Abstract: Systems and apparatus for reliably sealing a surgical device are disclosed herein. Specifically, a surgical device including a drive shaft tube that is coupled to a drive shaft is disclosed. Because the drive shaft tube is coupled to the drive shaft, the drive shaft tube rotates at the same rotational speed as the drive shaft, which is less than the rotational speed of a cannulated motor shaft. The drive shaft tube can extend through the cannulated motor shaft. In addition, a sealing member can be provided to seal between the drive shaft tube (which rotates slowly) and the motor instead of between the motor shaft (which rotates more quickly) and the motor. The sealing member can be provided in a gap defined between an outer surface of a portion of the drive shaft tube extending beyond the cannulated motor shaft and the motor.

Abstract: A device for reducing a bone fracture includes (a) a first arm extending from a handle at a proximal end to a distal end having a first substantially spherical tip; (b) a second arm extending from a handle at a proximal end to a distal end having a second substantially spherical tip, the second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm; and (c) an insert removably attachable to the first or second tips. The insert includes a connection mechanism lockingly engaging the first or second spherical tips. Also, the insert includes a first face sized and shaped to be seated over a target portion of skin in an operative configuration. The first face has a first substantially planar portion and a second substantially curved portion attached thereto. The first and second portions define a contour conforming to a contour of skin's target portion.

Abstract: A reamer for preparing a spinal upper facet to facilitate insertion of combined screw/washer implant, preventing bone damage and facet weakening, and also allowing possibility to place grafting so as to maximize implant stabilization. The reamer has shallow outer cutting surfaces to cut a groove for spike insertion; deep inner cutting surfaces to cut a cortical-penetrating bore for insertion of the screw, and a flat therebetween to limit penetration of these cutting surfaces.

Abstract: The vasoocclusive device for use in interventional therapy and vascular surgery adapted to be inserted into a portion of a vasculature, includes a vasoocclusive coil disposed about an inner reinforcement coil wherein said vasoocclusive coil is helically wound and the inner reinforcement coil forms a reverse helical winding opposite the vasoocclusive coil winding, thereby forming a biplex wound coil. The vasoocclusive device biplex winding provides improved mechanical properties to the device. An inner reinforcement stretch resistant member attached within the biplex windings limits coil stretchability.

Abstract: A surgical file instrument including a surgical file assembly having an elongated tubular member with a guide/shield supporting the blade of the surgical file and being formed on the distal end thereof, the guide/shield portion being generally planar shaped and having an elongated longitudinally extending dimple defining a rail for guiding said blade and keeping it central and preventing wobbling. The side edges of said guide/shield extend upwardly and bear against the underside of the blade for supporting the same.

Abstract: Instruments and methods are provided for manipulating a bone anchor and a spinal fixation element. The instruments and methods disclosed herein are particularly suited to facilitate rotation of a bone anchor relative to another bone to correct the angular rotation of the vertebrae attached to the bone anchor. The instrument does not require the spinal fixation element to be inserted into the bone anchor prior to manipulation. The instrument further may be used in the insertion of the spinal fixation element into the bone anchor.

Abstract: A method of administering a methylene blue-curcumin hybrid useful in treating or preventing Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: A bone saw tool includes a bone saw and a bone saw blade assembly. The bone saw blade assembly includes a bone saw blade and a bone saw blade guard. The bone saw blade guard is movable to an extended position to reduce the cutting effectiveness of the bone saw blade and/or the maximum cutting depth of the bone saw blade. The bone saw may be configured to activate the bone saw blade guard in response to a signal received from a computer system when the bone saw is moved outside a predetermined cutting region.

Abstract: An implant system includes a fixation device that, in turn can include an expandable implant alone or in combination with an auxiliary implant. The expandable implant includes an expandable implant body that is made from an expandable material. The expandable material includes a polymer matrix and an expandable gas source contained within at least a portion of the polymer matrix. The implant system can further include an energy source configured to heat the polymer matrix to a temperature above its glass transition temperature, thereby causing the gas source to expand inside the polymer matrix. The fixation device can further include an insertion instrument configured to implant the fixation device into an anatomical cavity.

Abstract: A surgical cable and crimp device is provided. The cable has an enlargement (bead) affixed to one of its ends. The crimp member includes two holes. One of the holes includes a slot and a cavity. The cavity is sized to accept the bead of the cable, and the slot is sized to receive the flexible cable but not allow the bead to pass through. The other hole is a simple through hole. The cable can be inserted to loop the bone isolated from the crimp member. After the beaded end of the surgical cable is fastened to the crimp, the cable is passed through the simple through hole. The cable is then tensioned by the application thereto of a tensioning tool with the tool applied to the cable and to an abutment face of the crimp member.

Abstract: A soft tissue defect repair system for approximating defects, such as defects in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, includes a cannulated rod through which is disposed a suture retrieval device. A strand of suture includes a locking or ratcheting knot pre-tied around the outside of the cannulated rod and a free end that is guided in and out of the soft tissue. A knot pusher fits around the cannulated rod, which is used to push the knot off of the cannulated rod after the stitching of the tissue is accomplished. The defect is approximated by tensioning the free end. Various suturing methods or patterns are disclosed for defect approximation.

Abstract: An housing for a medical device includes an insert configured for removable insertion into the housing, outer dimensions of the insert conforming to inner dimensions of the housing to prevent movement thereof within the housing. The insert includes first and second planar walls connected to one another and having first and second openings extending therethrough. The first and second walls are movable between an open configuration in which the first and second walls are separated from one another and a closed configuration in which the first and second walls are folded to contact one another such that the first and second openings are aligned to define a medical device receiving cavity configured to house a medical device. In the closed configuration, the first and second walls apply a frictional clamping force to a packet containing the medical device to prevent movement of the medical device relative to the inlay.

Abstract: A bone access instrument comprising a shaft having a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. The first shaft portion has a first diameter, a distal end, and at least one cutting edge formed on the distal end. The second shaft portion has a second diameter and a tapered distal end. The second diameter is less than the first diameter, and the second shaft portion extends axially from the distal end of the first shaft portion.

Abstract: A bone screw is provided having first and second threaded portions of different diameter separated by a middle portion that is unthreaded so that the bone screw may be inserted into a pair of adjacent bone fragments and used to compress the fragments together by driving the screw into a hole drilled in the fragments. An installation tool is also disclosed for threadably engaging one end of the bone screw and is used to initially drive the screw into the bone hole. Thereafter, a screwdriver may be inserted through the tool and into engagement with a recess in the bone screw and may be used to drive the screw fully into the bone and to separate the bone screw from the installation tool. A method of installation is further provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a curvilinear cut in a bone comprises a jig body and a first arm, a top end of which is rotatably coupleable to a first portion of the jig body in combination with a second arm, a top end of which is rotatably coupleable to a second portion of the jig body separated from the first portion and a saw guide rotatably coupleable to the first arm, the saw guide including a bottom surface extending along a curve corresponding to a desired path through which a bone is to be cut, the saw guide including a locking feature receiving a bone fixation element which, in an operative configuration, is mounted in the bone to align the saw guide relative to the arm so that an operator may precisely align a desired axis of the saw guide with a longitudinal axis of the first arm.

Abstract: A kneadable and moldable bone-replacement material includes a mixture of calcium-containing ceramic particles and a hydrogel or a substance which can be swelled into a hydrogel. The ceramic particles are of fully synthetic origin and the individual ceramic particles have a structure which is at least partially cohesive and porous. In addition, the majority of the ceramic particles have a non-spheric shape.

Abstract: This invention includes surgical retractors that comprise an expandable frame that includes at least two base components, a connector, and at least two retractor blades attached to the expandable frame. Also included are surgical retractors that comprise a housing component that includes a cylindrical portion and a contiguous blade portion, assemblies comprising a surgical retractor assembled to at least one obtruator, illuminated surgical cannulas, and methods of using the same during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A bone screw assembly includes a screw body, including anchor portion and rod-receiving portion, and a rod seat movably mounted in the screw body to allow for controlled angulation between a spinal connection element disposed in the rod seat and the screw body. The rod seat is pivotable in one or more selected directions about one or more axes relative to the screw body. The rod seat may include a first lower rod seat element disposed in a recess of the screw body having a cylindrical bottom surface to facilitate pivoting in a first direction. A second lower rod seat element is stacked on the first lower rod seat element and has a conical bottom surface abutting a top surface of the first lower rod seat element to facilitate pivoting in a second direction.

Abstract: A method of assembling an implant in one embodiment includes aligning the connection features of a first implant component with the connection features of a second an implant component, placing an implant engagement surface of an impactor device and the first implant component in contact, striking an impaction surface of the impactor device, transferring force from the impaction surface to an impactor shaft, diverting the transferred force within the shaft, focusing a portion of the diverted force, and transferring the focused force from the shaft to the first implant component which brings the connection features on the first implant component into engagement with the connection features on the second implant component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an overlay image of an implant during a surgical procedure using a mobile computing device are provided herein. The implant may include radio-opaque internal markers adjacent to and defining edges of the implant. The method may include: capturing an image of a imaging display device screen; estimating a pose of the implant based on the relationship between the 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers and the 3-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers; retrieving or generating a 3-D model image of the implant at the determined pose using the 3-D implant data; and overlaying the 3-D model image onto the image of the implant. The captured image may include the implant and at least two of the radio-opaque internal markers being visible as fiducial markers within the image. The fiducial markers may be 2-D positions of the radio-opaque internal markers in a 2-D plane.