Abstract: The present disclosure describes surgical anchors and related devices and methods that can be used for surgical bone fracture fixation. Some implementations use a polymeric cored braided suture held in place by anchors on each side of a fracture. In some implementations, the anchors are secured into bone while maintaining high tension (e.g., relative to certain prior art methods) in the suture during the deployment process. Some implementations provide for tensioning (e.g., using a polymeric cored braided suture) to compress the fracture and hold the bone in place, functioning as though the suture has sewn the bone (e.g., fragments or portions) together. This can, for example, provide rigid fixation of a fracture which may be important for healing to occur. The tension preload can provide compression to maintain fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone (e.g., as a result of movement and weight bearing).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes surgical anchors and related devices and methods that can be used for surgical bone fracture fixation. Some implementations use a polymeric cored braided suture held in place by anchors on each side of a fracture. In some implementations, the anchors are secured into bone while maintaining high tension (e.g., relative to certain prior art methods) in the suture during the deployment process. Some implementations provide for tensioning (e.g., using a polymeric cored braided suture) to compress the fracture and hold the bone in place, functioning as though the suture has sewn the bone (e.g., fragments or portions) together. This can, for example, provide rigid fixation of a fracture which may be important for healing to occur. The tension preload can provide compression to maintain fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone (e.g., as a result of movement and weight bearing).

Abstract: This disclosure includes surgical anchors and related devices and methods that can be used for surgical bone fracture fixation. Some embodiments involve the use of a polymeric cored braided suture that can be held in place by anchors implanted or inserted into bone on each side of a fracture. In some embodiments, the present anchors can be secured into the bone while maintaining high tension (e.g., relative to certain prior art methods) in the suture during the deployment process. Some embodiments can provide for tensioning (e.g., using a polymeric cored braided suture) to compress the fracture and hold the bone in place, functioning as though the suture has sewn the bone (e.g., fragments or portions) together. This can, for example, provide rigid fixation of a fracture which may be important for healing to occur. The tension preload can provide compression to maintain fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone (e.g., as a result of movement and weight bearing).

Abstract: This disclosure includes surgical anchors and related devices and methods that can be used for surgical bone fracture fixation. Some embodiments involve the use of a polymeric cored braided suture that can be held in place by anchors implanted or inserted into bone on each side of a fracture. In some embodiments, the present anchors can be secured into the bone while maintaining high tension (e.g., relative to certain prior art methods) in the suture during the deployment process. Some embodiments can provide for tensioning (e.g., using a polymeric cored braided suture) to compress the fracture and hold the bone in place, functioning as though the suture has sewn the bone (e.g., fragments or portions) together. This can, for example, provide rigid fixation of a fracture which may be important for healing to occur. The tension preload can provide compression to maintain fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone (e.g., as a result of movement and weight bearing).

Abstract: A cable in accordance with the invention includes at least one core filament having a visually distinctive appearance; and a jacket, wrapped around at least a portion of said core filament. The jacket is adapted to change its opacity in response to tensile stress, thereby modulating the visibility of the core filament in relation to such stress. As a result, the overall appearance of the cable responds to stress, by changing at least one of chroma, hue, or value (visual appearance) quantifiably in response to tension.

Abstract: A cable in accordance with the invention includes at least one core filament having a visually distinctive appearance; and a jacket, wrapped around at least a portion of said core filament. The jacket is adapted to change its opacity in response to tensile stress, thereby modulating the visibility of the core filament in relation to such stress. As a result, the overall appearance of the cable responds to stress, by changing at least one of chroma, hue, or value (visual appearance) quantifiably in response to tension.

Abstract: A cable retaining device is suitable for retaining flexible cables at high load tensions. The device includes: a body including a void having a width that tapers from a wider rearward end to a narrower forward end; and a wedge shaped plug, capable of slidable insertion at least partially into said void. The wedge and the plug define at least one channel between them, said channel capable of receiving a cable. The channel is tapered from a narrower rearward orifice to a wider forward orifice. The invention also includes a system of the cable retaining device together with a high-tension polymer cable, said system suitable for surgical use. Furthermore, the invention includes the method of fastening cable with the cable retaining device of the invention. In one embodiment the device retains a looped cable by engaging two cable ends.

Abstract: A method of applying an active compressive force continuously across a fracture by wrapping fractured bone segments in an energy-inducing surgical cable having a predetermined elastic property that stretches about 30 to 100% of its original length. The cable is wrapped around the bone segments, applying an energy-inducing continuous compressive force to the bone segments by elongating while maintaining the bone segments in compression as the bone segments mend.

Abstract: A bone fixation apparatus and method for repairing fractured bones is provided. A first pin is located on the bone adjacent the fracture and a flexible line is led to a second pin located on the other side of the fracture. A third pin is provided spaced from the first pin on the same side of the fracture and the flexible line is extended from the second pin to the third pin. A fourth pin is provided spaced from the second pin on the same side of the fracture and the flexible line is extended from the third pin to the fourth pin. Finally, the flexible line is extended from the fourth pin back to the first pin. The flexible line may be doubled up. A similar arrangement of pins and flexible line is made diametrically on the opposite side of the bone.

Abstract: A hand-held pulsating jet lavage is shown having a hand-held housing that may be separately sterilized from a disposable pump cartridge which has been sterilized prior to use by gamma radiation or ethylene oxide gas light. The disposable pump may be easily inserted into a pump chamber where a pump flange is positively engaged by a notch on the end of the housing motor. Closure of the chamber locks the pump into its desired position. A rigid tube extends from the pump to its nozzle to assure that a stream of sterile irrigation fluid is delivered to a surgical site with a pulse stream that has a sharp turn on, cut off interface between pulses.

Abstract: The present surgical tool uses high frequency impulses to replace rotating or oscillating members in cutting through or inserting materials into bone. One embodiment comprises a chisel which uses high frequency impulses to remove bone or other hard material. Because of the high forces developed, a novel holder for the chisel to the tool is disclosed. Another embodiment is a wire driver which uses high frequency impulses to drive wire into bone or other tissue. A novel holder for the wire is disclosed which allows wire to be pulled from the tool so that it can be inserted into the bone but prevents wire from slipping back into the tool during the driving operation. The chisel and the wire are driven by a novel pneumatic impulse motor. The motor includes a piston hammer which is mounted in a chamber, and air ports at either end of the chamber alternately direct air to one side of the piston hammer and to the other side of the piston hammer to drive it along the chamber.

Abstract: A surgical tool has a pneumatically driven rotor motor, a source of air under pressure to drive the motor, an output system for receiving rotation from the motor and transmitting it to a bur and a securing system for securing the bur to the output system. The securing system receives air pressure from the source of air and converts the pressure to a force acting on the bur to grip the bur. The motor has a shaft mounted for rotation in a housing, and the shaft is hollow so that some of the air directed into the motor goes through the shaft and into a chamber. A piston is mounted in the housing, and when air from the shaft is directed into the chamber, it moves the piston in the chamber. The piston is connected to a collet, so that introduction of air into the chamber moves the collet. The collet has an inclined surface, and there are grippers between the inclined surface and the bur.

Abstract: One end of an oscillating saw blade has a notch, and spaced from the notch is a hole through the blade. The head of the tool has a slot having a shaft extending through the rear end of the slot for receiving the notch. A pin extends partially into the slot for receiving the hole. A closer in the form of a cam is cammed into and out of the slot for moving the hole on the blade onto the pin and moving the end of the blade having the hole and the notch against the bottom of the slot. The cam closer is locked in place to lock the blade in the slot. A handle is attached to the cam closer for manually rotating the cam, and the cam has an overcenter orientation where the resilient forces from the blade pushing on the cam tend to rotate the cam to a closed position. A stop is provided to intersect the handle and stop it in its locked position. A jaw of resilient material may be provided between the blade and the bottom of the slot to spread forces from the cam on the blade.