Abstract: A modular hip prosthesis can be custom fitted to a particular patient by a surgeon prior to surgical insertion. The prosthesis features a body having a neck portion for carrying a rounded head element, a transitional mid-section of the prosthesis body includes generally rectangular and generally rounded cross-sectional areas, and a stem section has a generally rounded cross-sectional area. The stem is tapered to receive a tubular extension sleeve with a hollowed portion corresponding in shape to the stem portion of the prosthesis. The tubular extension sleeve has an open end portion receptive of the lower tapering stem of the prosthesis body. The stem portion includes an internal bore, and an attachment in the form of an elongated screw is provided for connection to the stem internal bore for securing the extension sleeve and the prosthesis body together, forming a compressive sealed connection therebetween.

Abstract: A dynamic joint support having proximal and distal support sections and means for rigidly connecting each support section to bone and a pair of hinges connecting each support section to each other and pivoting at the joint to cause movement of the support section and its corresponding attached bone through the movements of flexion and extension. The hinge may be driven in its movement by a gear mechanism which may be disengaged by means of a clutch. The dynamic joint support may also include a distraction mechanism for movement of the bones out of contact in the joint, while allowing for an active range of motion at the joint.

Abstract: Improved femoral instrumentation for long stem surgery provides a femoral drill guide with interchangeable femoral collets, a femoral reamer, and a femoral anterior/posterior cutting block with an adaptable anterior femoral ledge. This instrumentation allows all cuts to be made relative to the long stem component of a femoral prosthesis which will fit in the hole formed by the reamer with the collet and cutting block both oriented on the reamer, and all cuts made by the surgeon will be oriented relative to the long stem or spike component of the femoral prosthesis.

Abstract: Apparatus for the fixation of bone fractures and the correction of congenital deformities uses an improved adjustment device that allows selective rotation or lateral translation of one external fixation ring with respect to other external fixation rings. The adjustment device attaches to a pair of first and second tie rod sections and shifts the first tie rod section with respect to the second tie rod section during adjustment. The adjustment device has a lateral slot that defines the path of movement for one of the translating tie rod sections. A travelling block connected to the moving tie rod section tracks the slot during use.

Abstract: A fixation device for fastening a medical implant to a patient'3 s bone is provided which includes a fastener with a head member and a shank and a fixation member. The shank has threads along its whole length, and has an outside diameter greater than the width of the head member. The fixation member includes a bore for receiving the fastener. The bore has a diameter intermediate the width of the head member and the outside diameter of the threads of the shank. The head member of the fastener can thus be inserted into the bore such that the uppermost thread abuts against the underside of the fixation member to prevent the fastener from backing out.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the fixation of bone fractures, limb lengthening, and the correction of deformities uses an improved composite plastic carbon fiber ring that is formed in a mold, or machined with a stepped end portion that allows half rings to be assembled in a common plane. The method can use a mold wherein multiple rings can be formed by stacking the rings with a Teflon layer therebetween and wherein circumferential braid reinforcement of carbon fiber adds strength at the circumferential inner and outer curved surfaces of the rings and half rings.

Abstract: Improved femoral instrumentation for long stem surgery provides a femoral drill guide with interchangeable femoral collets, a femoral reamer, and a femoral anterior/posterior cutting block with an adaptable anterior femoral ledge. This instrumentation allows all cuts to be made relative to the long stem component of a femoral prosthesis which will fit in the hole formed by the reamer with the collet and cutting block both oriented on the reamer, and all cuts made by the surgeon will be oriented relative to the long stem or spike component of the femoral prosthesis.

Abstract: A permanent middle ear vent tube and method for permanent ventilation of the middle ear include implanting a tube with a tubular base portion have at one end an eccentric flange and formed of a non-compressible material. The tube is implanted in a notch drilled into the bony canal wall and rotating the tube into place.

Abstract: The invention provides biocompatible, corrosion-resistant prostheses and methods for producing these. A coating comprising a bismaleimide-triazine resin, a biocompatible plasticizer and optionally a thickener is applied to a prosthesis substrate and the resin is cured to provide a tightly adherent, biocompatible, corrosion-resistant coating. Radio-opaque materials, such as barium sulfate, may be included in the coating as well as bone ingrowth materials such as hydroxyapatite.

Abstract: A plurality of various shaped wedges, each wedge having an upper and lower face, each face including a plurality of spaced aligned protrusions adapted to engage a plurality of channels formed in the under surface of the tibial base, the protrusions registering with the channels to allow positioning of the wedge relative to the shape of the tibial component in various positions along the edge of the component, so that the plurality of wedges may be positioned to align themselves with the edge of the tibial component, and therefore in addition to providing a spacer between the bone and the undersurface of the component, to be secured within the same confined area as the component.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for preparing the femur of a patient with a rotary mill to receive a femoral hip prosthesis includes a V-shaped guide body having a lower end base portion adapted to extend into the intermedullary canal of the femur and an upper end portion comprised of at least two spaced apart struts so that the overall guide body had a configuration substantially the same as the prosthesis body sought to be implanted in the patient. The lower end of the guide body base provides one or more hemispherical receptacles for holding the hemispherical end portion of a spinning mill bit. A preferably removable transverse guide rail has connection pins at one end portion thereof for forming a connection with the upper end of the guide body at one of the struts, the arm having a curved surface that is adapted to guide the mill bit during preparation of the intermedullary canal of the patient's femur for receiving a hip prosthesis thereafter.

Abstract: An intramedullary hip screw is provided which includes an intramedullary rod, a lag screw and a sleeve for slidably receiving the lag screw. The sleeve is received in a passage in the intramedullary rod having an axis positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the intramedullary rod such that the axis of the sleeve is directed toward the head of the femur. The intramedullary hip screw of the present invention permits sliding compression of selected fractures, particularly intertrochanteric fractures and fractures of the femoral neck.

Abstract: A medical drill or pin adapter which is X-ray transparent for aligning a drill bit or pin with an internal line of sight during a surgical procedure utilizes gears mounted within a housing. A drive source engages with the drill adapter rod which in turn rotates, via the gears, a drill bit or pin which is held by the adapter. The drive source is located and oriented out of a line of sight of the direction of the drill bit or pin. The housing, gears and the bit holder for holding the drill bit or pin are formed of X-ray transparent material.The medical drill or pin adapter can be used in a medical X-ray system for aligning a drill bit or pin with an internal line of sight during a surgical procedure. The system includes an X-ray generating source for creating an X-ray field and an imaging monitor for observing an internal configuration in a patient's body within the X-ray field.

Abstract: A modular hip prosthesis can be custom fitted to a particular patient by a surgeon prior to surgical insertion. The prosthesis features a body having a neck portion for carrying a rounded head element, a transitional mid-section of the prosthesis body includes generally rectangular and generally rounded cross-sectional areas, and a stem section has a generally rounded cross-sectional area. The stem is tapered to receive a tubular extension sleeve with a hollowed portion corresponding in shape to the stem portion of the prosthesis. The tubular extension sleeve has an open end portion receptive of the lower tapering stem of the prosthesis body. The stem portion including an internal bore, and an attachment in the form of an elongated screw is provided for connection to the stem internal bore for securing the extension sleeve and the prosthesis body together, forming a compressive sealed connection therebetween.