Abstract: A rod reducer can comprise a reducing mechanism, a hinge mechanism, a handle mechanism and a bearing mechanism. The reducing mechanism can comprise a first elongate member extending along an axis to engage a bone anchor, and a second elongate member configured to slide along the first elongate member to engage a rod. The hinge mechanism can slidably couple the first and second elongate members such that the elongate members can translate against each other. The handle mechanism can comprise handles coupled to the hinge mechanism and configured to cause the first and second elongate members to translate relative to each other. The beating mechanism can be configured to permit the handles to rotate about the axis independent of the elongate members. Methods of using the rotating rod reducer can include rotating the handles out of the way of adjacent levels of a spinal column being simultaneously reduced.

Abstract: A prosthetic assembly is provided. The prosthetic assembly comprises: a tibial tray having a medial retaining bracket, a lateral retaining bracket and a substantially centrally disposed boss, a medial bearing, a lateral bearing and a retention clip having a pair or arms which engage opposite sides of the boss and trap the medial lateral bearings, against the medial and lateral retaining brackets, respectively. A method of securing bearing components to a prosthetic assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary mill comprising a body portion having a milling surface for milling a first bone, a guide portion having a guide body, and inter-engageable guide formations formed on the body portion and guide portion, the guide body having a projection which is adapted to hold a second bone away from the rotary mill during the milling operation.

Abstract: A method of determining an optimal position of a glenoid implant. The method includes identifying a center point of a patient's glenoid fossa based on an image of the patient's glenoid fossa; determining the optimal position of the glenoid implant based on the location of the center point relative to a medial point of the patient's scapula; and selecting orientation of an alignment pin based on the determined optimal glenoid implant position such that the glenoid fossa will be prepared to receive the glenoid implant at the optimal position when the glenoid fossa is prepared with a cutting device or guide coupled to the alignment pin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.

Abstract: A system that can be used in a knee replacement procedure can include a tibial cut guide and an alignment guide. The tibial cut guide can have a first guide portion coupled to and adjustable relative to a second guide portion. The first guide portion can be configured to define a sagittal cut slot and a proximal cut slot. The alignment guide configured for extramedullary mounting to the patient and configured to couple with the second guide portion of the tibial cut guide, the alignment guide having a first mechanism and a second mechanism of differing construction, the first mechanism and the second mechanism are both configured to be actuated to facilitate extension and retraction of the alignment guide to position the tibial cut guide in a desired proximal-distal location relative a tibia of a patient when the tibial cut guide and the alignment guide are assembled together.

Abstract: Various implant analogs and dental modeling techniques are disclosed herein. The implant analogs are versatile and can be used in traditional modeling techniques or in rapid-prototyping techniques for producing dental models.

Abstract: A method of coupling a first portion of an anatomy to a second portion of the anatomy includes coupling first and second bones of the anatomy with a bone-tendon-bone implant. The bone-tendon-bone implant has a first bone end, a second bone end and a replacement tendon between the first and second bone ends. The first and second bone ends are positioned in corresponding first and second bores of the first and second bones. The first bone end is secured to the first bone with a first bone anchor. A second anchor coupled to the bone-tendon-bone implant is passed through and outside the second bore. The second anchor is coupled to an adjustable suture construct having two adjustable suture loops. Tensioning at least one of first and second ends of the adjustable suture construct tensions the replacement tendon and positions the first bone relative to the second bone.

Abstract: A suture construction and method for forming a suture construction is disclosed. The construction utilizes a suture having an enlarged central body portion defining a longitudinal passage. First and second ends of the suture are passed through first and second apertures associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes constriction of the longitudinal passage, thus preventing relative motions of the captured portions of the suture.

Abstract: A method for preparing a backup kit for a plurality of patient-specific arthroplasty procedures scheduled at the same medical facility includes providing a database with data from completed arthroplasty procedures using patient-specific arthroplasty kits. The database includes comparisons between preoperatively planned implant size and intraoperatively implanted implant size. The method includes determining a statistically expected implant size deviation from a planned implant size for each implant included in a plurality of patient-specific arthroplasty kits prepared for a shipment to the medical facility using the database. A backup kit of backup implants is assembled for the shipment. The number and size of the backup implants is determined from the statistically expected implant size deviations.

Abstract: Implementations described herein include surgical distraction devices having a distal movement assembly having a pusher plate comprising a first slot extending along a first axis disposed in a first side and a second slot extending along a second axis disposed in a second side thereof. The first axis is oriented at an angle of from about 60 to about 160 degrees from the second axis. The device further includes a first and second paddles, each paddle having a corresponding engagement mechanism for movably coupling the respective first or second paddle to the pusher plate when engaged in the respective slot. Rotational actuation of the proximal drive assembly causes proximal or distal movement of the pusher plate, causing the first and second engagement members to move relative to their respective slots, thereby moving the first paddle and the second paddle in opposing directions. Methods of using such surgical distraction devices to determine size of an intervertebral space are also described.

Abstract: A ligament assembly (2) comprising a resilient element (20) connected to a bone anchor (4) and a ligament (18), the resilient element (20) acting m a cantilever and resisting toads transmitted between the bone anchor (4) and the ligament (18) by virtue of the resistance to bending of the resilient element. The ligament (18) may comprise an artificial ligament (18) which is adapted to replace a human or animal ligament. The resilient element (20) may comprise a spiral spring and may act as a biasing element/shock absorber operatively coupled to the artificial ligament (18) to control the effective stiffness of the artificial ligament (18). Consequently, the resilient element (20) enables an effective stiffness of the artificial ligament (18) to be achieved that more closely approximates the stiffness of a natural ligament.

Abstract: Drill bits for cutting bones adjacent to soft tissue are disclosed. According to one example, the drill bit includes a working portion having a top cutting surface including a first top cutting surface and a second top cutting surface. The second stop cutting surface has an angle with respect to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill bit that is less than an angle with respect to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill bit of the first top cutting surface.

Abstract: An anchor assembly can be couplable to a bone and can include an anchor and a housing. The anchor can include a shank securable to bone and a head coupled to a proximal portion of the shank. The housing can include a proximal portion including an anchor bore and a distal portion including a secondary bore configured to engage the anchor to limit angulation of the anchor relative to the housing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for repairing a tear in soft tissue are disclosed. A method according to the principles of the present disclosure includes connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor and placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue. The method further includes inserting a first suture through the intermediate member and the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the soft tissue and fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

Abstract: The present teachings provide one or more surgical implements for repairing damaged tissue, such as through a fixation procedure. A system for a percutaneous procedure is provided. The system can include a bone fastener including a receiver. The system can include a device having a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The first end, middle portion and second end can be disposed along a longitudinal axis, and the second end can be connected to the receiver. The middle portion can have a pair of deformable leg members extending between the first and second ends. The leg members can define a channel having a width. The leg members can be selectively movable between a retracted state and an expanded state with the width of the channel greater in the expanded state than in the retracted state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for femoral medial condyle spherical center identification and tracking are described herein. Once the spherical center of the medial condyle is identified, the spherical center is tracked using a pin or internal reference. The spherical center may be used to provide a key kinematic motion reference, such as when the medial condyle is adjusted during a surgical procedure. The tracking may be used to provide optical tracking, inertial tracking, or other tracking. In contrast with surface-mounted optical trackers, the spherical center tracking is not lost during resection (e.g., removal) of a bone surface. Tracking the medial condyle spherical center may reduce or eliminate the need for a surface-mounted optical tracker or preoperative 3-D modeling or of the joint.

Abstract: In a bone cement mixing and delivery device, a plug can be removably disposable in an injection passage of a cylindrical container. A mixing screw can rotate in a chamber of the container and has a screw thread extending along an outer surface of the mixing screw as well as a return passage extending through the mixing screw from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. In a mixing mode of the device, a mixing rod engages and rotates the mixing screw about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical container causing material disposed in the chamber to be moved distally and return to the proximal end of the chamber through the return passage of the mixing screw. In an injection mode of the device, the plug can be removed from the injection passage and an injection rod occludes the return passage of the mixing screw.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for a shoulder joint includes a patient-specific alignment guide. The alignment guide includes a cap having a three-dimensional engagement surface customized in a pre-operative plan by computer imaging to be complementary and closely mate and conform to a humeral head of a proximal humerus of a patient. The alignment guide includes a tubular element extending from the cap and defining a longitudinal guiding bore for guiding an alignment pin at a patient-specific position and orientation determined in the pre-operative plan, and an orientation feature on the cap. The orientation feature is designed to orient the cap relative to the humeral head when the orientation feature is aligned with a landmark of the proximal humerus.

Abstract: A bone or tissue repair device can deploy first and second anchors from a distal end of a bore of a needle. A cylindrical first anchor can be disposed in the bore proximal to a distal end of the bore. A cylindrical second anchor can be disposed in the bore proximal to the first anchor. A pusher wire can include teeth positioned at a distal end of the pusher wire. The pusher wire and teeth can be configured to engage an interior of the first anchor; advance distally, with respect to the needle, to force the first anchor distally out of the bore; retract proximally, with respect to the needle and the second anchor, to position the teeth inside an interior of the second anchor; engage the interior of the second anchor; and advance distally, with respect to the needle, to force the second anchor distally out of the bore.