Abstract: A system for facilitating changing of a configuration of a bone having: a bone plate with a surface to overlie a surface of a bone; and a spacing assembly configured to be placed together with the bone plate selectively in: a) a cutting state wherein the spacing assembly maintains a gap region between at least a part of the bone plate surface and the bone surface which the bone plate surface is situated to overlie; and b) a second state wherein the at least part of the bone plate surface can be moved closer to the bone surface. A cutting component can be directed fully through a bone and into the gap region with the spacing assembly and bone plate in the cutting state. After the bone is cut, the bone plate and spacing assembly can be changed into the second state whereupon the bone plate can be placed against the bone surface in an operative position.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a fracture of a bone that produces first and second bone parts separated by a fracture line. A first implant has a first body. A second implant has a second body, A first elongate component can be directed through the bone to cooperate with each of the first and second bodies so that the first and second bodies and first component together act to maintain the first and second bone parts in a desired set relationship. The first component has a lengthwise axis and cooperates with the first body so that the operatively positioned first component is stabilized by the first body in a direction that is transverse to the lengthwise axis of the first component. The first component cooperates with the second body so that the first component is stabilized by the operatively positioned second body.

Abstract: A system and method for bending a bone fixation plate in the horizontal plane of the plate. The apparatus and method provide for optimization of applied bending moments by controlling the orientation of a bending tool to prevent deviation from an axis of bending. The system includes a bending bar or bars with an aperture or slot for engaging a plate or rod and a bending cage that can be in the shape of a rectangular box having a front surface separated from a rear surface by a distance. The front surface has a front elongate opening and the rear surface has a rear elongate opening. The front and rear openings are each formed by two parallel edges separated by a vertical distance and having a horizontal length.

Abstract: A prosthesis having: a) a first assembly with a first base portion to be placed against, and operatively secured to, a patient's first bone; and b) a second assembly with a second base portion to be placed against, and operatively secured to, a patient's second bone. The first and second assemblies respectively define first and second surfaces that cooperate with each other to guide articulated movement between the first and second bones. At least one of the first and second base portions is configured to cooperate with a separate first component defining at least a part of one of the first and second surfaces to maintain the first component in an operative state. A second component is configured to define at least a part of the one of the first and second surfaces and can be placed in an operative state selectively in place of the first component.

Abstract: A system and method for bending a bone fixation plate in the horizontal plane of the plate. The apparatus and method provide for optimization of applied bending moments by controlling the orientation of a bending tool to prevent deviation from an axis of bending. The system includes a bending bar or bars with an aperture or slot for engaging a plate or rod and a bending cage that can be in the shape of a rectangular box having a front surface separated from a rear surface by a distance. The front surface has a front elongate opening and the rear surface has a rear elongate opening. The front and rear openings are each formed by two parallel edges separated by a vertical distance and having a horizontal length.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a patient's wrist. A prosthesis is provided having proximal and distal assemblies. The distal assembly has a body with a U-shaped portion. The proximal and distal assemblies have surfaces that cooperate to guide movement between the proximal and distal assemblies. The proximal assembly is fixed to the patient's radius. The hand is prepared for placement of the distal assembly by removing cartilage against a plurality of carpal bones without significantly altering the configuration of stable volume of at least one of the patient's carpal bones in the first carpal row. The U-shaped portion of the body is placed against a plurality of bones in the first carpal row. Separate locations on the body are secured to a plurality of carpal bones.

Abstract: An implant for fixation of first and second bones having a body with first and second axially spaced ends and an outer surface at least nominally matched to a tapered surface around a receptacle formed by rotating a cutting element around an axis. As the body is advanced along the central axis into an operative position within the receptacle, the body outer surface and tapered surface cooperate to cause the central and second axes to consistently substantially align. A plurality of openings in the body each accepts a fastener.

Abstract: A lockable pin plate assembly which has a pin plate adapted to be secured to stable bone and provided with pin holes for pins for pinning an unstable bone fragment. One or more pin holes are engageable by pins of an integral U-pin. The pins have stop surfaces thereon which are resiliently displaced when the pins are seated to automatically and self-lock the pin and the pin plate to oppose withdrawal and backing out of the pins from the pin plate. In a preferred embodiment, each pin of the U pin has a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion being of smaller diameter to pass freely through an elliptical hole in the pin plate whereas the trailing portion is of larger size to become locked in the pin hole as it is advanced therein.

Abstract: An expansion and compression instrument for fracture fixation. The instrument includes a first handle member, a second handle member, a bearing assembly, and a replaceable tip insert. The bearing assembly axially receives a driver, such as a hexagonal head screwdriver. The replaceable tip insert is adapted to engage an aperture of a fracture fixation plate. The driver is adapted to engage the head of a bone screw, partially threaded into bone proximate the fracture and disposed through a longitudinal slot of the plate. Manual manipulation of the handle members together or apart causes the driver head and replaceable tip insert to become farther apart or closer together, respectively. This in turn, causes the bone screw to be displaced along the longitudinal slot, expanding or compressing the fracture, respectively. Once the fracture has been expanded or compressed to the desired degree, rotation of the screwdriver, facilitated by the bearing assembly, tightens the bone screw, locking the plate into place.

Abstract: A method of performing an osteotomy including the steps of: providing a guide assembly; placing the guide assembly in operative relationship to a bone to be cut so that the guide assembly defines first and second guide edges that are in fixed relationship to each other to each guide movement of a cutting tool; guiding the cutting tool along each of the first and second guide edges to produce first and second cut lines in the bone to facilitate separation of a fragment of the bone from between first and second bone surfaces formed respectively at the first and second cut lines; separating the bone fragment so that a gap with a first width is formed between the first and second bone surfaces; and changing the width of the gap to be less than the first width.

Abstract: A prosthesis having: a) a first assembly with a first base portion to be placed against, and operatively secured to, a patient's first bone; and b) a second assembly with a second base portion to be placed against, and operatively secured to, a patient's second bone. The first and second assemblies respectively define first and second surfaces that cooperate with each other to guide articulated movement between the first and second bones. At least one of the first and second base portions is configured to cooperate with a separate first component defining at least a part of one of the first and second surfaces to maintain the first component in an operative state. A second component is configured to define at least a part of the one of the first and second surfaces and can be placed in an operative state selectively in place of the first component.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a patient's wrist. A prosthesis is provided having proximal and distal assemblies. The distal assembly has a body with a U-shaped portion. The proximal and distal assemblies have surfaces that cooperate to guide movement between the proximal and distal assemblies. The proximal assembly is fixed to the patient's radius. The hand is prepared for placement of the distal assembly by removing cartilage against a plurality of carpal bones without significantly altering the configuration of stable volume of at least one of the patient's carpal bones in the first carpal row. The U-shaped portion of the body is placed against a plurality of bones in the first carpal row. Separate locations on the body are secured to a plurality of carpal bones.

Abstract: An implant for fixation of first and second bones having a body with first and second axially spaced ends and an outer surface at least nominally matched to a tapered surface around a receptacle formed by rotating a cutting element around an axis. As the body is advanced along the central axis into an operative position within the receptacle, the body outer surface and tapered surface cooperate to cause the central and second axes to consistently substantially align. A plurality of openings in the body each accepts a fastener.

Abstract: An expansion and compression instrument for fracture fixation. The instrument includes a first handle member, a second handle member, a bearing assembly, and a replaceable tip insert. The bearing assembly axially receives a driver, such as a hexagonal head screwdriver. The replaceable tip insert is adapted to engage an aperture of a fracture fixation plate. The driver is adapted to engage the head of a bone screw, partially threaded into bone proximate the fracture and disposed through a longitudinal slot of the plate. Manual manipulation of the handle members together or apart causes the driver head and replaceable tip insert to become farther apart or closer together, respectively. This in turn, causes the bone screw to be displaced along the longitudinal slot, expanding or compressing the fracture, respectively. Once the fracture has been expanded or compressed to the desired degree, rotation of the screwdriver, facilitated by the bearing assembly, tightens the bone screw, locking the plate into place.

Abstract: Method and device to be used in osteotomy in securing two separated parts of a bone in relation to each other before and after removing an excessive part thereof. After removing and/or holding/keeping apart tissue like muscles, tendons, skin and so on, a longitudinally shaped fixation device is applied atop of a site of said bone (B) where the excision is to be performed. The device is secured with the use of one or more nails or screws at one first end thereof with the use of a hole or holes providing a snug fit to the bone as well as the device. The fixation device is secured at its other second end with the use of one or more elongated holes or slots in the longitudinal direction of the fixation device, which holes once the bone portion to be excised is taken away, provide for movability of the bone ends thus created towards each other.

Abstract: A water trap is connected to a cannula which has a substantially constant internal diameter and which communicates moisture laden patient exhalations therethrough to an analyzer. The trap includes a body having a recess adapted for receiving a water absorbing compound which has an aperture therethrough for communicating dried exhalations to the analyzer. A second recess in the body is adapted for receiving another water adsorbing compound which similarly has an aperture of same diameter. When the first compound becomes substantially saturated and thereby permits moisture laden exhalations to pass therethrough, then the second compound absorbs those exhalations and swells for thereby closing its aperture and preventing communication of moisture laden exhalations to the analyzer.