Abstract: A compression ring for use in implanting an orthopedics prosthesis, the ring having an interior surface generally conforming to a peripheral wall of a base plate of the prosthesis, the compression ring being adapted to extend beyond a lower surface of the prosthesis, forming a cavity bounded by the lower surface and the compression ring. Also, a kit consisting of an orthopedic appliance having a base plate with a peripheral wall and a lower surface adapted to abut a resected bone surface, and a compression ring having an interior surface generally conforming to the peripheral wall of the base plate and slidingly received thereon, the compression ring being adapted to extend beyond the lower surface, forming a cavity bounded by the lower surface and the compression ring.

Abstract: A tibial preparation instrument including a baseplate trial having an opening formed therein. A removable handle is attached to the baseplate trial. A keel broach trial is shaped for insertion into the opening. A broach guide is provided for mounting on the baseplate trial. The broach guide includes an attachment member for attachment to the keel broach trial for angularly guiding the keel broach trial through the opening to a seated position on the baseplate trial, whereby the keel broach trial secures the baseplate trial on a tibial plateau.

Abstract: Collagen-containing tissue is cross-linked to provide tissue suitable for use in production of bioprosthetic devices. A cross-linking agent is used having an aliphatic component containing about 8 to 40 carbon atoms and two collagen-reactive groups such as isocyanate, epoxy or n-hydroxysuccinimide. The cross-linking agent may be produced by dimerizing fatty acids, and modifying carboxylic acid group of the fatty acids before or after dimerization to contain collagen-reactive groups. The cross-linked tissue has desirable mechanical and biocompatibility features and a reduced susceptibility to calcification.

Abstract: An offset, press-fit tibial stem system includes a baseplate, a main body portion, a baseplate connection portion attached to the baseplate and being offset from, and connected to, the main body portion by a transition portion. The main body portion has a first centroidal axis passing therethrough and the baseplate connection portion has a second centroidal axis passing therethrough. The offset is such that the first centroidal axis and the second centroidal axis are slightly spaced apart and substantially parallel so as to each pass through the main body portion.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic knee joint prosthesis. A femoral component has a first body including a surface for engaging femoral bone and a second body including a surface for engaging another component. Means are provided for hingedly connecting the first and second bodies together for relative pivoting motion about a fixed pivot axis. A tibial component has a baseplate that includes a surface for engaging tibial bone and a surface for engaging another component. An adapter bearing is disposed intermediate the second body and the baseplate and includes means for engagement with and affixation to the baseplate, and means for engagement with and affixation to the second body. A keel depends from the tibial bone engaging surface of the baseplate.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring is provided for implanting about a mitral valve. The annuloplasty ring includes a first, generally rigid section and a second, generally flexible section. The rigid section is positioned adjacent the posterior portion of a mitral valve annulus and the flexible section is positioned adjacent the anterior portion of the mitral valve annulus.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to the process of fixating tissue to obtain tissue for bioprosthetic applications. The fixating process comprises exposing the tissue to a fluid comprising activated difunctional or polyfunctional acids that can react with amino groups in tissue under mild conditions. Activating moieties include disuccinimidyl moieties, n-hydroxy disuccinimidyl moieties, sulfo-disuccinimidyl moieties, and mixtures thereof. The acid is preferably aliphatic difunctional or polyfunctional acids, more preferably a naturally occurring aliphatic difunctional or polyfunctional acids. Even more preferred is an acid consisting of glutaric, suberic acid, sebacic acid, tartaric acid, or mixtures thereof. The activated difunctional or polyfunctional acids are esters comprising the difunctional or polyfunctional acids and the activating moieties.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic prosthesis has a macro/micro-textured bone and soft tissue attachment surface to which a spiked washer is clamped by a threaded bolt received through said washer and threaded into said prosthesis. Soft tissue is secured to the prosthesis by clamping between said washer and said soft tissue attachment surface. The tissue attachment surface is arranged as a regular grid of depressions separated by orthogonal ridges formed by electrodischarge machining of the prosthesis using a machining electrode having a mold-opposite surface texture with a micro-textured roughened surface finish. The spacing of the spikes is and integer multiple of the spacing of the depressions to assure registry of the spikes with the depressions.

Abstract: A combination stem trial and broach includes a broach having a first attachment device at one end thereof. The first attachment device includes a first threaded member and a first orientation member. An elongated stem trial has a second attachment device at a first end thereof for engagement with the first attachment device. The second attachment device includes a second threaded member for connection with the first threaded member and a second orientation member for connection with the first orientation member.

Abstract: An intramedullary reference instrument is provided for aligning a cutting instrument in connection with surgical implantation of an orthopedic prosthesis having a stem component. The intramedullary reference instrument includes a stem trial having a length and diameter corresponding to that of the stem component of the prosthesis, and also includes a first connector. The instrument further includes a shaft adapter having a first end portion including a second connector. The second connector is configured for mating with the first connector of the stem trial to removably connect the shaft adapter to the stem trial. The shaft adapter is engageable with the cutting instrument to properly align the cutting instrument.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for reinforcing an anastomotic site (24). The device (14) includes a body (16) and a cuff (18). The body (16) is formed to receive a vascular graft (10). The cuff (18) is coupled to the body (16) and is formed to couple to a target vessel (22) proximate the anastomotic site (24) and to engage the anastomotic site (24). According to one aspect, the cuff (18) is impregnated with medication (30) to be delivered directly to the anastomotic site (24). According to another aspect, the cuff (18) has an adhesive surface (34) for affixation to the target vessel (22).

Abstract: A variety of surgical instruments facilitate implantation of a femoral stem component of an implantable prosthesis. A skeletal member is prepared by securing a reamer in the member. A broach is mounted on the reamer for broaching the member. A variety of adapters are selectively used with a head trial to check for location of the head trial. After trial placement is satisfactory, the instruments are removed so that the prosthesis can be implanted.

Abstract: A valve including a living hinge coupling a leaflet to a valve body. The leaflet can be coupled through the living hinge to the valve body's inner diameter, its outer diameter, or somewhere between the two diameters. Because the living hinge design of the valve is an integrated part, it can be manufactured in a single step.

Abstract: An implantable attaching device includes an annular ring having an axial passageway and a plurality of channels extending radially through the ring. Tissue attaching pins are positioned in the channels and extend radially inward into the axial passageway during implantation. The pins are driven into the native annulus tissue after the ring is positioned. Once the pins are driven into the annulus, the axial passageway of the ring is unobstructed and is adapted to receive a heart valve or other implantable device.

Abstract: A self-tapping dental implant that is fully coated by hydroxylapatite. The dental implant includes a proximal end having a tool engaging region, a self-tapping distal end, and a generally cylindrical middle region that connects the two ends. The distal end, the middle region, and the self-tapping features are fully covered by a hydroxylapatite coating.

Abstract: A support ring for a natural human heart valve includes a first ring portion having opposite terminal ends and a second ring portion having opposite terminal ends. An interconnector extends through and interconnects the first and second ring portions, to maintain the opposite terminal ends of the first ring portion adjacent the opposite terminal ends of the second ring portion, to form a segmented ring having a first and a second interface between the first and second ring portions. The first ring portion is of a greater length than the second ring portion. The ring portions are separable by severing the interconnector at the first and second interfaces, thus producing two variable size ring segments.

Abstract: A device for retaining and delivering dental implant components includes a retainer-delivery member which may be pivotally attached to a handle member and selectively detached therefrom. The retainer-delivery member has a plurality of multi-sized stepped down portions for hands-off insertion into, and frictional engagement with various dental implant components. The retainer-delivery member can retain one or more of the components for delivery to the implant site and can be manipulated for initial connection to the implant.

Abstract: A dental implant for osseointegration in alveolar bone. The implant includes at least three different and distinct surface regions.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis rotator having a flexible drive for flexibly turning a heart valve. One embodiment has a shaft constructed from elastically deformable metal alloy such as super elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Another embodiment has a shaft constructed of surgical tubing. Yet another embodiment also has an annealed stainless steel shaft which can be bent by the surgeon interoperatively. The shaft will retain its shape after bending. Surrounding the shaft is a drive coil which connects a rotator head at a proximal end of the shaft to a drive knob at a distal end of the shaft and adjacent a handle. By turning the drive knob, a surgeon can turn the rotator head, thus orienting the prosthetic heart valve. Torsional motion is carried along the path defined by the bendable shaft so that the rotator head can be turned without displacing the handle of the heart valve rotator.

Abstract: This invention relates to tanning biomaterial to obtain calcification resistant biomaterial with good mechanical properties for bioprosthetic applications. The biomaterial of the invention is obtained by tanning tissue by any method except by oxidation, and then at a later time tanning the tissue by any of the oxidative fixation methods. The process was shown to provide beneficial results with the most frequently used fixation process, which involves fixating tissue with glutaraldehyde. Tissue fixated with glutaraldehyde and then by oxidative fixation has a lower calcification potential than does glutaraldehyde-only tanned tissue and has mechanical properties more similar to glutaraldehyde tanned tissue than to oxidative stabilized tissue. In particular, a process is described where tissue is fixed with glutaraldehyde followed by photoxidation.