Abstract: A spatial frame for positioning a first element or the like relative to a second element or the like.

Abstract: An improved fracture fixation device for securing an external fixator system to bone structure and for compressing a first bone fragment of the bone structure against a second bone fragment of the bone structure. The fracture fixation device includes a screw portion for screwing into the first bone fragment; a bone engagement portion for engaging the second bone fragment and for coacting with the screw portion to compress the first bone fragment against the second bone fragment when the screw portion is screwed into the first bone fragment and the engagement portion engages the second bone fragment; and a attachment portion for attaching the engagement portion to the external fixator system.

Abstract: Ventricular assist devices fabricated from low-modulus Ti--Nb--Zr alloys to provide enhanced biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The ventricular assist devices may be surface hardened by oxygen or nitrogen diffusion or by coating with a tightly adherent, hard, wear-resistant, hemocompatible ceramic coating. It is contemplated that the Ti--Nb--Zr alloy can be substituted as a fabrication material for any portion of a ventricular assist device that either comes into contact with blood thereby demanding high levels of hemocompatibility, or that is subject to microfretting, corrosion, or other wear and so that a low modulus metal with a corrosion-resistant, hardened surface would be desirable.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's proximal tibia with a surgical saw and cutting instrumentation is disclosed. The method of the present invention prepares the patient's proximal tibial to receive a tibial implant. The patient's intramedullary canal is first reamed and then an intramedullary rod is placed in the intramedullary canal as a reference. A first cutting instrument is bound on the rod above the patient's proximal tibia. The first cutting instrument includes a stylus that is used to set the depth of cut by referencing the top of the proximal tibia. The proximal tibia is then transversely cut with the saw by tracking the first cutting guide surfaces with the saw. The first cutting instrument is removed together with its stylus. A secondary cutting instrument is then placed on the rod above the proximal tibia. The second cutting instrument has a cutter at its center for cutting longitudinally into the proximal tibia.

Abstract: An implant and method for use in reattaching a removed bone section following bone surgery by using a bone engaging clamp adapted to fit over the outer surface of the removed bone section and engage cables to attach the removed bone to the desired location. The bone engaging clamp is adapted to fit over at least a portion of the outer surface of the removed bone section and has an inner surface for engaging the bone section. Further, the bone engaging clamp has at least one through bore for holding a cable; and at least one associated screw for clamping a tensioned cable in a fixed position relative to the bone engaging clamp to hold the removed bone section securely in place at the point of reattachment.

Abstract: An improved connector for an external skeletal fixation system of the type including a first elongated bar having a longitudinal axis and a non-circular cross section and including a second elongated bar having a longitudinal axis. The connector includes a body having a first aperture therethrough for receiving the first elongated bar and having a second aperture therethrough for receiving the second elongated bar. The first aperture has a cross section that is at least partly congruent with the cross section of the first elongated bar for receiving the first elongated bar and for preventing rotation of the first elongated bar about the longitudinal axis of the first elongated bar.

Abstract: Stents fabricated from a substrate of a low modulus metal coated with blue to black zirconium oxide or zirconium nitride. The coating provides enhanced thrombogenicity, biocompatibility, blood compatibility, corrosion-resistance, friction and microfretting resistance, durability, and electrical insulation, where applicable. The coatings may be applied to low modulus metallic substrates by physical or chemical vapor deposition as well as other ion-beam assisted methods. Preferably, however, for optimizing attachment strength, the stents are fabricated from zirconium or zirconium-containing alloys and the coatings are formed by oxidizing or nitriding through an in situ method that develops a coating from and on the metal surface of the stent, without need for depositing a coating on the metal surface.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's proximal tibia with a surgical saw and cutting instrumentation is disclosed. The method of the present invention prepares the patient's proximal tibial to receive a tibial implant. The patient's intramedullary canal is first reamed and then an intramedullary rod is placed in the intramedullary canal as a reference. A first cutting instrument is bound on the rod above the patient's proximal tibia. The first cutting instrument includes a stylus that is used to set the depth of cut by referencing the top of the proximal tibia. The proximal tibia is then transversely cut with the saw by tracking the first cutting guide surfaces with the saw. The first cutting instrument is removed together with its stylus. A secondary cutting instrument is then placed on the rod above the proximal tibia. The second cutting instrument has a cutter at its center for cutting longitudinally into the proximal tibia.

Abstract: A surgical, orthopaedic cable attachment apparatus and method for the surgical repair or fusion of orthopaedic anatomical structures is constructed from a length of flexible cable formed of a braided polymeric material having a first and second end portion. A first loop is formed in the first end portion of the cable with a second loop is formed, being placed around or through the bone parts to be tied. After the second loop is place around the selected bone parts, the free cable end is passed through the first loop and pulled tight to define a tightened position. The free cable end can have a needle. The free end is then secured to the cable by splicing for example, to hold the cable in the tightened position.

Abstract: A tibial prosthesis includes a tibial tray and a post extending therefrom for receiving one or more modular stems of differing sizes. The stem provides a closed socket that registers with the post. A wedge lock fit tightens the stem to the post upon assembly. The stem has a cylindrical section and a tapering section. Fins extend longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end of the stem, tracking both the cylindrical and tapering portion thereof so that each of the fins tracks a uniform diameter section of the stem for a majority of its length. The tapering section of the stem is equal to about one third of its over all length, and defines the distal end of the stem. The fins are longitudinally placed about the stem exterior surface, and are generally parallel. Between the fins are U-shaped channels that are similarly longitudinally extending and generally parallel. The stem provides a central longitudinal axis. The fins and channels are parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the stem.

Abstract: A surgical guide rod holder is provided for holding guide rods, surgical pins, bone pins, trochars and the like during orthopedic surgery procedures. The apparatus has a frame with a handle and a barrel. The barrel has two spaced apart supports that hold the pin or rod. A multi-link assembly is operated by a trigger. The multi-link assembly moves between gripping and releasing positions when the surgeon rotates the trigger. The multi-link assembly includes a link member that presses laterally against the pin or rod during gripping, forcing the pin against the barrel. A turnbuckle adjusts the multi-link assembly to provide greater/lesser "bite" for holding the rod or pin, or for allowing holding of pins of different sizes.

Abstract: The method of implanting a femoral and a tibial knee prosthesis and instruments for surgically implanting the femoral and tibial prosthesis component as disclosed. The method includes the formation of a plurality of surgical cuts on the patient's distal femur. A trial tibial prosthesis is then fitted to the surgically prepared distal femur. The trial prosthesis has a femoral articulating surface and a non-articulating surface that fits the patient's distal femur at the surgical cuts. A surgeon then forms a transverse cut on the patient's proximal tibia. The surgeon places a tibial trial prosthesis on the patient's proximal tibia, the trial prosthesis including a tibial trial stem that fits the patient's intramedullary canal, a tibial trial metallic tray or plate, and a plastic trial insert that fits the tibial tray or plate. The plastic insert includes a tibial articulating surface that can articulate with the femoral articulating surface.

Abstract: An external fixator for securing two or more bone elements. The external fixator includes an elongated bar; a first carriage for mounting on the bar and for securement to a first bone element; a second carriage for mounting on the bar and for securement to a second bone element; and a drive mechanism for driving the first and second carriages along the length of the bar independent of one another.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis for surgical implantation to a patient's leg bone at the knee joint area includes a prothesis body portion that extends transversely relative to the patient's intramedullary canal for carrying a bearing surface that articulates with the patient's adjacent leg bone or with another prosthesis component. A conical connector extends from the prosthesis portion and along an axis that generally tracks the patient's intramedullary canal. A stem member includes first and second end portions and has a central longitudinal stem axis. The stem member includes a socket at each end portion for forming connections to the conical connector at the respective end portions as selected by the surgeon. One of the sockets has a central longitudinal axis that generally coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the stem. The other socket has a central longitudinal axis that forms an acute angle with the axis of the stem.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone bolt and bone plate construct comprising a bone plate member and a series of fasteners. The bone plate member has at least one open portions, with the open portions allowing placement of a series of fasteners therethrough at spaced apart positions along a length of the open portions. The series of fasteners are attachable to the plate member at the open portions, with at least one of the fasteners including a multi-angle fastener having a pair of fastener sections configured to be angled relative to one another. The multi-angle fastener comprising; an upper section having a central longitudinal axis and an outer surface; a lower section having a central longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a threaded portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's bone tissue and a joint for connecting the upper and lower sections together.

Abstract: Guide wires fabricated from a core or substrate of a low modulus metal coated with blue to black zirconium oxide or zirconium nitride. The coating provides enhanced thrombogenicity, biocompatibility, blood compatibility, corrosion-resistance, friction and microfretting resistance, durability, and electrical insulation, where applicable. The coatings may be applied to low modulus metallic substrates by physical or chemical vapor deposition as well as other ion-beam assisted methods. Preferably, however, for optimizing attachment strength, the guide wires are fabricated from zirconium or zirconium-containing alloys and the coatings are formed by oxidizing or nitriding through an in situ method that develops a coating from and on the metal surface of the implant or instrument, without need for depositing a coating on the metal surface.

Abstract: A method for percutaneous fixation of a pair of vertebrae of a patient, which comprises posterolaterally entering the back of a patient percutaneously with a plurality of pedicle screws, screwing each pedicle screw into the medullary canal of the pedicles of adjacent thoracic and/or lumbar vertebrae or the pedicles of the L5 and S1 vertebrae, to a position where the proximal end thereof lies adjacent the fascia of the patient; inserting pedicle screw linkages under the skin of the back of the patient and detachably securing the linkage means to the proximal ends of the screws on the same side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae to restrict relative movement between the vertebrae. A kit is provided for percutaneous fixation of vertebrae of a patient, comprising a plurality of pedicle screws of different sizes, yet of a size to enable the distal end of each screw to be screwed into the medullary canal of a pedicle of a vertebra with the proximal end thereof lying adjacent the fascia of a patient.

Abstract: Polymeric medical fixation screws with multiple cannulations and thereby a reduced risk of shearing while being torqued into place are provided. The polymeric screws have at least two cannulae, on either side of a central longitudinal axis of the screw, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. Torquing instruments are inserted into the cannulae so that the applied torque force for driving the screws into a bone hole is distributed along the shaft of the screw. In one embodiment, the invention provides interference screws, while in other embodiments the invention provides medical fixation screws with heads and soft tissue-to-bone anchors or suture anchors. The polymeric screws may be fabricated from virtually any suitable biocompatible polymers or composites, including bioabsorbable polymers and their composites.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's proximal tibia with a surgical saw and cutting instrumentation is disclosed. The method of the present invention prepares the patient's proximal tibial to receive a tibial implant. The patient's intramedullary canal is first reamed and then an intramedullary rod is placed in the intramedullary canal as a reference. A first cutting instrument is bound on the rod above the patient's proximal tibia. The first cutting instrument includes a stylus that is used to set the depth of cut by referencing the top of the proximal tibia. The proximal tibia is then transversely cut with the saw by tracking the first cutting guide surfaces with the saw. The first cutting instrument is removed together with its stylus. A secondary cutting instrument is then placed on the rod above the proximal tibia. The second cutting instrument has a cutter at its center for cutting longitudinally into the proximal tibia.