acetabular cup through the anterior incision, and the acetabular cup is placed into the acetabulum through the anterior incision. In one exemplary embodiment, a posterior incision of approximately 2-3 centimeters (0.8-1.2 inches) is generally aligned with the axis of the femoral shaft and provides access to the femoral shaft. In this embodiment, Preparation of the femoral shaft including the reaming and rasping thereof is performed through the posterior incision, and the femoral stem is inserted through the posterior incision for implantation in the femur. In an alternative embodiment, preparation of the femur is effected through the anterior incision, with the operative hip placed in hyperextension.

Abstract: A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space.

Abstract: A heart retractor links lifting of the heart and regional immobilization which stops one part of the heart from moving to allow expeditious suturing while permitting other parts of the heart to continue to function whereby coronary surgery can be performed on a beating heart while maintaining cardiac output unabated and uninterrupted. Circumflex coronary artery surgery can be performed using the heart retractor of the present invention. The retractor includes a plurality of flexible arms and a plurality of rigid arms as well as a surgery target immobilizing element. One form of the retractor can be used in minimally invasive surgery, while other forms of the retractor can accommodate variations in heart size and paracardial spacing.

Abstract: An implantable knee prosthesis for unicompartmental implantation into a knee joint includes a body having a substantially elliptical shape in plan and a pair of opposed faces. A peripheral edge extends between the faces and has first and second opposed sides and first and second opposed ends. At least one keel member extends from one of the faces. A first dimension D is defined by the first and second ends. A second dimension F is defined by the first and second sides. The dimension F is from about 0.25 to about 1.5 of the dimension D.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a joint prosthesis (10) having a first component (12) for cooperation with a first long bone (14) and a second component (16) for cooperation with a second long bone (20). The joint prosthesis (10) further includes a bearing component (22) positionable between the first component (12) and the second component (16) and cooperable with the first component (12) and the second component (16). The bearing component (22) includes a reinforcing component (36) having a first portion (54) defining a first centerline (50) and having a second portion (56) defining a second centerline (52). The first centerline (50) and the second centerline (52) are non-coincidental. The bearing component (22) includes a polymeric material (112) surrounding the reinforcing component (36) and molded to the reinforcing component (36).

Abstract: Featured are a method and apparatus for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that avoids the need and associated problems with prior cage or straight rod and screw systems. Methods and apparatus of the invention utilize a new implant member, which preferably is arcuate. Preferred methods of the invention for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine, include steps of providing a positioning apparatus including two guide sleeves, each guide sleeve having a long axis and locating the two guide sleeves with respect to the adjacent vertebrae such that a vertex formed by the long axis of each guide sleeve is located in the intervertebral space for the adjacent vertebrae. The method further includes forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae using the guide sleeves and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space.

Abstract: An implantable knee prosthesis for unicompartmental implantation into a knee joint includes a body having a substantially elliptical shape in plan and a pair of opposed faces. A peripheral face extends between the opposed faces and has first and second opposed sides and first and second opposed ends. At least one aperture extends through the body and extends from a first one of the faces to a second one of the faces.

Abstract: A modular hip prosthesis, comprising: (a) a proximal segment including a neck lockingly engageable with a femoral head component and a male tapered portion; (b) a distal segment having a proximal end and a distal tip, the distal segment further formed with a male tapered portion adjacent the proximal end thereof; and (c) a metaphyseal segment having a proximal end and a distal end, the metaphyseal segment preferably including a bone engaging outer surface portion, and further including an axial bore therethrough, the axial bore including first and second female tapered portions formed adjacent the proximal and distal ends thereof, respectively. The first female tapered portion of the metaphyseal segment is dimensionally configured to lockingly engage the male tapered portion of the proximal segment. The second female tapered portion of the metaphyseal segment is dimensionally configured to lockingly engage the male tapered portion of the distal segment.

Abstract: An implantable knee prosthesis includes a body having a substantially elliptical shape in plan and a pair of opposed faces. A peripheral edge of variable thickness extends between the faces and includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The thickness of the peripheral edge at the first side is greater than the thickness of the peripheral edge at the second side, the first end and the second end.