Abstract: A surgical implant for repairing a defect. The implant has a first layer and a second layer. Each layer is flexible and planar. The first layer has an inner portion remote from a periphery, and an outer portion between the periphery and the inner portion. The second layer has an inner portion remote from a periphery, and an outer portion between the periphery and the inner portion. A bottom surface of the first layer near the inner portion thereof is connected to top surface of the second layer near the inner portion thereof so that the inner portion of the top layer is fixed relative to the inner portion of the second layer and the outer portion of the first layer is moveable relative to the outer portion of the second layer.

Abstract: A system for securing a suture to a wound, durotomy, or other hole. A first anchor is anchored against an insertion point and a suture thread is passed through a loop on the first anchor. The wound is then stitched. A second anchor at an end of the wound holds the other end of the suture thread, to keep the tension in the suture. The suture thread is connected to the second anchor via clipping.

Abstract: A brace device for the support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a flexible smart fabric, operable to partially or substantially enclose and/or lie adjacent to one or more portions of the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer. Fabric hardening means are provided, operable to partially or substantially harden one or more regions of the smart fabric upon application of an activating stimulus, thereby to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of one or more portions of the spine of the wearer. One or more predetermined regions of the smart fabric are in a substantially flexible configuration when the fabric hardening means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the device around the wearer.

Abstract: A multilayered electromagnetic assembly. The assembly has a plurality of substantially planar substrate layers, each substrate layer having a cutaway portion. An insulated electrically conductive material is provided, arranged in a spiral configuration on at least two of the substrate layers. The spiral configuration is formed from adjacent the cutaway portion to the edges of the substrate layer. The electrically conductive material is formed substantially on and/or partially recessed or beneath the surface of the substrate layer. The spiral configurations have first and second electrical contacts that are operable to pass electric current to electrical contacts of spiral configurations on other substrate layers. A ferromagnetic core is located through the cutaway portions of the substrate layers. The substrate layers are stacked and an electrical current is passed sequentially through the two or more spiral configurations, thereby generating a magnetic field in the core.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a patient force during a motion includes a tether adapted to be biased during a motion so that a tension force is applied. The tether is connected a motor and generates a tether force about the motor. The system controls the motor by generating a motor torque in a direction opposite the tether force. A recording module stores the motor torque at a plurality of intervals during the motion and a position of the tether. A display module generates a plot of a position of the patient versus a force generated by the patient. The position of the patient corresponds to the cumulative rotation of the shaft in the first direction about the axis of rotation of the shaft at each of the intervals. The force generated by the patient corresponds to the amount of motor torque at each of the intervals.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling device. The coupling device has a device body and at least one tongue member protruding from the device body. The tongue member has one or more ferro-magnetic engagement means provided thereon. At least one tongue member receiving means is provided on or defined by the device body and at least one electromagnet is provided substantially adjacent the receiving means. The engagement means provided on the tongue member of a second electromagnetic coupling device may be accommodated within the receiving means of the device body. The electromagnet is operable to cause the engagement means of the tongue member of the said second electromagnetic coupling device to substantially resist or prevent movement of the said tongue member within the receiving means.

Abstract: A multilayered electromagnetic assembly. The assembly has a plurality of substantially planar substrate layers, each substrate layer having a cutaway portion. An insulated electrically conductive material is provided, arranged in a spiral configuration on at least two of the substrate layers. The spiral configuration is formed from adjacent the cutaway portion to the edges of the substrate layer. The electrically conductive material is formed substantially on and/or partially recessed or beneath the surface of the substrate layer. The spiral configurations have first and second electrical contacts that are operable to pass electric current to electrical contacts of spiral configurations on other substrate layers. A ferromagnetic core is located through the cutaway portions of the substrate layers. The substrate layers are stacked and an electrical current is passed sequentially through the two or more spiral configurations, thereby generating a magnetic field in the core.

Abstract: A multilayered electromagnetic assembly. The assembly has a plurality of substantially planar substrate layers, each substrate layer having a cutaway portion. An insulated electrically conductive material is provided, arranged in a spiral configuration on at least two of the substrate layers. The spiral configuration is formed from adjacent the cutaway portion to the edges of the substrate layer. The electrically conductive material is formed substantially on and/or partially recessed or beneath the surface of the substrate layer. The spiral configurations has first and second electrical contacts that are operable to pass electric current to electrical contacts of spiral configurations on other substrate layers. A ferromagnetic core is located through the cutaway portions of the substrate layers. The substrate layers are stacked and an electrical current is passed sequentially through the two or more spiral configurations, thereby generating a magnetic field in the core.

Abstract: A brace device for the support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a flexible smart fabric, operable to partially or substantially enclose and/or lie adjacent to one or more portions of the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer. Fabric hardening means are provided, operable to partially or substantially harden one or more regions of the smart fabric upon application of an activating stimulus, thereby to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of one or more portions of the spine of the wearer. One or more predetermined regions of the smart fabric are in a substantially flexible configuration when the fabric hardening means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the device around the wearer.

Abstract: A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts operable in combination to be placed over substantially the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer, each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement resisting means are provided on one or more of said component parts and operable upon activation to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of at least one component part relative to at least one other component part. One or more predetermined regions of the combination of component parts are in a substantially flexible configuration when the movement resisting means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the brace device around the wearer.

Abstract: A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts, with each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement sensing means are provided, for monitoring the movement of the wearer and/or the movement of one component part relative to the at least one other component part with which it is moveable; the movement sensing means being able to generate output signals indicative of movement or in response to a change in movement. Movement resisting means are provided on component parts and these are operable to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of the component parts relative to other component parts. Control means in communication with the movement sensing means and the movement resisting means are programmed to interpret and/or analyze the output signals generated by the movement sensing means within predetermined parameters and/or criteria.

Abstract: A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts operable in combination to be placed over substantially the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer, each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement resisting means are provided on one or more of said component parts and operable upon activation to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of at least one component part relative to at least one other component part. One or more predetermined regions of the combination of component parts are in a substantially flexible configuration when the movement resisting means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the brace device around the wearer.

Abstract: A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts, with each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement sensing means are provided, for monitoring the movement of the wearer and/or the movement of one component part relative to the at least one other component part with which it is moveable; the movement sensing means being able to generate output signals indicative of movement or in response to a change in movement. Movement resisting means are provided on component parts and these are operable to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of the component parts relative to other component parts. Control means in communication with the movement sensing means and the movement resisting means are programmed to interpret and/or analyze the output signals generated by the movement sensing means within predetermined parameters and/or criteria.