Abstract: An implant for fixation of a bone includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a longitudinal axis defined between the proximal end and the distal end. A plurality of blades are disposed on the shaft, and are helically twisted about the longitudinal axis. At least one of the blades has a variable blade width that increases in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A mechanism for coupling the implant to a second fracture fixation implant may be provided separately or in combination.

Abstract: A screwdriver includes a handle having a handle channel extending therethrough and a shaft extending from a proximal end insertable into the handle channel to a distal end including a bit opening sized to receive a proximal portion of a bit therein in combination with a locking sleeve slidably receiving the shaft therethrough and positionable over the shaft distally of the handle and a spring slidably received within the locking sleeve channel over the shaft. A coupling member received over the shaft distally of the locking sleeve is movable from a biased first configuration in which a locking element protrudes radially into the bit opening to lockingly engage a bit received therein and a second configuration in which the coupling member is retracted proximally to compress the spring and permit the locking element to move radially out of the bit opening to permit the bit to be removed therefrom.

Abstract: An expandable trial can include an inferior portion, a superior portion, and a middle expanding portion as well as load cells for monitoring the load on the trial. The trial may also include recesses on its lateral sides to provide spacing to accommodate a disc removal tool so tissue can be cleared monitoring load. In addition, neural foramen spacing can be monitoring to provide information about how much neural release has been achieved as the disc is cleaned and the spine is positioned and repositioned.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a polyaxial fixation device having a shank with a spherical head formed on a proximal end thereof, and a receiver member having an axial passage formed therein that is adapted to polyaxially seat the spherical head of the shank. The polyaxial bone screw further includes an engagement member that is adapted to provide sufficient friction between the spherical head and the receiver member to enable the shank to be maintained in a desired angular orientation before locking the spherical head within the receiver member.

Abstract: A system for locking an intramedullary nail to a bone includes a first plate sized and shaped to be inserted through a channel of an intramedullary nail and dimensioned to prevent its passing through a locking hole of the intramedullary nail and a second plate sized and shaped to be positioned along a portion of an exterior of a hole drilled in the bone and dimensioned to prevent its passing through the hole drilled in the bone along with a connector couplable to the first and second plates and slidable through the channel of the intramedullary nail to extend through the locking hole from an interior of the channel to an exterior of a bone in which the intramedullary nail has been inserted.

Abstract: A reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant includes a glenosphere component having a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a humeral cup of a humeral prosthesis. A metaglene component includes a platform configured to receive glenosphere component.

Abstract: Technologies for aligning an acetabular prosthetic component in a patient's surgically prepared acetabulum include a reference sensor module securable to the patient's bony anatomy, an inserter sensor module securable to an acetabular prosthetic component inserter, and a display module. Each sensor module generates sensor data indicative of the orientation of the sensor module and/or structures to which the sensor module is coupled. The display module receives the sensor data from the sensor modules, determines the orientation of the acetabular prosthetic component relative to the patient's bony anatomy, and displays indicia of the determined orientation on a display.

Abstract: A braid implant delivery and retraction device having a catheter, an expandable element and a delivery wire with distal, pusher, and recapture bumps. The expandable element having compressed, partially delivered, and implanted configurations. Delivering the braid can include engaging the distal bump till the braid is in the partially delivered configuration. If the user needs to recapture the braid, the recapture bump engages the braid proximally. To fully implant the braid, the distal bump is used until the braid is partially delivered and the distal bump disengages, now the pusher bump completes implanting by proximally pushing the braid completely out of the catheter.

Abstract: A device for containing a graft material includes an outer member formed via an outer mesh sheet biased toward a coiled configuration in which the outer mesh sheet is coiled about a longitudinal axis thereof so that, when the outer member is positioned about separated portions of a target bone in an operative position, the outer member reverts to the coiled configuration and contracts about and engages the separated portions. The device also includes an inner member formed via an inner mesh sheet coiled about a longitudinal axis thereof. The inner member is movable between a first biased coiled configuration and a second coiled configuration. A diameter of the inner member in the first coiled configuration is larger than a diameter of the inner member in the second coiled configuration.

Abstract: The introducer sheath can be loaded onto a vasoocclusive device after removal of the vasoocclusive device from a microcatheter, to permit the vasoocclusive embolic coil assembly to be used again during a clinical procedure. The sheath includes a hollow, elongated tubular member with a longitudinal slot formed in the upper wall of the elongated tubular member and extending along the length of elongated tubular member. The upper wall of the elongated tubular member adjacent to the slot has an angled configuration to accept the vasoocclusive device. The sheath may include wing members extending outwardly from the angled configuration on the outside surface of the hollow, elongated tubular member to facilitate insertion of the vasoocclusive device into the sheath. The elongated tubular member may also consist of a segment with no slot attached to a flexible pusher member to facilitate initiation of loading of the vasoocclusive device into the sheath.

Abstract: Methods for treating a patient having a disease or condition related to IVD degeneration are provided. The methods comprise administering cells obtained from human umbilical cord tissue, or administering pharmaceutical compositions comprising such cells or prepared from such cells. In some embodiments, administering the cells promotes repair and regeneration of degenerated IVD tissue in the patient. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in the inventive methods, as well as kits for practicing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of irradiating spinal tissue with red/NIR light, comprising: inserting a cannulated device defining a bore into the spinal column, wherein the bore contains an optically transparent substrate adapted to emit red/NIR light, and transmitting NIR/red light through the substrate to irradiate tissue within the spinal column.

Abstract: A modular femoral prosthesis system for an orthopedic hip implant and method of use is disclosed. The prosthesis system includes a femoral stem component and a plurality of collar components configured to be selectively coupled to the stem component in a fixed position adjacent to a neck of the stem component. Each of the collar components includes a base and is configured to secure an assembled femoral prosthesis to a patient's surgically prepared femur to provide stability for the assembled femoral prosthesis.

Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.

Abstract: A surgical cutting guide including a customized, patient-specific contour is disclosed. The surgical cutting guide includes a metallic insert to guide a cutting tool in cutting a patient's bone.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting whether an illumination source of an endoscope is in use (inside the body of a patient) versus not in use (outside the body of a patient). The disclosure relies on the fact that the working environment is lit solely by the endoscope and its components. Thus, communication between the illumination or light source controller and the imaging device, such as a surgical camera, is required. When the illumination or light source is turned off and the endoscope is outside the body, a sensor will detect ambient light alerting the illumination source controller that it is outside the body, which then keeps the illumination source off or at a low intensity level. Conversely, when the illumination source is turned off and the endoscope is inside the body, the sensor will not detect any light (or will detect only a very low level of light).

Abstract: An intramedullary device includes an intramedullary nail extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the nail including a channel extending longitudinally therethrough and an opening extending laterally through a wall thereof proximate the distal end, the channel including a ramped surface along a distal portion thereof opposite the opening. The device further includes a wire extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the wire sized and shaped to be inserted into the channel of the nail such that the distal end engages the ramped surface to extend through the opening.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method of implanting a prosthetic includes implanting a first member including a concave articulation surface portion defined by a first radius of curvature in a first bone, implanting in a second bone a second member including a first convex articulation surface portion defined by a second radius of curvature and a second convex articulation surface defined by a third radius of curvature, wherein the second convex articulation surface is defined by the lemon portion of a spindle torus and each of the second radius of curvature and the third radius of curvature has a length that is different from the length of the first radius of curvature by less than 0.05 millimeters and wherein the origin of the second radius of curvature is not coincident with the origin of the third radius of curvature, and bringing the first member into slidable contact with the second member.

Abstract: Various self-cinching suture anchors, self-cinching suture anchor systems, and methods of use are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a suture anchor is provided that includes an outer member and an inner member configured to be received within the outer member. The inner and outer members can define a gap that allows a suture to be movably disposed within the outer member, e.g., within the gap, when the inner member is disposed within the outer member. The inner member can be configured to be secured within the outer member by a knot of the suture having a diameter greater than a width of the gap so as to fix the inner member within the outer member, while still allowing uni-directional tensioning of the suture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating a patient that involves injecting a flowable material into a cancellous bone region of a bone, wherein the material is adapted to facilitate tissue regeneration, and then irradiating the cancellous bone region with an effective amount of NIR/red light. The irradiation may be carried out from a light source located inside the bone. The light may enter the bone via a transmitter located underneath the skin of the patient.