Abstract: Suture delivered patches adapted for interposition, augmentation or repair devices for use in tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using suture guided arthroscopic methods. The repair patches may be provided from suitable biocompatible materials. The patches may be delivered using anchored sutures already in use during a surgical repair including, open, minimally invasive, endoscopic, and arthroscopic repair procedures. Additionally, fixation of the suture delivered repair patch is secured along with the normal suture securing workflow of the one or more sutures used to deliver the patch.

Abstract: The current invention is related to the prevention and treatment of diseases including cancer, autoimmune disease, and infectious disease using CXC chemokines and the receptors to which they agonize. It has been found that certain chemokines, including CXCL4, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL12 have various effects on toll-like receptors in various cell types and these can be utilized for disease treatment and prevention.

Abstract: Suture delivered patches adapted for interposition, augmentation or repair devices for use in tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using suture guided arthroscopic methods. The repair patches may be provided from suitable biocompatible materials. The patches may be delivered using anchored sutures already in use during a surgical repair including, open, minimally invasive, endoscopic, and arthroscopic repair procedures. Additionally, fixation of the suture delivered repair patch is secured along with the normal suture securing workflow of the one or more sutures used to deliver the patch.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating motions of a joint is provided that is designed for determining stability of an anatomical joint. The apparatus includes a support frame, a fixation assembly for securing a first body segment of a joint, and a displacement assembly mounted to the support frame. The fixation assembly includes an axis of rotation moveable relative to the support frame. The displacement assembly includes a first frame pivotably mounted to the support frame and rotatably connected to a first end of the fixation assembly, and a second frame pivotably mounted to the support frame and rotatably connected to a second end of the fixation assembly.

Abstract: Suture delivered patches adapted for interposition, augmentation or repair devices for use in tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using suture guided arthroscopic methods. The repair patches may be provided from suitable biocompatible materials. The patches may be delivered using anchored sutures already in use during a surgical repair including, open, minimally invasive, endoscopic, and arthroscopic repair procedures. Additionally, fixation of the suture delivered repair patch is secured along with the normal suture securing workflow of the one or more sutures used to deliver the patch.

Abstract: Suture delivered patches adapted for interposition, augmentation or repair devices for use in tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using suture guided arthroscopic methods. The repair patches may be provided from suitable biocompatible materials. The patches may be delivered using anchored sutures already in use during a surgical repair including, open, minimally invasive, endoscopic, and arthroscopic repair procedures. Additionally, fixation of the suture delivered repair patch is secured along with the normal suture securing workflow of the one or more sutures used to deliver the patch.

Abstract: Patient specific shoulder component implant instruments are described for hemi and total, normal and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Abstract: A pelvic positioning device for stabilizing a patient while lying on their side in a lateral decubitus position. The device includes an anterior pelvic support mechanism including anterior support pads for contacting both pubic tubercles and the ASIS on one or both sides of the patient's body. In a preferred embodiment, the anterior pelvic support mechanism includes two ASIS pads. To provide additional stabilization an upper torso pad may be included proximate the sternum of the patient's rib cage. In addition, the device includes a posterior pelvic support mechanism including a telescopic vertical member and a crescent shaped posterior support pad. The posterior support pad is mounted by a collar to a free end of the telescopic vertical member so as to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane parallel with the operating table.

Abstract: A patient support device for supporting a patient at four points during back-related surgery. The device includes a generally rectangular frame having two opposing end members and two opposing side members. Two front posts are slidably mounted to one of the two end members. A travelling member is slidably mounted to both side members and may be displaced in a longitudinal direction between the two end members. Two rear posts are slidably mounted to the travelling member and may be displaced therealong, in a transverse direction between the side members. A front lead screw assembly is connected to the two front posts and allows simultaneous and opposing displacement of both front posts along the end member so that both front posts may be moved an equal distance from a center axis. Similarly, a rear lead screw assembly is connected to the two rear posts to allow simultaneous and opposing displacement of both rear posts along the travelling member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tibial prosthetic knee component. The prosthesis includes a tibial tray having a posterior rail and an anterior rail, and a tibial insert. The tibial insert has a posterior dovetailed surface matching the posterior rail in the tibial tray, and an anterior surface matching the anterior rail in the tibial tray. The posterior rail of the tibial tray and the posterior dovetailed surface of the tibial insert are curved to provide clearance for the posterior cruciate ligament. A retaining clip is provided for retaining the tibial insert in the tibial tray. The clip includes a tab which extends through the tray into the insert and a resilient holding member remains unloaded when loads are applied to the knee, reducing the likelihood of dissociation of the tray and insert.

Abstract: The present invention provides diagnostic methods for determining the severity of disease or disease activity in patients suffering from autoimmune, inflammatory, malignant, vascular, or viral diseases, which involves measuring the level of CD40 ligand (CD40L) in the patient's serum or other body fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for reducing or preventing scar tissue formation by administering an antifibrotic amount of a fluoroquinolone. Also disclosed are means for inhibiting the activity of fibroblast cells, including their proliferation, metabolism, and invasion into tissue. The invention further contemplates methods and compositions for the delivery of a fluoroquinolone to prevent or treat scar tissue formation, including oral and intravenous delivery means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying Fc.gamma.RIIIA allelic pattern in a human patient. The present invention also provides methods for determining in a human patient a predisposition to autoimmune diseases and the relative capacity of a human subject to produce anti-tumor antibodies, antibodies directed against viral or bacterial pathogen, or to mount an effective immune response to a vaccine.

Abstract: Tissue and organ repair, healing and augmentation are enhanced by administering pharmaceutically acceptable group IIIa element-containing compounds in amounts sufficient to provide therapeutic levels of the elements. Group IIIa element-containing compounds mimic the beneficial biological effects of endogenous growth factors to induce cells responsible for repair, healing and augmentation of tissues and organs. Group IIIa element-containing compounds are suitable for a variety of applications such as wound healing, bone fracture repair, treatment of dermatologic conditions and successful bonding of implanted tissue grafts and prostheses.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of obtaining antibodies specific to a population of T-lymphocytes (T cells) restricted by V.beta. gene usage. The invention also relates to the antibodies obtained and to methods of using them. According to the invention, T cells are incubated with an effective amount of a superantigen under conditions and for a time sufficient to allow division and growth of T-cells reactive to the superantigen. The incubated T-cells are injected into a mammal, and thereafter serum containing antibodies specific to the incubated and injected T-cells is removed from the mammal.

Abstract: A patella cutting clamp comprises a pair of jaw members joined together in scissors-like relation for pivotal movement relative to each other about a pivot axis intermediate their ends. Each jaw member has a handle portion extending in one direction from the pivot axis and a jaw portion extending in the other direction. The jaw portions have edges facing each other that are shaped for engagement with opposite borders of a patella. Teeth along the patella-gripping edges grip and hold the patella firmly. Saw guide slots in the jaw portions lying in a common plane guide the saw when the saw cut is made. A patella elevator member is attached to the jaw members for movement along the pivot axis and has a platform portion adapted to engage the anterior aspect of the patella. A mechanism is provided for establishing and maintaining a predetermined position of the elevator member relative to the jaw members and thereby positioning the patella at a predetermined position relative to the saw guide slots.

Abstract: A bone fracture fixation device for stabilizing a fracture of a portion of a long bone overlying or closely adjacent to a prosthetic joint component comprises a fixation plate that is held adjacent to the bone by clamps joined to it by screws. The fixation plate and clamps have spikes that penetrate partly into the bone to fix the bone to the device and stabilize the fracture but that also remain partly outside the bone and serve as spacers to hold the plate and clamps spaced apart from the bone, thereby leaving the periosteum undisturbed and preserving good blood distribution to the bone at the fracture site and hence good conditions for healing of the fracture.

Abstract: A bone prosthesis for the leg and thigh comprises a distal femoral component that includes a body portion adapted to replace a resected portion of the distal femur and a condylar portion having a spherical surface along its inferior and posterior aspects and an axle hole extending through it in the latero-medial direction at the geometric center of the sperical surface and a proximal tibial component that includes a metal head portion having a cavity opening superiorly and defined by spaced-apart lateral and medial flange portions, each of which has an axle hole. A plastic tibial plateau insert is received in the cavity of the tibial head portion and has a spherical seat matching, receiving and pivotably supporting the femoral condylar spherical surface. A plastic bushing is received in the axle hole of each tibial flange portion, and a metal axle is received in the femoral and tibial axle holes.

Abstract: An elbow joint prosthesis having a metal humeral component, the head of which has flanges forming a recess in which a U-shaped plastic insert is nested. A boss projecting anteriorly from the head portion of a metal ulnar component is received within the insert with latero-medial clearance for laxity. A tubular plastic sleeve is received in axle holes in the ulnar boss and the legs of the plastic insert, and an axle spanning the flanges of the humeral component and extending through the sleeve bore connects the ulnar component to the humeral component for articulation. Clearance between the sleeve and the axle hole of the ulnar boss provides laxity up to nominal limits, beyond which elastic deformation of plastic at contact areas of the sleeve and insert restrains rotational and angular motions under supination, pronation and varus-valgus angulation of the arm, absorbing energy in the process.

Abstract: A femoral component for a hip joint prosthesis comprises a proximal portion adapted to be received in the intertrochanteric region of a femur, a neck portion extending obliquely medially, anteriorly and superiorly from the proximal portion and adapted to be joined to a femoral head element, and a stem portion smoothly merging with and extending inferiorly from the proximal portion. The proximal portion has anterior and prosterior aspects that converge medially and inferiorly and intersect a rounded medial aspect oriented obliquely to the stem portion both anteriorly and medially, said aspects defining a generally wedge-shaped body adapted to engage the endosteal surfaces of the femur in the intertrochanteric region such that substantially all loads are transmitted from the component to the bone in the intertrochanteric region and load transfers through other surfaces are minimized.