Abstract: Compositions and methods of using cells derived from umbilical cord tissue, to stimulate and support angiogenesis, to improve blood flow, to regenerate, repair, and improve skeletal muscle damaged by a peripheral ischemic event, and to protect skeletal muscle from ischemic damage in peripheral vascular disease patients are disclosed. In particular, methods of treating a patient having a peripheral vascular disease by systemic administration of umbilical derived cells are disclosed.

Abstract: A bone fixation member can be configured to secure first and second bone segments of a target bone together in a compressed approximated position. The bone fixation member can include a strap made of a first material, a locking head extending from a proximal end of the strap, and a leader portion extending from a distal end of the strap. The locking head can have a housing and a strap receiving slot that extends through the housing, slot is configured to receive a distal end of the strap. The housing can be tapered such that a distal end of the housing has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of a proximal end of the housing. The leader portion can be configured to be more flexible than the strap. The leader portion can be made of a second material that is different than the first material.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments and correction of white balance and/or fixed pattern noise at startup or at any other time during a procedure.

Abstract: A drug-impregnated sleeve for encasing a medical implant is provided. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include a body made of a biologically-compatible material that defines an internal cavity configured to receive the medical implant. In one embodiment, the biologically-compatible material is bioresorbable. The body may include a plurality of apertures, such as perforations or holes, extending from the cavity through the body. The sleeve may further include a first end, a second end, and a drug impregnated into the resorbable sheet. In one possible embodiment, the first end of the sleeve may be open for receiving the medical implant therethrough and the second end may be closed. The implant may be encased in the sleeve and implanted into a patient from which the drug is dispensed in vivo over time to tissue surrounding the implantation site. In one embodiment, the body is made from at least one sheet of a biologically-compatible material.

Abstract: A distractible intervertebral implant configured to be inserted in an insertion direction into an intervertebral space that is defined between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body is disclosed. The implant may include a first body and a second body. The first body may define an outer surface that is configured to engage the first vertebral body, and an opposing inner surface that defines a rail. The second body may define an outer surface that is configured to engage the second vertebral body, and an inner surface that defines a recess configured to receive the rail of the first body. The second body moves in a vertical direction toward the second vertebral body as the second body is slid over the first body and the rail is received in the recess.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which changes in the position and/or orientation of an anatomical structure or of a surgical tool can be measured quantitatively during surgery. In some embodiments, a surgical electronic module can be configured to attach to a surgical device, to continually detect changes in a position and/or orientation of the surgical device during surgery, and to communicate the changes to a user. In this way, where the surgical device is attached to a portion of a patient's anatomy and/or is used to manipulate the patient's anatomy, the surgical electronic module can detect changes in the position and/or orientation of said anatomy. In embodiments where more than one module is used during surgery, the modules can continually detect changes in their positions and/or orientations relative to one another, which correspond to changes in relative positions and/or orientations of the surgical devices to which the modules are attached.

Abstract: Various devices and methods for breaking and retaining surgical reduction tabs are provided. In general, the devices and methods can allow a single surgical instrument to break a plurality of surgical reduction tabs off one or more surgical implants and retain the broken tabs within the instrument. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical instrument can include an opening at a distal end thereof that is configured to receive a surgical reduction tab therein when the tab is connected to a surgical implant. A retention element at least partially disposed within the instrument can be configured to engage the tab received in the opening so as to hold the tab securely within the instrument. With the tab received in the opening and held by the retention element, the surgical instrument can be configured to be manipulated to break the tab off the surgical implant. The broken tab can be retained within the surgical instrument by being held therein by the retention element.

Abstract: Provided are therapeutic implants comprising renal tissue encapsulated within a polymer bead. Also disclosed are methods for treating a disease state in a subject comprising implanting within said subject a therapeutic implant comprising renal tissue encapsulated within a polymer bead. Also provided are methods for making a therapeutic implant comprising: providing renal tissue; mixing the renal tissue with a solution comprising a polymer, thereby forming a tissue-polymer suspension; extruding the tissue-polymer suspension into an bead-forming solution, thereby forming a therapeutic implant comprising beads of said polymer within which the renal tissue is encapsulated.

Abstract: Cells derived from postpartum placenta and methods for their isolation are provided by the invention. The invention further provides cultures and compositions of the placenta-derived cells. The placenta-derived cells of the invention have a plethora of uses, including but not limited to research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A surgical drill bit can include a body portion that defines a central axis that extends along a first direction. The body portion can be separated along the first direction into a distal cutting segment, and a guiding segment. The body portion can include a helical flute that winds about the central axis. The helical flute can define a first outer profile along the cutting segment and a second outer profile along the guiding segment, the first outer profile has a first leading edge and a first bearing surface and the second outer profile has a second leading edge and a second bearing surface. The first leading edge can be configured to cut into bone and can be spaced from the central axis by a first length. The second leading edge can be spaced from the central axis by a second length that is less than the first length.

Abstract: Devices and methods for in situ drawing, filtering and seeding cells from the marrow of surrounding bone into a fusion cage without any of the challenges mentioned above. Various implants and devices with aspiration ports that enable in-situ harvesting and mixing of stem cells. These devices may include spinal fusion cages, long bone spacers, lateral grafts and joint replacement devices. Each device utilizes at least one aspiration port for harvesting of stem cell-containing marrow via aspiration from adjacent bony elements.

Abstract: Cells derived from postpartum umbilicus and placenta are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions, devices and methods for the regeneration or repair of neural tissue using the postpartum-derived cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mandibular bone plate can include a body that defines a bone facing surface, an outer surface that is opposite the bone facing surface, and a plurality of bone anchor holes that extend through the body from the bone facing surface to the outer surface. The body can include a chin portion and first and second extension portions that extend from the chin portion such that the bone facing surface of the chin portion faces the inferior surface of the mandible when the mandibular bone plate is attached to the mandible and the bone facing surfaces of the first and second extension portions at least partially face the lingual surface of the mandible when the mandibular bone plate is attached to the mandible.

Abstract: An inflatable balloon for diagnostics and treatment of diseased discs or fractured bones. The balloon is a multi-volume balloon comprised of a plurality of adjustable and expandable single volumes. Further disclosed are methods of forming, expanding, and implanting the multi-volume balloon for proper placement and stabilization of the diseased discs or fractured bones. Still further disclosed are kits for aligning and stabilizing a bone, disc, or spinal motion segment.

Abstract: The intervertebral three-dimensional structure comprises a top side, an underside, a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of boreholes designed to receive affixation elements.

Abstract: A method of reproducing a central axis of a femoral neck prior to resection during an implantation process includes the step of attaching a frame to the acetabulum of a patient, wherein the frame includes first and second movable arms and a lockable swivel bearing. The method further includes the steps of orienting and locking the swivel bearing in position and utilizing the position of the swivel bearing to position acetabular instrumentation to match a planned acetabular implant orientation.

Abstract: Structural allograft fusion devices containing a single integral piece of cortical bone in combination with one or more pieces of cancellous bone, wherein the cortical and cancellous pieces are pinned together.

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: For suture tying in a medical procedure including the use of an anchor that includes a suture locking device that includes a sliding pin guided by axial side slots formed in the locking device that forces the suture where the two ends thereof are inserted into the interior of the suture locking mechanism to drive the captured suture and pin to fit into a recess on the top of the suture locking mechanism such that the top of the pin binds the suture against the upper inner surface of the recess. The recess can be serrated to enhance the locking capability and the pin is polygonal shaped to provide side surfaces that run parallel to the wall of the recess to assure that the side portion of the pin does not fracture the suture and cause it to weaken. The locking of the suture is automatic upon the deployment of the anchor which actuates the pin into the locking position, thus eliminating the necessity of manually knotting the suture and improving the cinching of the tissue to the bone.

Abstract: Implants and methods for augmentation, preferably by minimally invasive procedures and means, of body tissue, including in some embodiments repositioning of body tissue, for example, bone and, preferably vertebrae are described. The implant may comprise one or more chain linked bodies inserted into the interior of body tissue. As linked bodies are inserted into body tissue, they may fill a central portion thereof and for example in bone can push against the inner sides of the cortical exterior surface layer, for example the end plates of a vertebral body, thereby providing structural support and tending to restore the body tissue to its original or desired treatment height. A bone cement or other filler can be added to further augment and stabilize the body tissue. The preferred implant comprises a single flexible monolithic chain formed of allograft cortical bone having a plurality of substantially non-flexible bodies connected by substantially flexible links.