Abstract: The present invention is directed an anchor assembly for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod with a patient's vertebra. The anchor assembly preferably includes a bone anchor, a body with a rod-receiving channel, an insert member (preferably a bushing), and a locking cap with a saddle. The anchor assembly preferably enables in-situ assembly where the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body of the bone anchor assembly. Accordingly, the anchor assembly enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the body may be snapped onto the bone anchor and a spinal rod may be inserted into the rod-receiving channel.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of delivering an implant to a target location of a body vessel are disclosed. A detachment system can include a tubular body including a lumen extending therethrough and a distal tube on a distal end of the tubular body. A loop wire can be affixed at a first end to the tubular body and can include a loop opening positioned approximate a distal end of the distal tube. A pull wire can extend through the lumen. A hook wire can extend radially through a sidewall of the distal tube and into the lumen. The hook wire can be positioned around a pull wire portion and tensioned such that the pull wire portion abuts the distal tube and provides frictional resistance between the pull wire portion and the sidewall of the distal tube. The frictional resistance can be effective to inhibit premature detachment of the implant.

Abstract: A motor-driven orthopedic impacting tool is provided for orthopedic impacting in the hips, knees, shoulders and the like. The tool is capable of holding a broach, chisel, or other end effector, which when gently tapped in a cavity with controlled percussive impacts, can expand the size or volume of an opening of the cavity or facilitate removal of the broach, implant, or other surgical implement from the opening. A stored-energy drive mechanism stores potential energy and then releases it to launch a launched mass or striker to communicate a striking force to an adapter in either a forward or reverse direction. The tool may further include a combination anvil and adapter and an energy adjustment mechanism to adjust the striking force the launched mass delivers to the adapter in accordance with a patient profile.

Abstract: Surgical tools and robotic systems adaptable for treating a left side or a right side of a patient with minimal interference with the patient and surrounding operative site are disclosed. In some embodiments, a surgical tool can include a body, an end-effector, a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector. The end-effector can extend from a distal end of the body and be movable relative to the body about a pivot axis. The first connector can rigidly secure the body to a planar mechanism. The second and third connectors can rigidly secure a distal part and a proximal part of a tracker, respectively, to the body. The first and second connectors can be symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane including a longitudinal axis of the body and the pivot axis and can be suited for attachment of either the tracker or the planar mechanism.

Abstract: A patella fracture fixation system includes a bone plate that is configured to be implanted along an anterior approach. The bone plate has a fixation hub and a plurality of fixation nodes that are connected to the fixation hub. The fixation hub and the fixation nodes can define respective fixation holes. The bone plate can further include legs that are configured to be bent around respective inferior aspects of the patella.

Abstract: A catheter including an inner liner, a reinforcement layer disposed about the inner liner and having a distal edge separated a predetermined axial distance in a proximal direction from the distal end of the inner liner. The reinforcement layer having a discrete annealed section with an altered crystalline structure having modified (e.g., decreased) stiffness relative to non-annealed sections of the reinforcement layer. A marker band is positioned over or adjacent to the distal edge of the reinforcement layer. An outer jacket is disposed about an interim assembled structure including the inner liner, the reinforcement layer, and the marker band to form an assembled structure. During manufacture, heat is applied to reflow together individual components of the assembled structure producing an integral composite catheter shaft.

Abstract: A control system for use with an adjustable bone fixation device including a first fixation element and a second fixation element connectable to bone tissue portions on either side of a treatment site, the control system including: one or more actuators configured to controllably adjust lengths of a plurality of adjustable length struts of the bone fixation device, the plurality of adjustable length struts connecting the first and the second fixation elements of the bone fixation device, length adjustment thereof changing a spatial relationship between the first and the second fixation elements; and circuitry configured to control the one or more actuators to cause the first and second fixation elements to perform an accordion maneuver by performing a plurality of actuations to adjust lengths of the plurality of adjustable length struts to create a reciprocal movement of the first and second fixation elements relative to each other.

Abstract: A system is provided for the approximation of two bones. The system may include an implant having a first anchor, a flexible segment, and a second anchor. The first anchor may be configured for insertion into a first bone. The second anchor may be configured to engage with a second bone. The flexible segment may extend between the first and second anchors. The system may include a delivery device which may include a removable driver configured to facilitate insertion of the first anchor into the first bone, and a first handle configured to engage the removeable driver. The delivery device may include a second handle configured to increase tension on the flexible segment. The delivery device may include a third handle configured to engage the second anchor with the second bone and to attach the flexible segment to the second anchor.

Abstract: A method of forming a patient-specific-bone-graft cage based on a patient-specific bone graft cage computer model that is based on a contour of a surface of the bone defining a void, and/or a patient-specific-bone-graft cage that includes a plurality of apertures, that terminate at a location between a front surface and a back surface of the patient-specific-bone-graft cage, for receipt of bone graft material. The patient-specific-bone-graft cage can construct an essential portion (including complex thin anatomical structures) of or substantially the entirety of the mid-face region (e.g., to fill a void in a damaged orbital region), which enables an improved structure reproduction and simplification for the surgeon. For example, the patient-specific-bone-graft cage may be formed based on the contour of the periphery defining the void in the damaged region, and require less modification by a surgeon compared to graft cages formed only by mirroring techniques or normalized models.

Abstract: A patella fracture fixation system includes a peripheral rim bone plate that is configured to be implanted along a parapatellar lateral approach. The bone plate can configured to minimize disruption of blood supply to the patella. The bone plate can be augmented with a Krackow suture pattern to assist in stabilization of a comminuted inferior pole.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments and associated structures, methods and features. The features of the systems and methods described herein may include providing improved resolution and color reproduction.

Abstract: The objectives for the designs presented herein can be for a variably flexible and kink-resistant catheter for vascular applications. The designs benefit from good compressive and tensile stiffness. A braided wire support structure can be disposed around an inner liner and an outer layer having a plurality of outer jackets of variable durometer. A metallic reinforcing layer can be cut from a hypotube and be used as the primary structure for catheter stiffness, reducing the reliance on and number of jackets to transition stiffness changes along the length of the catheter. The metallic reinforcing layer can have one or more ribbon cut segments and one or more axial hole patterns laser cut into the hypotube to progressively evolve the stiffness from proximally regions with more column stiffness and distal regions with greater lateral flexibility. The polymer jackets can be reflowed to bond the structure together.

Abstract: A catheter can have a textured outer body surface with protrusions and/or indentations that can reduce friction between the outer body surface and vascular anatomy or an inner lumen of another catheter in contact with the outer body surface. The catheter can include protrusions and/or indentations on an inner lumen surface that can reduce friction between the inner lumen surface and an outer body surface of another catheter within the example catheter. The protrusions can be filled with a lubricant or vasodilating drug, and the protrusions can be configured to break to release the fluid in response to forces on the protrusion during navigation through vascular anatomy and/or an inner lumen of another catheter. The catheter can include a metallic tubular reinforcing layer with openings through which the protrusions and/or indentations extend and/or protrusions and/or indentations shaped into the reinforcing layer.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant system adapted to fixate bone includes a bridge with first and second bores therethrough and first and second elastic members extending from the bridge respectively into the first bore and the second bore. During insertion respectively of anchoring devices through the first and second bores and into the bone, the anchoring devices respectively contact the first and second elastic members and depress the first and second elastic members respectively into the first and second bores such that the first and second elastic members deform to store energy therein while transitioning from a natural shape to a fixation shape. After insertion of the anchoring devices, the first and second elastic members, in attempted transitions from the fixation shape to the natural shape, respectively deliver the energy stored therein to the anchoring devices such that the anchoring devices urge the bone into a fixation position.

Abstract: An electrical circuitry fitted to be connected or to be an integral part of a bone fixation device having at least one linear actuator coupled between two rings, including: at least one linear actuator connector, mechanically and/or electrically connectable to said at least one linear actuator; a control circuitry, wherein said control circuitry measures a value related to the movement of said at least one linear actuator and/or to the distance or change in distance between said two rings, by receiving signals from said linear actuator connector; and a memory, wherein said memory stores said value.

Abstract: Delivery and detachment system for an implantable intravascular device, the system including a securement wire in a passageway of an inner support tube. Imposed on the securement wire is a controlled friction force established within an intentional friction zone created by: (i) reflow of an outer sleeve through side port opening(s) in the inner support tube and into the passageway; or (ii) the securement wire having bend(s) creating an associated point(s) of direct physical contact with the inner wall of the inner support tube. During delivery of the implantable intravascular treatment device to a target site, the imposed controlled friction force minimizing movement of the securement wire relative to the inner support tube, and upon reaching the target site, a force being applied to overcome the imparted controlled friction force and releasing the implantable intravascular device.

Abstract: A bone plate includes a plate body defining an outer surface, an opposed bone-facing surface, and a combination hole comprising a locking hole and a compression hole that intersect one another and each extending from the outer surface to the bone-facing surface. The locking hole and the compression hole extend away from each other along a longitudinal axis. The plate body further defines a locking surface that defines the locking hole, and a second surface that defines the compression hole. The locking surface further defines a plurality of columns sequentially located about a central axis of the locking hole, a plurality of recesses located, respectively, between at least some of the columns, and plate threads that traverse each of the columns. Crests of the plate threads extend linearly from a first side of each column to a second side of each column.

Abstract: A surgical drilling instrument with a Curved Burr Attachment having an adapter removably coupled to a drill motor and a burr attachment coupled to said adapter. The burr attachment includes a tube with a wire shaft supported therein and a coil wire surrounding said wire shaft and having each of the coils touch the outer periphery surface of the wire shaft and the inner peripheral surface of said tube to enhance cooling of said outer periphery of said tube from the heat generated by said wire shaft and attenuate vibrations while allowing said burr attachment to be bent without kinking.

Abstract: A helical distractor, including: a distractor body having an open tubular shape including: a fixed footplate attached to a first end of the distractor body; first and second body edges; first and second key grooves in the first and second body edges, respectively; and an end cap at a second end of the distractor body; a movable foot including: body threads; a first key configured to engage the first key groove; a second key configured to engage the second key groove; and a movable footplate; an advancement screw with a threaded portion inside the distraction body, wherein the threaded portion is configured to engage the body threads of the movable foot, wherein the movable foot moves along the distractor body when the advancement screw is rotated, and wherein the distractor body is configured to cause the movable foot to rotate as it moves along the distractor body.