Abstract: A system for bending a surgical device is disclosed in which the system may include a bending apparatus having a housing with a series of posts received therein. In some embodiments, one of the series of posts may be selectively movable within an elongate slot in the housing, while another of the series of posts may be circumferentially movable. Movement of the circumferentially movable post may serve to bend a surgical device about at least one of the other remaining posts. A tool may also be provided with the system for interacting with a lever and causing the circumferentially movable post to move circumferentially. An alternate apparatus for bending a surgical device is also disclosed, as are methods of bending a surgical device using the aforementioned system.

Abstract: A spacing device is provided for adjusting or measuring the spacing between adjacent vertebral bodies. The spacing device has a distal end with at least one distraction member adapted for insertion into an intervertebral disc space and movable between a low profile first configuration and a higher profile second configuration. Also provided is an actuator for moving the distraction member between the first configuration (for delivery of the distal end of the spacing device to a target disc space) and the second configuration (for manipulation or measurement of the space between adjacent vertebral bodies).

Abstract: A universal drill guide for use in position the location of holes to be drilled for insertion of bone staples. The drill guide has first and second legs pivotally secured to one another and first and second jaw members, each of the jaw members being provided with a drill guide. An indexer connected to the first and second legs includes a biaser, e.g., a spring to bias the first and second legs in a direction away from one another and a latch, catch or the like for selectively, releasably holding the first and second legs in a predetermined desired spacing.

Abstract: An implant assembly includes a first implant member, a second implant member, and a contractible element that is connected between the first and second implant members. The first implant member is configured to be placed against a first bone portion, and the second implant member is configured to be placed against a second bone portion. The contractible element is fixed at a first end to one of the first and second implant members, and movable at a second end with respect to one of the first and second implant members so as to induce tension in the suture, thereby providing a compressive force against the first and second bone portions. The second end can then be fixed with respect to the first and second implant members. The contractible element can contract in length in response to bodily fluids, thereby ensuring adequate post-operative compression. An instrument is also disclosed that is configured to implant the first and second implant members adjacent the first and second bone portions, respectively.

Abstract: An assembly including an implantable part designed to be fastened to at least one bone or bone portions to be joined and at least one screw for fastening the implantable part to the at least one bone or bone portions. The implantable part includes at least one tapped hole and the screw includes a head designed to be engaged in the tapped hole. The tapped hole is cylindrical and includes at least one radial notch emerging in a surface of the implantable part through which the screw is designed to be engaged in the tapped hole. The radial notch produces an interruption in the tapping included by the tapped hole. The head of the screw is conical, with an apical angle of between 15 and 25°.

Abstract: Devices and methods for restructure and stabilization of a fractured or weakened head of a bone are disclosed herein. A device includes a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner void for passing at least one light sensitive liquid, and an inner lumen; an expandable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter; and a light conducting fiber sized to pass through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and into the expandable member. The expandable member moves from a deflated state to an inflated state when the light sensitive liquid is passed to the expandable member. When the light conducting fiber is in the expandable member, the light conducting fiber is able to disperse the light energy to initiate hardening of the light sensitive liquid within the expandable member to form a photodynamic implant.

Abstract: A spacer for separating bones of a joint, the spacer includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, and ramped surfaces. An endplate configured to engage a bone of the joint has ramped surfaces mateable with the ramped surfaces of the frame. When the endplate is moved relative to the frame in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the endplate is moved in a direction away from the frame to increase the height of the spacer. A second endplate configured to engage a second bone of the joint can be similarly configured.

Abstract: An expandable interbody fusion implant device has a frame, two ramp assemblies and two overlying base plates driven by two independent drive shafts. The two ramp assemblies include a distal ramp assembly and a proximal ramp assembly. Each ramp assembly has a translating ramp, a first pivoting hinged ramp and a second pivoting hinged ramp. The two overlying base plates include a first base plate overlying a second base plate. Each base plate is hinged to the distal ramp assembly and the proximal ramp assembly at an end of one of said pivoting hinged ramps of each ramp assembly. The two independently driven drive shafts include a first drive shaft for translating the distal ramp assembly and a second drive shaft for translating the proximal ramp assembly to independently expand the implant proximally or distally or both.

Abstract: A bone plate is configured for pancarpal arthrodesis. The bone plate can include a plurality of apertures that can be aligned with the metacarpal bones. The apertures can include a first portion and second portion that is longitudinally and laterally offset with respect to the first portion.

Abstract: A method, and devices for facilitating the method, for shoulder replacement surgery. The method entails establishing a mechanical support in a the anatomical neck plane of the proximal humeral head, fixing a jig to the mechanical support, where the jig supports a drill guide with its axis perpendicular to the anatomical neck plane, adjusting the drill guide it coincide with the axis of the humeral head, drilling a hole through the humeral head for insertion of a shaft which will support and rotate a reaming bit. The reaming bits used to resurface the humeral head and the glenoid fossa are inserted through the back of the patient, through a gap created between two easily separated muscles, rather than through a gap cut through the subscapularis muscle on the front of the joint. A suitable jig is provided to facilitate the method.

Abstract: A method of sizing and balancing a knee including: placing an integrated orthopedic instrument in contact with a resected distal femoral surface of a femur of a knee in flexion such that medial and lateral posterior feet of a tensor frame of the instrument are in contact with posterior condyles of the femur and such that medial and lateral posterior feet of a sizer body of the instrument are positioned on a spacer placed on a resected proximal surface of the patient's tibia; securing first and second wings extending from a central portion of the tensor frame on the resected distal femoral surface; rotating the sizer body relative to the tensor frame via a rotation mechanism that connects the sizer body and the tensor frame to balance the ligaments; and sizing the patient's femur by moving a stylus coupled to the sizer body on an anterior surface of the femur.

Abstract: A retractor having a pair of blades is disclosed. A ring having an opening is attached to one end of the blades. The blades define a channel therebetween. The blades may be pivotally coupled to the ring. The retractor may have at least two conditions. In a first condition, the retractor is insertable through an incision in a patient's skin to an operative site. In a second condition, the retractor may be manipulated for retracting tissue surrounding the operative site. Instruments, prostheses, or tissue may be inserted or removed through the channel of the retractor.

Abstract: Adjustable allograft templates and methods of use are disclosed where a template for resecting a tissue region may generally comprise a template frame having a surface for contacting the tissue region and which defines an open area of tissue to be resected. A frame assembly along the template frame may be translatable relative to the template to adjust a size of the open area of tissue to be resected. One or more inner guidance slots may be defined along the frame such that the inner guidance slots are spaced relative to one another to define the tissue within the open area to be resected from a patient. Additionally, one or more outer guidance slots may also be defined along the frame and aligned adjacent to the inner guidance slots. The outer guidance slots may be spaced relative to one another to define the tissue to be resected from a donor.

Abstract: A two step locking screw assembly includes a receiving member for receiving a fixation member and an anchor having an enlarged portion and a shank. The enlarged portion of the anchor may be seated in the receiving member. An insert may also extend inside the receiving member. An outer fastener may be positioned in the receiving member. The outer fastener may include a central opening and a pair of ramped flanges. An inner fastener may be disposed inside the central opening of the outer fastener.

Abstract: A modular head pedicle screw assembly has a bone screw, a tulip, a locking split ring and a saddle. The locking split ring is internal of the tulip positioned in a recess of an inner surface of the tulip. The saddle has a proximal end for engaging a rod and a distal end for receiving the bone screw. The saddle has an exterior surface positioned between the ends. The outer surface is sized to move axially inside the tulip. The saddle expands the locking split ring in an initial pre-loaded position and upon insertion of the tulip over the bone screw, the saddle moves proximally disengaging the locking split ring simultaneously causing the locking split ring to relax to an unexpanded condition while providing tactile and audible feedback to the surgeon and locking the bone screw into the tulip.

Abstract: An interbody fusion implant fits between adjacent vertebrae for fixation during fusion thereof. Upper bores extend into a cephalid surface of the implant and preferably include threads therein. A guide tool is removably attachable to the implant which supports guide bores along centerlines aligned with the upper bores in the implant. A drill can pass along these guide bores to form holes in a vertebra adjacent the cephalid surface of the implant which is precisely aligned with the upper bores. A hybrid screw then passes through these holes in the vertebra adjacent the cephalid surface and threads into the upper bores to secure the implant to the adjacent cephalid vertebra. Bone screws can also be used to secure the implant to caudal vertebra by passing through bores passing through the implant, such that the implant is securely mechanically fastened to both cephalid and caudal vertebrae adjacent the implant.

Abstract: A cannula for use in laparoscopic surgery has a central passage which may accept a trocar to create a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to an inner body cavity. A tubular section of the cannula is then pressed into the incision to form a port. The tubular section has passages through its walls for suturing needles and a source for insufflating gas. A tubular sleeve is slidably supported on the outer side of the tubular cannula for movement between a raised position clear of the needle passage exit ports and a lowered position blocking the exit ports to prevent insufflation gases from passing into the body wall.

Abstract: An implantable orthopedic support device and methods of using the device are disclosed. The device can have rigid structural components that can translate longitudinally with respect to each other, and in so doing can change the vertical height of the device. The structural components can be driven by a drivescrew mechanism to change the vertical height of the device.

Abstract: An orthopedic tool for loosening the connection between orthopedic components. In one embodiment, the orthopedic tool includes a housing and a wedge. The housing has a head, an upper portion, a lower portion, and an opening between the upper and lower portions. The wedge is positioned at least partially between the upper portion and the lower portion of the housing and is actuatable to move toward the head of the housing. When at least a portion of the head of the housing is placed in mating engagement with the junction between two assembled orthopedic components, advancement of the wedge towards the head results in separation of the upper portion and lower portion of the housing. Thus, as the wedge is advanced toward the head, the upper and lower portions of the housing are separated, which results in corresponding separation of the assembled orthopedic components.

Abstract: Reduced bone fracture fixation devices and methods for using the same are provided. Aspects of the reduced bone fracture fixation devices include a body dimensioned to be positioned in a reduced bone fracture, wherein the body has a wedge shape configuration sufficient to exert a force on bone of the reduced bone fracture and maintain reduction of the reduced bone fracture. The devices, kits and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications, such as in applications in which it is desired to repair a reduced bone fracture.