Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to retain elements of the spine and/or pelvis in a desired spatial relationship. A plurality of fasteners are connected with a plurality of the elements. A longitudinal member is connected with the fasteners by a plurality of connector members. The longitudinal member and fasteners are movable relative to each other to adjust the distance between the longitudinal member and fasteners to thereby obtain the desired spatial relationship between the longitudinal member and elements to which the fasteners are connected. Once the longitudinal member and fasteners have been positioned in the desired spatial relationship, clamps are engaged to hold the longitudinal member, fasteners and connector members against relative movement. To provide for the adjustability of the longitudinal member relative to the fasteners, oblong openings are formed in the connector members.

Abstract: A bone alignment assembly is disclosed having bone anchor subassemblies for securing to both bones and a bone position retainer, wherein the bone position retainer includes a longitudinal member for maintaining a desired alignment of the bones when the bone anchor assemblies are secured to the bone position retainer. Each of the bone anchor subassemblies includes a shaft and one or more pairs of components (e.g., washers) wherein the components of each pair have mating spherical concave and convex surfaces that can mate together in a plurality of angular positions. When the shaft extends through each of the pairs of mating components, and also through a passageway of the bone position retainer that is sandwiched between the two pairs of mating components, the shaft can be secured at any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the bone position retainer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to retain elements of the spine and/or pelvis in a desired spatial relationship. A plurality of fasteners are connected with a plurality of the elements. A longitudinal member is connected with the fasteners by a plurality of connector members. The longitudinal member and fasteners are movable relative to each other to adjust the distance between the longitudinal member and fasteners to thereby obtain the desired spatial relationship between the longitudinal member and elements to which the fasteners are connected. Once the longitudinal member and fasteners have been positioned in the desired spatial relationship, clamps are engaged to hold the longitudinal member, fasteners and connector members against relative movement. To provide for the adjustability of the longitudinal member relative to the fasteners, oblong openings are formed in the connector members.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship includes a longitudinal member extendable along the spinal column. A fastener for connecting the longitudinal member to a vertebra includes a first end portion for engaging a vertebra and a second end portion connectable with the longitudinal member. A staple including a plurality of mounting projections for engaging the vertebra has surfaces for defining an opening through which the second end portion of the fastener extends. The staple includes surfaces for engaging the second end portion of the fastener to prevent relative rotation between the fastener and the staple.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in retaining a longitudinally extending member in position relative to a spinal column includes a top-entry hook assembly having a hook portion which is engageable with a spinal column. A body extending upwardly from the hook portion and has an open ended recess which extends through the body and is open along one side to enable a rod or longitudinal member to be moved into the recess through the open side. An end cap is engageable with the body to close the upper side opening. A clamp member or set screw is disposed at the center of the end cap to clamp the rod in the recess in the body. The end cap and body are interconnectable by different types of connectors including a bayonet connector, a linear cam connector, or a threaded connector.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to retain elements of the spine or pelvis or both in a desired spatial relationship. A plurality of fasteners are connected with a plurality of the elements. A longitudinal member is connected with that fasteners by a plurality of connector members. The longitudinal members and fasteners are movable relative to each other to adjust the distance between the longitudinal member and fasteners to thereby obtain the desired spatial relationship. Clamps are engaged to hold the longitudinal member, fasteners, and connector members against relative movement. To provide for adjustability, oblong openings are formed in the connector members. The fasteners have a plurality of tapered washers to create variable angles between the axis of the fastener and the axis of the oblong opening.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for maintaining spinal elements in a desired spatial relationship includes a plate and a fastener having a first threaded end portion for engaging a spinal element, a second threaded end portion and a seat portion. The seat portion of the fastener is received in a recess of a plate. The plate has an elongated slot for receiving the fastener that extends along one side of the longitudinal axis of the plate. A circular opening for receiving another fastener is located on the other side of the longitudinal axis and adjacent the slot. The slot extends through the plate in a first direction and the circular opening extends through the plate in a second direction at an angle to the first direction. The slot is defined by opposed slot surfaces extending longitudinally of the plate and arcuate recesses in the opposed slot surfaces and spaced therealong. The recesses in the opposed slot surfaces define a plurality of locations for receiving the fastener.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in retaining a longitudinally extending member in position relative to a spinal column includes a top-entry hook assembly having a hook portion which is engageable with a spinal column. A body extending upwardly from the hook portion and has an open ended recess which extends through the body and is open along one side to enable a rod or longitudinal member to be moved into the recess through the open side. An end cap is engageable with the body to close the upper side opening. A clamp member or set screw is disposed at the center of the end cap to clamp the rod in the recess in the body. The end cap and body are interconnectable by different types of connectors including a bayonet connector, a linear cam connector, or a threaded connector.

Abstract: A plurality of instruments or members are provided to plastically deform spine plates or rods to a configuration which corresponds to a desired configuration for connection with a spinal column. A pair of flat benders have slots which are engageable with a spine plate to bend and/or twist the spine plate. A pair of tube benders are engageable with a rod to bend the rod. One of the flat benders may be used with one of the tube benders to form a bend in the rod. In addition, the two flat benders may be used together to bend the rod. These instruments make possible two dimensional bending of spine plates and three dimensional bending of spine rods.

Abstract: A wheelchair ergometer provides for the stationary exercise of a subject in a wheelchair and includes a wheelchair mounted on a support with the driving wheels mounted on an elongated central shaft. A set of flywheels is mounted at either end of the central shaft and has provision for mounting weights corresponding to the weight of the subject. The flywheels load the central shaft and simulate the translational inertia present in a moving wheelchair. A torque platform is supported by bearings from the central shaft and is coupled to a friction type brake which may be selectively tightened about the central shaft to cause the brake and platform to deflect in relation to the torque applied to the central shaft. A scale fixedly mounted adjacent the torque platform measures the deflection to indicate the torque on the shaft.