Abstract: A porous metal intervertebral spacer having at least one angled through hole extending from the side of the implant to a surface which interfaces with a vertebral body end plate such that an interference screw may be driven through the implant and into the bone, thereby securing the implant from undesired motion. In particular, the through holes are tapered to receive a screw and coupling element therethrough such that once fully seated, the screw is locked to the implant by virtue of a coupling element-through hole mutually tapered nesting. The head of the screw is round, as is the interior of the coupling element, thereby allowing the screw to be inserted at various angles relative to the hole without interfering with the proper seating of the coupling element in the through hole.

Abstract: A surgical treatment for restoring proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones including: determining an angular misalignment associated with adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element into the intervertebral space between the corresponding adjacent vertebral bones; rotating the diametrically tapered cylindrical porous spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical porous spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment of the vertebral bones; and stabilizing the adjacent vertebral bon

Abstract: A spinal stimulation electrode assembly includes at least one wire lead having a proximal end adapted to couple to an electrical signal generator; a lamina hook having a blade hooking in a hooking direction; an electrode adapted to telescope from the blade in the hooking direction and having at least one electrical contact formed thereon that is electrically coupled to the wire lead; such that when the hook is disposed on a lamina of a spine and the electrode is telescoped from the blade, the electrical contact is positioned adjacent the spinal cord and an application of an electrical signal to the proximal end of the wire lead causes an electric potential to be applied to the spinal cord.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a spiral-shaped radially diminishing amplitude wave washer.

Abstract: A modular pedicle screw and rod implant assembly includes a shant screw, a rod holding element, a locking member, a rod, and a nut. The shant screw has a lower threaded shaft portion for insertion into the pedicle and a top shaft portion which is unthreaded, a portion of which is tapered. The locking member has a threaded upper portion and a smoothly tapered lower portion. It further includes an axial bore which is similarly tapered at the bottom for seating on the upper portion of the shant screw. This tapered bottom portion is slotted so that it may be expanded or compressed in accordance with a radial force applied thereto. The rod holding element includes two through holes; one for receiving the rod, and the other, transverse to the rod receiving hole, which is tapered. The two holes are overlapping so that when the rod is seated in the first hole and the tapered portion of the locking member is in the second hole the surfaces of the rod and the locking member are in contact.

Abstract: An instrument for insertion, implanting, and removing a cylindrical inter vertebral spacer member having a deep circumferential groove, including: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end forming a handle and the distal end forming a spacer member engaging subassembly; said spacer member engaging subassembly including at least one selectively expanding and contracting enclosure into which a central core of the spacer member may be introduced when the engaging subassembly is in the expanded state, and which holds the spacer member so that it cannot move when the selectively expanding and contracting enclosure is rendered into the contracted state; and an actuating mechanism, extending from the proximal end to the distal end, by which the spacer member engaging subassembly may be selectively expanded and contracted.

Abstract: An intervertebral space distraction and implantable device assembly provides sequentially axially wider spacers that are to be sequentially inserted into and removed from an intervertebral space to widen the space until a desired anatomical spacing of the adjacent vertebral bones is restored. The set of spacers includes a porous spacer that is as wide as the spacer that restores the desired anatomical spacing. The porous spacer can therefore be left implanted in the intervertebral space to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebral bones.

Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a wave washer. In a first embodiment the wave washer is ring-shaped. In a second embodiment the wave washer is spiral-shaped.

Abstract: A screw and coupling element assembly for use with an orthopedic rod implantation apparatus includes a screw that has a head and a shaft that extends from the head, a coupling element that has a seat within which the head can be seated such that the shaft protrudes from the coupling element, and a locking element that can be mated with the coupling element and that thereafter can be selectively moved through a plurality of positions including an unlocked position and a locked position. When the locking element is in the unlocked position, the locking element presents a rod-receiving channel and the head is movable in the seat such that the shaft can be directed in a plurality of angles relative to the coupling element. When the locking element is in the locked position, a rod disposed within the rod-receiving channel is fixed relative to the coupling element and the head is immovable in the seat such that the shaft is fixed at an angle relative to the coupling element.

Abstract: A surgical treatment for restoring a proper anatomical spacing and alignment to vertebral bones of a scoliosis patient including: determining an angular misalignment associated with at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones; sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the corresponding intervertebral space between the at least one pair of adjacent vertebral bones until the proper anatomical spacing between the pair of adjacent vertebral bones is restored; for each intervertebral space, inserting a diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element into the intervertebral space between the corresponding pair of adjacent vertebral bones; and rotating the diametrically tapered cylindrical spacer element such that the rotational orientation of the tapered cylindrical spacer element introduces the appropriate counter offset to the intervertebral space of the previously misaligned scoliotic vertebral bones, thereby restoring the proper anatomical alignment

Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.

Abstract: A method for treating complex regional pain syndromes by applying an oscillating electric field to appropriate sympathetic ganglia. The method includes the steps of inserting an electrode into the vicinity of the sympathetic ganglion, for example the stellate and upper thoracic ganglia, such that the necessary electric field may be applied to the ganglion. The necessary field oscillation frequency and strength, as well as other characteristics of the signal are determined individually for each patient. Continued driving of the pathological activity of the ganglion into the normal function is the long-term, reversible palatative remedy for the condition.

Abstract: A surgical treatment for distracting vertebral bodies to their proper anatomical spacing including sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones until the distance between the vertebral bones is anatomically appropriate.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting and removing an intervertebral spacer into and out from an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones, the spacer having a trunk portion having a longitudinal axis and flange portions at each longitudinal end of the trunk, the instrument including: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end including a handle; and a holding structure provided at the distal end, which holding structure includes an enclosure within which the trunk of the spacer may be selectively introduced and maintained therein, the holding structure having an opening leading to the enclosure and through which opening the trunk of the spacer may be selectively passed to when forced therethrough.

Abstract: A method for treating psychiatric diseases such as Anxiety disorder (including General Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disease, and Panic Disorder), Affective Disorder(including Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder) by neuromodulation (either chemical or electrical) of the frontal cerebral cortex, and in particular regions within the orbitofrontal cerebral cortex.

Abstract: An orthopedic device including a longitudinal plate assembly having an adjustable length and two ends. Each of the ends includes a feature that can be used to couple the end to a body structure, such as, for example, a vertebral bone. Preferably, the assembly includes two longitudinal plates that can translate longitudinally with respect to one another through a plurality of positions and be secured with respect to one another at one of the positions, thereby enabling the length of the assembly to be adjusted. Inasmuch as the length of the plate assembly can be adjusted, the surgeon can set the length to the most clinically appropriate length for effective coupling of the plate assembly to the body structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting a two-breasted wearer of a nursing brassiere in determining which breast was most recently used for nursing or which breast should next be used for nursing. Some embodiments include a flexible element attached to the brassiere at a first end and coupled at a second end to either of two portions of the brassiere, with the coupled portion reminding the woman to use a particular breast. In other embodiments, attachment of the flexible element to a portion can restrict access to the non-preferred breast. In other embodiments, an indicator attached to the brassiere can be placed in at least two states, each indicating a preference for a particular breast. In other embodiments, an alternating release switch on the brassiere uses a toggle to automatically release a coupling element of a breast cup associated with a preferred breast.

Abstract: An assembly for securing an electrode lead within a burr hole formed in a patient's skull. The assembly is provided for reliably, easily, and reversibly securing an implanted electrode lead such that the active portion of the lead which is inside the brain tissue within the skull is not subject to unwanted translations when the external portion of the lead is manipulated. The securing assembly has two separate components. The first is a bone port which seats within a preformed burr hole in the skull. The bone port is a cylindrical shaped short tube which includes a means for gripping the skull on the external periphery of the cylinder. The central axial hole of the port is designed to receive the second lead-locking portion of the assembly. The external surface of the lead-locking portion and the interior surface of the central axial hole of the port include an easily engageable coupling means, for example a bayonet locking mechanism.

Abstract: A method for treating excessive facial blushing by applying an oscillating electric field to the stellate ganglion. The method includes the steps of inserting an electrode into the vacinity of the sympathetic ganglion, for example the stellate ganglion, such that the necessary electric field may be applied to the ganglion. The necessary field oscillation frequency and strength, as well as other characteristics of the signal are determined individually for each patient. Continued driving of the pathological activity of the ganglion into the normal function is the long-term, reversible palatative remedy for the condition.

Abstract: A method for treating hyperhidrosis by applying an oscillating electric field to the stellate ganglion. The method includes the steps of inserting an electrode into the vacinity of the sympathetic ganglion, for example the stellate ganglion, such that the necessary electric field may be applied to the ganglion. The necessary field oscillation frequency and strength, as well as other characteristics of the signal are determined individually for each patient. Continued driving of the pathological activity of the ganglion into the normal function is the long-term, reversible palatative remedy for the condition.