Abstract: A surgical instrument is described which comprises an alignment guide having a first part including a distal end and a second part having a proximal end. The first part is attached to the second part by a pivot mechanism so that the first part can be tilted relative to the second part. A brace is attached toward the proximal end of the alignment guide for attaching the instrument to a limb of a patient. A component is attached toward the distal end of the alignment guide. The pivot mechanism is configured so that tilting the first part does not substantially change the separation between the component and the brace.

Abstract: A bone screw driving system includes a screw having a head and a shaft extending from the head. The screw includes a stepped opening extending in the shaft that includes a first portion and a second portion having a greater cross-sectional dimension than the first portion. The bone screw driving system further includes a screw driver having a driver shaft that defines a tip configured to engage the screw head. The driver further includes a pin extending from the tip and sized to fit within the opening. The pin includes an abutment movable to a locked configuration in the second portion of the opening, wherein the abutment defines a cross-sectional dimension greater than that of the first portion of the opening.

Abstract: A suture anchor is disclosed having an outer body with an axial bore which receives and inner body for rotation. Suture passes between the inner body and outer body and rotation of the inner body wraps the suture thereabout locking the suture thereto. Rotation of the inner body also effects radial expansion of at least a portion of the outer body to engage to anchor into a bone hole.

Abstract: A patella drill guide includes a base portion rotatably mounted on a bone-gripping component. A trial portion with a contoured articulation surface is above the base portion. The base portion and trial portion have aligned drill guide bores. The base portion and trial portion can be rotated together on the bone-gripping component to optimize the positions of the drill guide bores with respect to the patella surface, thereby optimizing the locations of the mounting pegs of the patella implant component on the patella to optimize the orientation of the patella implant component. The base and the bone-gripping component may be unitary so that the entire assembly rotates on the patella about the central longitudinal axis of the bone-gripping component.

Abstract: A trial implant assembly is provided that includes a threaded shaft having exterior threading adjacent a distal end and a trial implant that includes a trial base having an interiorly threaded through hole couplable to the distal end of the shaft and a trial head having a superior endplate and an inferior endplate and a support connecting the superior endplate to the inferior endplate. A variety of visualization windows are provided through the trial implant as well as a variety of mechanically adjustable stops to prevent over insertion of the trial head within the intervertebral disc space.

Abstract: A dilator system includes a series of sequential dilators. A first dilator has an elongated body having a major axis and a minor axis, the minor axis being substantially normal to the major axis. A second dilator has an elongated body having a major axis and a minor axis, the minor axis of the second dilator being substantially normal to the major axis of the second dilator. A bore of the second dilator is configured to matingly receive the first dilator in such a way that the major axis of the second dilator is aligned with the minor axis of the first dilator and the minor axis of the second dilator is aligned with the major axis of the first dilator.

Abstract: A hook plate assembly includes a bone plate extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end and including an upper surface facing away from a bone, a bone contacting surface, a plate hole extending therethrough from the upper surface to the bone contacting surface and a connection section arranged at the second end. The plate hole is sized and shaped to receive a bone fixation element therethrough in combination with a hook including a connecting portion configured to connect the hook to the connection section of the bone plate and a fastening element releasably coupling the hook to the bone plate.

Abstract: A perforation instrument and method of using same, including a shaft capable of being inserted into a joint of a patient, having a longitudinal axis, and carrying at least one piercing member, each piercing member having a tip suitable to pierce sub-chondral bone. The instrument is capable of being altered between an exposed condition wherein the tip of the at least one piercing member is exposed and a safety condition wherein the tip of the at least one piercing member is not capable of piercing tissue.

Abstract: An adjustable length bone screw is provided that has a shaft that can be cut at any of several predetermined positions. The adjustable length bone screws can be provided in a kit containing many bone screws having the same or different initial lengths, and these screws can be cut to the desired length for use in the surgical procedure prior to, or during, the surgical procedure. The adjustable length bone screws have a plurality of threaded shaft sections that are separated by a plurality of unthreaded shaft sections along the length of the shaft. The threaded sections have preferably at least two cutting flutes extending longitudinally along the shaft. The invention provides the adjustable length bone screws, a tool for cutting the bone screws to a desired length, kits containing the bone screws and optionally the cutting tool, and methods for using the screws and/or the cutting tool in preparation for or during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus assisting safe one-handed insertion of an implant. An implant implantation device has a frame which includes a trigger mechanism, an outer sleeve mechanically coupled to the frame, an inner shaft having a grabber for mechanically engaging an implant, the inner shaft slidably disposed within the outer sleeve, and a retaining element disposed over the inner shaft for directing the grabber toward a closed position. An implant clip has a first member, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member, a first implant holder pivotally coupled to the first member, the coupling causing the implant clip to have a closed position and an open position, and a second implant holder, the second implant holder pivotally coupled to the second member, a surface of the first implant holder and a surface of the second implant holder remaining substantially parallel to each other while the first member and the second member pivot between the closed position and the open position.

Abstract: A method and device are for attaching a bone plate to a bone includes the steps of placing a first surface of a wire insertion device against the bone, inserting a reference wire through an opening of the wire insertion device extending therethrough from the first surface of the wire insertion device to a second surface of the wire insertion device, removing the wire insertion device from the reference wire and positioning a bone plate on the bone by moving the bone plate in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the reference wire so that the reference wire is received within a slot of the bone plate, the bone plate including a first surface facing toward the bone and a second surface opposing the first surface, the slot open to a lateral side surface connecting edges of the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to a method of producing ceramic layers on magnesium and its alloys, a magnesium implant with a ceramic layer made by the method, and a magnesium implant having a biocompatible ceramic layer substantially free of material which impairs the biocompatibility of said biocompatible ceramic layer.

Abstract: A bone fixation implant is provided that includes a bone fixation plate and a plurality of fasteners. The bone fixation plate corresponds generally to stress lines imparted onto the mandible during anatomical function of the mandible. Thus, the bone fixation plate includes a primary leg and an auxiliary leg extending obliquely out from the primary leg.

Abstract: Systems and methods for registering objects with a surgical navigation system are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for registering objects with a surgical navigation system can include detecting identification information associated with an object using a sensing device coupled to a digital data processor and detecting a position-tracking array using the sensing device. The method can also include searching a digital data store coupled to the digital data processor that contains a listing of objects and associated identification information to identify an object having identification information that matches the identification information detected by the sensing device, and registering with the surgical navigation system an association between the position-tracking array and the identified object.

Abstract: An instrument for removing tissue from a bone to create a cavity consists of an approximately spherical body having cutting formations in its external surface for cutting a bone. The body has a connector by which it can be connected to a drive by which it can be rotated about an axis, and a recess at the pole, opposite the connector. When the instrument is applied to the surface of a bone and is rotated about its axis, bone is cut as a result of the action of the formations against the bone, and a circular region of bone adjacent to the polar recess in the body remains generally intact.

Abstract: An implant for use in orthognathic surgery of a maxilla may include a longitudinal plate member and a plurality of pre-shaped fingers extending from an upper edge of the plate member. The longitudinal plate member is pre-shaped to correspond to the pre-operative shape of the maxilla; and the fingers are pre-shaped to correspond to the shape of the maxilla. The fingers may be pre-shaped to correspond to either the pre-operative shape or the post-operative shape of the maxilla.

Abstract: A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on an acetabulum of a patient includes the steps of securing an acetabular shell component to an acetabulum of a patient and securing a first insert to an acetabular shell component configured to be implanted within an acetabulum of a patient. The method further includes the steps of securing a second insert to the first insert such that the outer surface of the second insert contacts the inner surface of the first insert and securing a femoral head configured to be secured to a femoral stem to the second insert such that the outer surface of the femoral head contacts the inner surface of the second insert.

Abstract: An arthroplasty plate and method of use to repair a fractured end of a bone are described. The arthroplasty plate comprises a fixation plate (2) arranged to be secured to a surface of a bone and a connector assembly (6) comprising a barrel (18) extending from the fixation plate and having a bore which opens through the fixation plate. A connector rod (22) is arranged to slide within the bore of the barrel. An articulation component (4) comprises a bearing surface coupled to or arranged to couple to an end of the connector rod which extends from the barrel away from the fixation plate. The connector assembly incorporates an adjustment mechanism (24) arranged to cause the connector rod to slide into or out of the barrel and a locking mechanism (26) arranged to lock the position of the connector rod within the barrel to rigidly space the articulation component apart from the fixation plate.