Abstract: An occlusion device that includes an inner embolic element with a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the distal section has a first stiffness and the proximal section has a second stiffness. An expandable mesh is included that is capable of being transformed between a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein the expandable mesh is disposed over a portion of the proximal section of the inner embolic device and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments with luminance and chrominance emitted from a controlled light source.

Abstract: A control device for a surgical power tool. The control device including a housing, an input element located on the housing, and a control unit. The housing configured to couple to a surgical power tool. The input element located proximate the top of the housing and configured to receive a user input. The control unit located within the housing, where the control unit sends user input information received at the input element to the surgical power tool.

Abstract: A delivery member is provided for delivering and deploying an intravascular medical device. The delivery member includes a flexible distal portion including a wound wire coil surrounded by a flexible sleeve and inhibited from extending lengthwise by a stretch resistant member positioned through the lumen of the coil. The delivery member can include hypotubes positioned on either side (distally and proximally) from the wound wire coil to which the stretch resistant member and the wound wire coil can be attached. The flexible sleeve can be fused to the stretch resistant member between windings of the wire coil.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant having a metal surface and a calcium phosphate layer disposed on at least part of the metal surface is described. The calcium phosphate layer has an average crystallite size of less than about 100 nm in at least one direction and dissolves for more than 2 hours in vitro. The calcium phosphate layer is substantially free of carbonate. The coating, which is formed on a sodium titanate surface, has increased shear strength and tensile strength. The coating is formed by a solution deposited hydroxyapatite process under inert conditions. The pH of the solution varies by less than 0.1 pH unit/hour during coating formation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a braid for treating an aneurysm. The braid can include a proximal expandable portion for positioning inside the aneurysm and sealing across a neck of the aneurysm. The braid can also include a distal expandable portion distal of the proximal expandable portion, the distal expandable portion for filling the aneurysm.

Abstract: An orthopedic fixation system fuses bone, bones, or bone pieces in a predetermined anatomical position. The orthopedic fixation system includes an implant that transitions between an unconstrained shape and a constrained insertion shape, a drill guide, first and second K-wires, and a cannulated drill bit. The drill guide and the first and second K-wires retain the bone, bones, or bone pieces in an anatomical position corresponding with the predetermined anatomical position. The cannulated drill bit fits over the first and second K-wires and drills, respectively, first and second drilled holes into the bone, bones, or bone pieces. After insertion of the implant into the first and second drilled holes, the implant attempts to transition from its constrained insertion shape to its unconstrained shape such that the implant continuously compresses the bone, bones, or bone pieces thereby holding the bone, bones, or bone pieces in the predetermined anatomical position.

Abstract: A device for treating an aneurysm by releasing an implanted implant from a delivery system at a treatment site can include a braided implant attached to a releasing component that can be detachably engaged with a delivery tube and a pull wire. The releasing component can engage the delivery tube in a compressed configuration via friction fit and can disengage the delivery tube by expanding to a released or deployed configuration. The pull wire can have an extending portion that can engage the releasing component and an elongated portion that can be pulled to disengage the releasing component. The braided implant, once implanted, can be released from the delivery tube by disengaging the pull wire from the releasing component and disengaging the releasing component from the delivery tube.

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: An endovascular surgical tool may include a flexible, electrically-conductive delivery tube, a return conductor, a resistive heating element attached to the distal end of the delivery tube, and a therapeutic payload attached to a loop of the resistive heating element by a coil connecting member. The delivery tube may include at least one segment at its distal end which includes a plurality of transverse slots. Each slot of the plurality of slots includes an origin on the perimeter of the delivery tube, a terminus closer to a central axis of the delivery tube than the origin, and a depth between the origin and terminus. The origins of at least two slots of the plurality of slots may be located at different angular positions relative to the central axis. The return conductor may be electrically insulated from and positioned within the delivery tube.

Abstract: A method of occluding an aneurysm includes positioning a braided implant within an aneurysm sack such that an outer non-inverted layer contacts a wall of the aneurysm and an inverted layer apposes the outer non-inverted layer to form a double layer of braid across a neck of the aneurysm. A radiopaque end of the braided implant can be positioned centrally within the aneurysm so that the radiopaque end extends adjacent or across a plane defined by a fold between the outer non-inverted layer and the inner inverted layer. Embolic coils can be inserted into the aneurysm sac and inhibited from exiting the aneurysm at the neck by the double layer braid across the aneurysm neck.

Abstract: An aneurysm treatment system can include an embolic implant, a delivery system, and an introducer sheath that are collectively designed so that the combination of the introducer sheath and the delivery system can be used as a deployment apparatus for the embolic implant. The introducer sheath can be moved proximally against an interference feature attached to a pull wire to cause the interference feature to separate from the delivery tube, thereby pulling the pull wire and releasing the implant. Alternatively, the treatment system can include an embolic implant and a delivery system that includes a delivery tube, a proximal extension, a pull wire attached to the proximal extension, and a disconnection feature that can be broken to allow the proximal extension and the pull wire to be translated proximally in relation to the delivery tube.

Abstract: A method of replacing a nucleus pulposus material wherein curable nucleus pulposus material is injected into a balloon in an intervertebral space.

Abstract: The improvement is a spinal instrument (preferably, a bone screw driver) having a flexible shaft comprising a plurality of interlocking segments carried on a malleable core rod. The flexible shaft allows a screwdriver handle to be perfectly in-line with the cage inserter if desired, while still taking advantage of the tactile feel and torque transmission of the flex segment in its bent position. Accordingly, a surgeon can limit the amount of retraction and keep the driver handle close to the inserter without having to overcome the forces of the flexible segments' natural straight configuration.

Abstract: Implant inserters and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for delivering a fusion cage or other implant to a spinal disc space and for rotating or articulating the implant within the disc space. An exemplary instrument can include an inner member having opposed jaws for grasping the implant and holding the implant during insertion. The inner member can be slidably received within an outer member such that relative axial translation of the inner and outer members is effective to open or close the jaws. The jaws and/or the distal end of the outer member can have a low-profile geometry, which can advantageously facilitate certain surgical procedures. For example, the low-profile geometry can allow for a more medial approach to an intervertebral disc space in which the implant is to be inserted.

Abstract: An example implant can have a tubular braid. The tubular braid can have an intrasaccular section, an intravascular section, a pinched section, and a predetermined shape. In the predetermined shape, the intrasaccular section can have a sack and an opening. The pinched section can be positioned approximate the opening. The intravascular section can be substantially disk shaped and positioned to occlude the opening. The tubular braid can be movable from a collapsed shape sized to traverse a catheter to an implanted shape based at least in part on the predetermined shape. In the implanted shape, the intrasaccular section of the braid can be sized to be positioned within an aneurysm's sac and the intravascular section of the braid can be sized to appose a blood vessel wall approximate an aneurysm's neck.

Abstract: A radially expandable sheath is provided having a substantially closed distal end with at least two sidewalls extending proximally therefrom and defining a central lumen. Each sidewall can have a substantially concave outer surface adapted to seat a graft member, and each side wall is at least partially separated by a longitudinally oriented slot that extends from a proximal end along a substantial length of each sidewall. The slot preferably terminates at a position just proximal to the distal end. The device can also include a sheath expander that is adapted to be disposed in the central lumen of the radially expandable sheath and that is configured to flex the sidewalls to radially expand the sheath so as to fix a graft member within a bone tunnel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of reducing the risk of infection following surgery utilizing the drug eluting surgical screw disclosed herein to secure an implant in an animal following surgery. The drug eluting screw includes a drug eluting component that can elute a therapeutic agent locally at the surface of the implant reducing the risk of infection.

Abstract: A suture connection system and method includes a suture connector having a body configured to be inserted into a hole in a bone plate, the body being threaded to secure the suture connector in to the bone plate. At least one recess extends inwardly from a sidewall of the suture connector to define a proximal engagement portion and a through hole configured to receive a suture extends through the proximal engagement portion and is open to the recess. A driver includes an elongate rod and an engagement element coupled to the distal end of the rod, the engagement element having at least one prong configured to engage the proximal engagement portion to insert the suture connector into the bone plate hole.