Abstract: A vertebral implant for fusing adjacent vertebrae or for replacing vertebral bodies is disclosed. The implant is a biocompatible metal resorbable or radiolucent implant conforming substantially in size and shape with an end plate of a vertebra. The implant preferably has a wedge-shaped profile to restore disc height and the natural curvature of the spine. The top and bottom surfaces of the implant have areas with a plurality of teeth to resist expulsion and provide initial stability and areas devoid of any protrusions to receive implantation instrumentation. The implant also has a stackability feature. The implant provides initial stability needed for fusion without stress shielding.

Abstract: A trial implant kit includes a plurality of intermediate components and a plurality of inner components. Each of the plurality of intermediate components has a uniform inner surface, although at least two of the plurality of intermediate components having distinct outer surfaces. Each of the distinct outer surfaces is configured to engage one of a plurality of acetabular shell component geometries. Each of the plurality of inner components has a uniform outer surface portion and a bearing surface, the uniform outer surface portion configured to be received by the uniform inner surface of any of plurality of intermediate components. The bearing surface is configured to engage a femoral head. At least two of plurality of inner components having distinct bearing surface configurations.

Abstract: The intravascular stent is formed from a composite wire includes an inner core of radiopaque metal, a polymer layer coaxially disposed about the inner core, and an outer metal layer coaxially disposed about the polymer layer. The intermediary polymer layer acts as a barrier material between the inner core and the outer sheath, so that the inner core and outer sheath may be made of dissimilar metallic layers, and the intermediary polymer layer will prevent a galvanic reaction between the inner core and the peripheral metal layer. The intravascular stent has ends flared radially outwardly to prevent radially and longitudinally inward deformation of the ends of the stent when the stent is disposed in a desired location in a patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A reamer for reaming a proximal portion of a cavity for use in implanting a joint prosthesis is provided. The reamer is used for cooperation with a proximal portion of an orthopaedic implant component. The reamer includes a body defining a cavity formed therein for receiving at least a portion of the orthopaedic implant component. The reamer also includes a plurality of cutting edges extending outwardly from the body. The edges are adapted for cooperation with bone. The reamer also includes a stem extending from an end of the body.

Abstract: Bone implantable devices and methodologies permit careful application of biologically active substances and management of bone growth processes. The device includes a body defining a carrier receiving area for locating adjacent bone. Carrier material is located in the carrier receiving area. Substance is delivered onto carrier material through a port. A pathway delivers substance from the carrier receiving area to the bone surface. The body may be in the form of a spinal fusion cage, facet fusion screw, artificial joint, bone fixation plate, interbody graft, IM nail, hip stem, or other bone-to-bone appliances or bone-to-device appliances. In use, carrier is installed in the carrier receiving area of the device. The device is then implanted adjacent a bone. The substance is applied to the carrier for subsequent delivery to the bone. By doping carrier material after device implantation, inadvertent contact of the substance with non-target bone is more easily eliminated.

Abstract: A porous containment device for implanting into the interior volume of a targeted vertebral body for use in restoring the anatomy of the targeted vertebral body. The porous containment device is expandable from an insertion configuration to an expanded configuration via, for example, a bone filler material. The porous containment device includes an enlarged proximal portion, an enlarged distal portion, and a narrower central portion located between the enlarged proximal and distal portions. The porous containment device includes at least one pore positioned between a midline of the narrower central portion and walls of the enlarged distal and proximal portions. The porous containment device may include one or more air or fluid evacuation pores to permit air or fluid to escape and internal or external constraints to form the narrower central portion. In addition, a cannulated sleeve may be used to insert the porous containment device.

Abstract: A method for retraction useable in joint arthroplasty. The method includes using a joint retractor having a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a first portion and a second portion and the second arm having a first portion and a second portion. The retractor is inserted into a surgical opening of a patient's shoulder joint. The second portion of the first arm is placed against the coracoid process and the second portion of the second arm is placed against the resected humerus. The first portions of the first and second arms are hung over the resected tissue to allow exposure of the glenoid.

Abstract: A bone fixation system comprises an elongated implant shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a central longitudinal axis and including a first channel extending from the proximal end to a side opening formed in a side wall of the implant shaft along a first channel axis. The bone fixation system further comprises a bone plate having a first plate portion and a second plate portion, the first plate portion having a first opening extending therethrough along a first opening axis and the second plate portion having a second opening extending therethrough along a second opening axis, the second opening being configured to receive the implant shaft therethrough to permit insertion thereof into a head of a bone.

Abstract: Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element through at least one sidewall opening of at least two percutaneous access devices such that the spinal fixation element extends in a lengthwise orientation that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each percutaneous access device. The spinal fixation element can then be advanced in the lengthwise orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in or adjacent to the receiver heads of at least two adjacent spinal anchors. A fastening element or other closure mechanism can then be applied to each spinal anchor to engage the spinal fixation element within the receiver heads of the adjacent anchors.

Abstract: A semi-constrained ankle prosthesis includes a tibial component configured to be coupled to a surgically-prepared surface of the distal end of a tibia, and a bearing insert locked to the tibial component. The bearing insert is rotative relative to the tibial component and has an articular surface formed in an inferior surface thereof.

Abstract: Spinal fixation plates for maintaining adjacent vertebrae in and fixed position are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate includes opposed superior and inferior portions that are angled in a direction anterior to an anterior face of a mid-portion of the plate. The plate also includes a curvature formed therein about a longitudinal axis in a sagittal plane thereof. In use, when the plate is attached to adjacent vertebrae, the angle of the superior and inferior portions and the curvature in the plate are effective to position one or more thru-bores formed in the superior and inferior portions at the anterior rims of the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a spinal fixation plate is provided that is adapted to engage and mate to a fusion cage or other vertebral implant disposed between adjacent vertebra. The present invention also provides spinal fixation kits or assemblies, and methods for implanting the same.

Abstract: An implant comprises a deformable gas tight sack. The sack comprises a first chamber in fluid communication with an obturatable opening, the chamber filled or fillable with a filling material filling the first chamber. The implant is configured such that when one or both of a gas and fluid surrounding the filling material is removed from the first chamber through the opening, a wall of the first chamber forms around and holds the filling material. This causes the implant to transition from a relatively flexible insertion state to a relatively rigid fixation state in which the implant is fixable in the target portions of bone.

Abstract: An absolute capacitive micro pressure sensor including a pressure sensor element with a mechanically fixed electrode and a deflectable pressure sensor membrane separated from the fixed electrode by a predetermined distance. A packaging defining a chamber is formed by a cover assembled to a base plate with an opening defined therein. The chamber is filed with a fluid and/or a gas at substantially constant pressure. Within, the chamber, the pressure sensor element is mounted to the base plate to define an open cavity therebetween substantially aligned with the opening defined in the base plate. A gel is disposed in the open cavity in contact with an exposed surface of the deflectable membrane.

Abstract: An anchor-in-anchor fixation system is provided for securing underlying structure, such as bone. The fixation system includes a first bone anchor having a shaft for fixation to underlying bone, and a head that defines an internal bore. A second bone anchor extends through the bore and into underlying bone. A fixation assembly is also provided that includes one or more fixation systems coupled to an auxiliary attachment member configured for long bone fixation, spinal fixation, or fixation of other bones as desired.

Abstract: An intervertebral connection system wherein the bone anchor has a helical configuration.

Abstract: A number of orthopaedic surgical instruments are also disclosed. A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating such instruments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for straightening and stabilizing the vertebral column, particularly for stabilizing broken vertebrae, includes a supporting implant which is plastically expandable by internal pressure. The supporting implant can be placed into the interior of a vertebral body which has been fractured under compression or between adjacent vertebral bodies. A pressure balloon to which pressure fluid can be admitted may be arranged in the interior of the supporting implant for producing the internal pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamp, and, more particularly, to a clamp for securing the position of a bone anchor with respect to a longitudinal rod, preferably for use in the spine. The clamp may include a housing, a rod clamping assembly, and a bone anchor clamping assembly. The clamp preferably enables the longitudinal axis of the rod to be offset or laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis of the bone anchor. The rod clamping assembly and the bone anchor clamping assembly are preferably moveably coupled to the housing in order to provide increased flexibility to better accommodate the location and geometry of the longitudinal rod and to better accommodate bone positioning.

Abstract: An expandable implant for treating bone preferably in a minimally invasive manner includes a preferably cylindrical core element extending along a longitudinal axis and preferably a plurality of nestable, expandable sleeves extending along a longitudinal axis for placement radially about the core element. The plurality of nestable sleeves are sequentially insertable over the core element in such a manner that a first nestable sleeve is inserted over the core element and each subsequently inserted nestable sleeve is received between the core element and the previously inserted nestable sleeve such that the insertion of each additional sleeve causes each previously inserted sleeve to outwardly expand.

Abstract: An instrument for recording and replicating the spatial orientation of a dialable component of an implant relative to a bone engaging component of the implant includes a base assembly configured to support the trial implant so that the datum is in a predetermined orientation, a fixture supported on said base assembly, said fixture including an alignment tool configured to engage the first dialable component of the trial implant when the trial implant is supported by said base assembly, and a locking assembly configured to record the angular orientation of said alignment tool relative to said fixture with said alignment tool engaged with the first dialable component, and to replicate the recorded angular orientation with the alignment tool and a second dialable component.