Abstract: Bone screws have heads which are provided with a hex socket as well as a threaded portion. A screw driver system includes a hex driver and a threaded driver. The screw driver system permits driving the screw through a plate system into a bone until desired compression is obtained. Then the screw is locked to the plate while maintaining the imparted compression.

Abstract: Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour the plate laterally, longitudinally and with twist. More particularly, such plate contouring can be performed while the plate is located on the bone.

Abstract: A fracture fixation plate system for use on a long bone having a metaphysis and a diaphysis, includes at least one end plate having a head portion for the metaphysis, and at least one diaphyseal plate having a first end and a second end with a plurality of screw holes therebetween. The end plate includes mating structure adapted to mate with and securely couple to at least one end of the at least one diaphyseal plate. The system preferably includes several end plates and diaphyseal plates to accommodate anatomy of various sizes.

Abstract: A fixation system (10) includes a device having a nail portion (12) and a plate portion (14), preferably horizontally and vertically offset relative to the nail portion by a neck portion (16). The nail portion (12) includes preferably threaded screw holes (24, 26), and the plate portion (14) includes longitudinally displaced peg holes (50, 52, 54), each of which is adapted to orient a peg (56, 58, 60) in a different orientation from the others. The system (10) also includes unicortical screws (28) having a reasonably large head (36) adapted to seat against the outer surface of the bone and a threaded shaft (32) adapted to engage in the screw holes (24, 26), and pegs (56, 58, 60) adapted to engage in the peg holes (50, 52, 54). Where threaded screw holes (24, 26) are used, bone is clamped between the nail portion (12) and the head (36) of the unicortical screws (28, 30). The pegs (56, 58, 60) provide stabilization and support for subchondral fragments.

Abstract: A method of clavicle fracture fixation includes using a K-wire to create a pilot hole extending longitudinally through the medullary canal of the lateral and medial fragments of the fractured clavicle while the fragments are reduced, enlarging a medial portion of the pilot hole in the lateral fragment and a lateral portion of the pilot hole in the medial fragment, wherein such enlarged portions are together sized for receiving the clavicle nail, attaching the lateral end of the clavicle nail to the K-wire, manipulating the K-wire such that substantially the entire length of the clavicle nail is positioned inside of the lateral fragment, aligning the lateral and medial fragments longitudinally, and manipulating the K-wire such that approximately half of the length of the clavicle nail is positioned within the medial fragment and approximately half of the nail is positioned within the lateral fragment.

Abstract: The system includes a plate with a screw hole and a bone screw wherein the screw and plate cooperate such that the screw is inhibited from back out from the plate after inserted into bone. Described embodiments include a pawl, with and without ratchet, an interfering clip about the screw head, and a snap-fit engagement between the screw and screw hole. The screw hole is preferably provided with openings at at least one of two diametric sides which provide dynamic compression functionality and access under the screw for an instrument to facilitate screw release.

Abstract: A bone fixation system including a plate and a set of fixation locking screw. The plate defines a set of locking screw holes each having an internal thread. Each respective locking screw has a head with an external structure that is adapted to self-tap into the internal thread of a given locking screw hole to secure the respective first-type fixation locking screw at an surgeon directed angle relative to the plate. This angle is defined during forcible insertion and rotation of the respective locking screw into the given screw hole. The system may also include unidirectional locking screws.

Abstract: A fracture fixation device includes a plate portion and an intramedullary nail portion which is offset relative to the plate portion by a neck portion. The plate portion includes longitudinally displaced peg holes which orient pegs along an imaginary surface parallel to subchondral bone of an articular surface. The upper surface of the plate portion includes a dimple to reference a jig. The nail portion includes threaded screw holes oriented normal to an endosteal surface, and a smaller K-wire alignment hole parallel to the screw holes. The jig has a first portion which references with the dimple and a second portion in alignment over the screw holes of the nail portion. The back of the first portion of the jig is curved upward to facilitate maneuvering of the jig. The first and second portions of the jig includes K-wire guide holes which direct K-wires relative to holes in the device.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system includes a plate having a first suture anchor location having an opening at the upper surface of the plate, an opening at the proximal end of the plate, and an opening at the anterior side of the plate and defines first and second suture pathways which cross within the plate. The first and second suture pathways include a common opening. A second suture anchor location on the plate has an opening at the upper surface of the plate, an opening at the proximal end of the plate, and an opening at the posterior side of the plate which defines third and fourth suture pathways which cross within the plate. The third and fourth suture pathways also share a common opening. Thus, each suture anchor location is capable of providing a hold for suture from multiple approaches to secure tuberosities relative to the plate.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system includes a device with a plate portion intended to be positioned against an exterior surface of bone and an intramedullary portion. The plate portion includes a plurality of fixed angle holes defining a respective number of axes which are divergent. Fasteners coupled within the fixed angle holes extend to follow the contour of subchondral bone and provide a framework for support for fracture healing.

Abstract: A polyaxial locking screw system includes a bone plate defining a plate hole with an inner spherical surface and a relatively harder split polyaxial bushing with a outer spherical surface provided within the plate hole for receiving a bone screw. In one embodiment, the plate is formed from titanium alloy, while the bushing is formed from a cobalt chrome alloy. The outer surface of the polyaxial bushing includes a plurality of spikes. When the screw is inserted into the bushing, since the bushing material is considerably harder than the plate material, the forceful expansion of the bushing during screw insertion causes the spikes to penetrate into the inner spherical surface of the hole, thereby increasing the frictional engagement of the bushing to the plate to lock the screw at a desired angle.

Abstract: A method of clavicle fracture fixation includes using a K-wire to create a pilot hole extending longitudinally through the medullary canal of the lateral and medial fragments of the fractured clavicle while the fragments are reduced, enlarging a medial portion of the pilot hole in the lateral fragment and a lateral portion of the pilot hole in the medial fragment, wherein such enlarged portions are together sized for receiving the clavicle nail, attaching the lateral end of the clavicle nail to the K-wire, manipulating the K-wire such that substantially the entire length of the clavicle nail is positioned inside of the lateral fragment, aligning the lateral and medial fragments longitudinally, and manipulating the K-wire such that approximately half of the length of the clavicle nail is positioned within the medial fragment and approximately half of the nail is positioned within the lateral fragment.

Abstract: A short guide for temporary fixation to a fastener hole in a bone plate, includes a bottom threaded portion, a top portion, and a central passage for guiding an orthopedic device. The threaded end is preferably provided with a triple lead taper thread. The central passage is sized for receiving an orthopedic device, e.g., a drill bit or K-wire. The top portion is provided with tool engagement structure for coupling to a guide driver. The length of the device permits multiple guides to be pre-assembled to the plate without obscuring and crowding the area of interest. When the bone plate includes polyaxial bushings, the guides are initially lightly screwed therein, permitting the surgeon to modify the angle of each guide and bushing to a selected orientation before locking the bushing at an orientation by tightening the guide into the bushing.

Abstract: Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour the plate laterally, longitudinally and with twist. More particularly, such plate contouring can be performed while the plate is located on the bone.

Abstract: Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour the plate laterally, longitudinally and with twist. More particularly, such plate contouring can be performed while the plate is located on the bone.

Abstract: A device for holding a blood vessel (and corresponding method of operation) includes a mandrel having a proximal end opposite a distal end. A tube houses a portion of the mandrel. A tip assembly, which is operably coupled to the distal end of the mandrel, comprises a sheath having a tapered portion and a cylindrical portion. The sheath is adapted to be inserted into a lumen of a blood vessel such that an end of the blood vessel is supported by the tapered portion. The elastic nature of the blood vessel holds the end of the blood vessel in place with respect to the tip assembly. The tapered portion includes an exterior surface with a plurality of needle-guide-grooves that extend along such exterior surface. A needle is driven through the blood vessel while being guided by a needle-guide groove such that the needle is driven through the blood vessel near the end of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system is provided for a fracture of a head portion of a long bone which has subchondral bone defining a convex articular surface. The system includes a plate element positionable on the long bone substantially opposite the head portion of the long bone and on a first side of the fracture, and a post coupled to the plate and into the head portion of the bone and across the fracture. A cross peg is coupled to the post to provide support of the subchondral bone.

Abstract: A heart stabilizer includes a shaft and two articulating arms coupled to a distal end of the shaft. At the end of each arm is a rotatable foot adapted to be angled relative to the heart wall contour and apply pressure against the wall of the heart to effectively eliminate motion of the heart wall between the feet. The stabilizer is adapted to be collapsible (foldable) to be inserted through the port device and locked longitudinally relative thereto. The stabilizer is also adapted to be deployed into an open configuration and then manipulated by actuation of a proximal control and actuation handle into a selected orientation.

Abstract: A port device includes a tubular body sized to be inserted through a pair of ribs in a chest wall of a patient, a ball provided about the body, and a base defining a socket in which the ball is provided. Detent structure permits but limits longitudinal movement of the body relative to the ball. The base includes a clamping system which compresses the ball to lock the ball at a selected orientation within the socket and also immobilizes the port body relative to the ball. The distal end of the body includes a pair of swivels rotatably attached thereto. An obturator is extendable within the body maneuvers the swivels between a closed position (in which the swivels are oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the body), and an open position (in which the swivels are directed outward from the port).

Abstract: An instrument stabilizer minimizes unwanted motion at the distal end of a surgical instrument by applying a damping force to the instrument. According to one embodiment, the instrument stabilizer preferably includes a cannula through which an instrument can extend, and a distal bushing adapted to contact the instrument. The instrument stabilizer also includes a proximal housing which includes a mechanism which applies a stabilizing or damping force to the proximal portion of the cannula. The mechanism which applies the force may be, by way of example, one or more of elastic bands, springs, struts, etc. When a surgical instrument is extended through the cannula and contacts the bushing, movement of the cannula and consequently the surgical instrument is damped by the stabilization force on the proximal portion of the cannula. In addition, a swivel device for angularly orienting the instrument stabilizer relative to a body of patient is also provided.