Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting tissue. In one exemplary embodiment, a retractor is provided that includes a base, a plurality of blades extending from the base, and an actuator coupled to the base and operatively connected to the blades. The actuator can be configured to be actuated to move the blades relative to the base, thereby allowing the blades to retract tissue. The actuator can be self-locking so as to allow the blades to be freely movable within their entire range of motion relative to the base through actuation of the actuator without using another mechanism to lock the blades in a fixed position and to unlock the blades from the fixed position. The retractor can be formed from one or more radiolucent materials.

Abstract: A bone plate has an underside on the side of the bone, an upper side and a plurality of holes in the plate connecting the underside with the upper side, with a central hole axis. At least one of these holes in the plate has an internal jacket surface that tapers towards the underside, while the internal jacket surface has N?3 recesses which extend radially away from the axis of the hole.

Abstract: An assembly comprising an expandable corpectomy cage and an insertion instrument, wherein the expandable cage comprises an instrument attachment features, including mating holes on the sides of the outer sleeve, and a ball-shaped pocket on the endplate of the inner sleeve, and the insertion instrument features a tuning-fork shaped holder, which attaches to the mating holes on the implant's outer sleeve using small bosses which mate with the holes under the spring tension of the fork, and a lever with a spherical end that mates with the ball-shaped pocket in the inner sleeve endplate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to injecting a high specificity cytokine antagonist into a diseased intervertebral disc.

Abstract: In an insertion instrument for a three-piece intervertebral implant that includes an upper part that can be placed against a vertebra, a lower part that can be placed against the adjacent vertebra, and a pivot element that can be inserted between these two parts, the instrument having two arms, disposed side by side and supported pivotably relative to one another on one end, which at their free ends each have one retention device for the upper part and lower part, respectively, of the intervertebral implant, it is proposed that a longitudinal guide for the pivot element is disposed in one of the arms.

Abstract: A sternum fixation device for securing parts of a sternum includes first and second removably associated plates. The first plate has an upper surface and a sternum contacting surface, and at least one hole passing through both of these surfaces for receiving a fastener head. The second plate has at least one attachment member for fixation to the sternum. A release member holds the first and second plates together, and is movably associated with at least one of the first and second plates such that it may be moved to allow separation of the two parts of the sternum.

Abstract: A method of forming and the resulting membrane composition for securement to a patient's bone or tissue to reduce the formation of tissue adhesions following a surgical procedure comprises a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a hydrogel including at least one crosslinked polymer. The second component comprises a textile component. The composition has a thickness between about two tenths of a millimeter (0.2 mm) to about six tenths of a millimeter (0.6 mm), a suture retention strength between about one Newton (1 N) to about thirteen Newtons (13 N), a static coefficient of friction between about one hundredth (0.01) and about one-half (0.5), a kinetic coefficient of friction between about one hundredth (0.01) and about one-half (0.5) and a flexibility of less than thirty millimeters (30 mm) bend length. A method of reducing the occurrence of tissue adhesions following surgery comprises applying the membrane composition to a surgical site.

Abstract: A system for preparing an implant for implantation includes a trial implant including a first dialable component and a datum, a final implant including a second dialable component, and an instrument including (i) a base assembly configured to support the trial implant so that the datum is in a predetermined orientation, (ii) a fixture supported on the base assembly, the fixture including a domed element, and an alignment tool configured to engage the first dialable component when the trial implant is supported by said base assembly, and (iii) a locking assembly including a guide member defining a spherical surface for nested engagement with said domed element, the locking assembly configured to record the angular orientation of said alignment tool relative to said fixture with said alignment tool engaged with the first dialable component, and to replicate the recorded angular orientation with the alignment tool and a second dialable component.

Abstract: A burr attachment removably attached to an adapter rotary driven by a motor that includes a tube with a wire shaft supported therein and a wire coil (no spring rate) serving as a journal bearing rotary supporting the wire shaft and having each of the coils randomly touch the outer periphery surface of the wire shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the tube to enhance cooling and attenuate vibrations while allowing the burr attachment to be bent without kinking. The burr attachment includes a proximal end support and a distal end support that removably attaches to the adapter. The wire shaft is affixed to the proximal end support and rotates relative to the distal end support operatively connected to the adapter. Only the burr attached is removable and disposable while the adapter and motor are re-usable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a joining element (10), especially a suture material for surgical use. The joining element (10) is composed of a first material (12) that is essentially rigid during impingement by a relatively short-lasting tensile load on opposite sides as well as a second material (11) which is connected to the first material. The second material is substantially rigid during impingement by said tensile load on opposite sides while contracting slowly during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A flexible metal wire coil is formed with a twisted coil pattern, by forming a primary coil on a special mandrel formed from two or more strands of material twisted helically about a longitudinal axis to have a helical shape. The primary coil wire is wound around the mandrel to give the primary coil a twisted shape corresponding to the helical shape of the mandrel.

Abstract: Provided are methods for processing a green body that includes compacted metal powder, comprising impacting the green body with a particulate material for a time and under conditions effective to displace a portion of the metal powder from the green body. The present methods can be used to prepare green bodies that have “roughened” surfaces and that can be used to make orthopedic implants displaying low movement relative to bone when installed in situ, which corresponds to higher stability upon implantation and decreases the time required for biological fixation of the implant. Also provided are implants comprising a metallic matrix, and methods comprising surgically installing an implant prepared from a “surface roughened” green body in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: Devices and methods useful for non-invasively measuring and indicating a rate of fluid flow are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor housing adapted to received fluid flow therethrough is provided. A radio frequency tag and a masking element can be disposed in the sensor housing. The masking element and the radio frequency tag can be configured to move relative to one another. The relative positions or movement can alter the response of the radio frequency tag to a wireless signal (which can be emitted from an external reading device, for example) and thereby indicate a rate of fluid flowing through the housing. For example, in some embodiments, the masking element can selectively cover at least part of the radio frequency tag in correspondence to the flow rate, which can change a characteristic of the radio frequency tag's response to the wireless signal.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for connecting spinal fixation elements, such as spinal rods, implanted in a patient's spinal column. In particular, various spinal cross connectors are provided for connecting to one or more spinal fixation elements implanted in a patient's spine. The cross connectors can have a variety of configurations, including a fixed or adjustable length, as well as various features that allow certain portions of the cross connectors to be angularly oriented.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for a spinal fixation system that is particularly useful in treatment of pediatric and small-statured patients includes a fastener, an attachment member, and a locking member. The fastener has a lower portion for contacting a bone and an upper portion integral with the lower portion. The upper portion has two open channels. Each channel is configured and dimensioned to receive a portion of a longitudinal or connecting member along its circumference. The attachment member is positionable on the fastener and at least partially covers the channel that receives the longitudinal or connecting member. The locking member is operatively associated with the upper portion of the fastener and secures the attachment member and the longitudinal or connecting member to the fastener.

Abstract: A device for holding a surgical instrument having a body, an instrument engagement device and a knob. The body has a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway positioned through the body. The instrument engagement device is positioned in the passageway and has at least two prongs moveable relative to each other to hold the surgical instrument therebetween. The knob is preferably positioned on the proximal end of the body and operatively associated with the at least two prongs so that movement of the knob causes movement of the prongs. The prongs may further include at least one ridge for engaging at least one slot on the surgical instrument. The knob may further comprise a cap at its proximal end positioned and designed for impact, for example, by a hammer, to facilitate movement of the surgical instrument into the patient. The knob may also include a locking mechanism to fix the position of the prongs.

Abstract: Expandable dilators, dilation assemblies, and kits are disclosed, along with methods for using same.

Abstract: A system, method, and device for monitoring implant sensor data over a cellular network includes a portable computing device, a controller, and an orthopaedic prosthesis configured to communicate with the controller over the cellular network. The orthopaedic prosthesis includes one or more implant sensors configured to generate implant sensor data and a cellular transmitter or transceiver configured to transmit the implant sensor data to the controller over the cellular network. The controller or the orthopaedic prosthesis may initiate the cellular communication. The implant sensor data is transmitted to the portable computing device by the controller. The portable computing device is configured to display the implant sensor data, or indicia thereof, to a user. The portable computing device and controller may also be used to update one or more programs executed by the orthopaedic prosthesis.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for implanting a motion segment repair system. In particular, exemplary methods and devices are provided for implanting a spinal disc implant and/or a PDS device using a posterior surgical approach, including methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae using a posterior surgical approach, methods and devices for posteriorly introducing a spinal implant into a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, and methods and devices for coupling a PDS device to the adjacent vertebrae to provide a complete motion segment repair system that is implanted using a posterior surgical approach.

Abstract: The present application discloses embodiments related to an external bone fixation device configured to correct bone deformities or repair bone injuries. The device can include a plurality of bases configured to be attached to portions of a bone and a plurality of struts configured to be adjustable in length to change the position and orientation of the plurality of bases and the attached bone portions.