Abstract: The following relates to patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for use in surgical procedures, including various interbody procedures. The patient-matched apparatus may be a modular implant, a monolithic implant, and may include an instrument for use in procedures involving a modular or monolithic implant. One or more patient-matched apparatus described herein may be configured for use with a guide, with robotic instrumentation, or with augmented reality system.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes fixation devices, such as an orthopedic screw or implant, that comprises one or more porous elements or fenestrations to aid in osteo-integration of the fixation device. The fixation device may be additively manufactured using biocompatible materials such that the solid and porous aspects of the screw are fused together into a single construct. In yet another aspect, the fixation device comprises at least a portion or section incorporating a porous structure, which enables bony ingrowth through the porous section/portion of the screw, and thereby facilitates biocompatibility and improve mechanical characteristics. Methods for using the fixation device are also described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for assisting in various surgical procedures. In varying embodiments, patient-specific guides may comprise multiple patient-specific surfaces for mating with the underlying patient anatomy and may further comprise one or more protrusions or projections for facilitating placement and attachment, at least temporarily, to the desired location of the patient's anatomy. The apparatus described herein are preferably used with cervical and/or certain thoracic levels of the human spine and may comprise single or multi-level guides for placement of instruments and/or implants during a variety of surgical procedures.

Abstract: A computer system, processor, and/or method for changing the mode of operation of a computer without rebooting includes: a processor having a configuration register, the configuration register having a privilege entry (PRVS) register field for each of one or more privilege levels, each PRVS register field for each privilege level having one or more control aspect entries; and an enforce below (ENFB) register field, each ENFB register field for each privilege level having one or more control aspect entries, the PRVS register field control aspects being equal in number to and corresponding to the ENRB register field control aspects. The PRVS register fields and the ENFB register fields are used to change the processor from a secure mode to a performance mode while running software applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for robotic, computer-aided or virtual/augmented reality assisted procedures, including with use a of patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for assisting in various surgical procedures. In varying embodiments, patient-specific guides may comprise embedded markers, chips, circuits, or other registerable components for providing information to a robotic or computer-aided device. Other apparatus described herein may be aligned and/or matched with the robotic or augmented reality equipment or another apparatus during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for assisting in various surgical procedures. In varying embodiments, patient-specific guides may comprise multiple patient-specific surfaces for mating with the underlying patient anatomy and may further comprise one or more protrusions or projections for facilitating placement and attachment, at least temporarily, to the desired location of the patient's anatomy. The apparatus described herein are preferably used with cervical and/or certain thoracic levels of the human spine and may comprise single or multi-level guides for placement of instruments and/or implants during a variety of surgical procedures.

Abstract: A computer system, processor, and/or method for changing the mode of operation of a computer without rebooting includes: a processor having a configuration register, the configuration register having a privilege entry (PRVS) register field for each of one or more privilege levels, each PRVS register field for each privilege level having one or more control aspect entries; and an enforce below (ENFB) register field, each ENFB register field for each privilege level having one or more control aspect entries, the PRVS register field control aspects being equal in number to and corresponding to the ENRB register field control aspects. The PRVS register fields and the ENFB register fields are used to change the processor from a secure mode to a performance mode while running software applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for robotic, computer-aided or virtual/augmented reality assisted procedures, including with use a of patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for assisting in various surgical procedures. In varying embodiments, patient-specific guides may comprise embedded markers, chips, circuits, or other registerable components for providing information to a robotic or computer-aided device. Other apparatus described herein may be aligned and/or matched with the robotic or augmented reality equipment or another apparatus during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to drill guides and depth control apparatus for use with a variety of customized or standardized surgical instruments. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises at least a body portion and a collar portion, one or more of which are configured to be coupled to a cutting instrument, such as a drill bit, in a specified location and manner to prevent unwanted movement. In embodiments, the assembly of the body and collar portions may be incrementally adjusted to alter the desired depth of the cutting instrument. Methods for using the foregoing apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to drill guides and depth control apparatus for use with a variety of customized or standardized surgical instruments. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises at least a body portion and a collar portion, one or more of which are configured to be coupled to a cutting instrument, such as a drill bit, in a specified location and manner to prevent unwanted movement. In embodiments, the assembly of the body and collar portions may be incrementally adjusted to alter the desired depth of the cutting instrument. Methods for using the foregoing apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes fixation devices, such as an orthopedic screw or implant, that comprises one or more porous elements or fenestrations to aid in osteo-integration of the fixation device. The fixation device may be additively manufactured using biocompatible materials such that the solid and porous aspects of the screw are fused together into a single construct. In yet another aspect, the fixation device comprises at least a portion or section incorporating a porous structure, which enables bony ingrowth through the porous section/portion of the screw, and thereby facilitates biocompatibility and improve mechanical characteristics. Methods for using the fixation device are also described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process-based virtualization system comprising a data processing unit. The system comprises a computer readable storage media, wherein a first memory component of the computer readable storage media is configured for access by an OS, secure and non-secure applications and the firmware, and wherein a second memory component of the computer readable storage media is configured for access by the firmware and not by the OS and the non-secure application. The data processing unit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation that executes a non-secure application process using the OS, and to operate in a second mode of operation that executes the secure application using the firmware, thereby executing application code using the second memory component.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes fixation devices, such as an orthopedic screw or implant, that comprises one or more porous elements or fenestrations to aid in osteo-integration of the fixation device. The fixation device may be additively manufactured using biocompatible materials such that the solid and porous aspects of the screw are fused together into a single construct. In yet another aspect, the fixation device comprises at least a portion or section incorporating a porous structure, which enables bony ingrowth through the porous section/portion of the screw, and thereby facilitates biocompatibility and improve mechanical characteristics. Methods for using the fixation device are also described herein.

Abstract: A system and method for developing customized apparatus, such as occipital guides, for use in one or more surgical procedures is disclosed. The system and method incorporates a patient's unique anatomical features or morphology, which may be derived from capturing MRI data or CT data, to fabricate at least one custom apparatus or guide. According to a preferred embodiment, the customized apparatus comprises at least one patient-specific surface and or contour. Apparatus, including one or more surgical guides, may be matched in duplicate and oriented around the patient's own anatomy, and may further provide any desired axial alignments or insertional trajectories. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus may further be aligned and/or matched with at least one other apparatus during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A computer system, processor, and/or method for changing the mode of operation of a computer without rebooting includes: a processor having a configuration register, the configuration register having a privilege entry (PRVS) register field for each of one or more privilege levels, each PRVS register field for each privilege level having one or more control aspect entries; and an enforce below (ENFB) register field, each ENFB register field for each privilege level having one or more control aspect entries, the PRVS register field control aspects being equal in number to and corresponding to the ENRB register field control aspects. The PRVS register fields and the ENFB register fields are used to change the processor from a secure mode to a performance mode while running software applications.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to drill guides and depth control apparatus for use with a variety of customized or standardized surgical instruments. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises at least a body portion and a collar portion, one or more of which are configured to be coupled to a cutting instrument, such as a drill bit, in a specified location and manner to prevent unwanted movement. In embodiments, the assembly of the body and collar portions may be incrementally adjusted to alter the desired depth of the cutting instrument. Methods for using the foregoing apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a patient-specific or patient-matched, customized apparatus for assisting in various surgical procedures. In varying embodiments, patient-specific guides may comprise multiple patient-specific surfaces for mating with the underlying patient anatomy and may further comprise one or more protrusions or projections for facilitating placement and attachment, at least temporarily, to the desired location of the patient's anatomy. The apparatus described herein are preferably used with cervical and/or certain thoracic levels of the human spine and may comprise single or multi-level guides for placement of instruments and/or implants during a variety of surgical procedures.