Abstract: Method of tapping a bone plate intraoperatively. A bone plate having an aperture may be selected, and the bone plate may be placed on a bone. A thread may be formed in the aperture using a tap device with the bone plate disposed on the bone. A hole may be formed in the bone, with the hole in alignment with the aperture. The hole may be widened adjacent the aperture to create a counterbore in the bone. A fastener may be advanced into threaded engagement with the thread after removal of the tap device from the aperture.

Abstract: An implantable surgical device having a deployed shape and an undeployed shape. The device includes an elongated flexible inflatable balloon portion and an elongated flexible and substantially inextensible band portion. The band portion has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The band portion is attached to the balloon portion along an inner face thereof. When the device is in its undeployed shape at least a portion of the band portion has a concave cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An expandable implant having a helical body and first and second securing pieces. Ends of the helical body are connected to the first and second end pieces. The first and second end pieces can be rotated relative to one another to expand the implant from a first dimension to a selected second dimension. The implant further includes a locking arrangement to maintain the implant at the selected second dimension.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the introduction of an intervertebral prosthesis (10) including at least three components, namely, two prosthesis plates (14, 16) and a prosthesis core (12). The surgical instrument can include a U-shaped holder (30) at the distal end of a gripping element (20) into which the intervertebral prosthesis (10) with all the components can be detachably introduced whereby the individual components are aligned with respect to one another in a fixed manner.

Abstract: A device and method for fastening one or more graft strands to a bone. The device may include a first member having a first opening and a second member having a second opening. The first member may include a plurality of radial projections defining recesses, wherein each graft is separately received in a corresponding recess. The device may also include a fastener passing through the first and second openings. The fastener may have a first portion engaging the first member and a second portion received into the bone, such that tightening the fastener against the first member compresses the graft strands between opposing faces of the first and second members.

Abstract: Devices, kits, and methods are provided for treating a bone structure, e.g., a vertebra, with a compression fracture. Wedges can be introduced into the bone structure in a direction that is lateral to the compression fracture, and stacked on tope of each to apply forces to the bone structure to reduce the compression fracture. The wedges can be introduced into the bone structure using a cannula. The wedges can be introduced as wedge pairs, in which case, a subsequent wedge pair can be introduced between a previously introduced wedge pair in order to drive the previously introduced wedges apart to create the stacking arrangement. Optionally, the wedges can be provided with longitudinal bores, in which case, they can be introduced into the bone structure, over a guide member that is threaded through the bores.

Abstract: A filler instrument comprises a first chamber section having a first cross sectional area and a second chamber section having a second cross sectional area less than the first cross sectional area. The second chamber section communicates with the first chamber section. The first chamber section includes an inlet for receiving a material into the filler instrument, and the second chamber section includes an outlet for discharging the material from the filler instrument. A first plunger is sized to pass through the first chamber section and not the second chamber section. A second plunger is sized to pass through an interior bore of the first plunger and into the second chamber section. In use, the first plunger displaces material residing in the first chamber section through the second chamber section toward the outlet, and the second plunger displaces material residing in the second chamber section through the outlet.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for clamping and reclamping an orthopedic surgical cable used in conjunction with an orthopedic implant device, a bone, and/or bone implant or structure. Systems and methods provide a clamping body, a clamping mechanism, and a force application member that cooperate to allow tensioning and re-tensioning of a surgical cable.

Abstract: A surgical implant comprises a core region and a porous surface region extending over at least part of the core region. The surface region has a predetermined pore volume fraction. A method of manufacturing a surgical implant comprises: (i) loading metallic powder having a predetermined particle size distribution around a pre-formed core in a sealable capsule; (ii) reducing pressure within the capsule to a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure; (iii) pressurising the capsule with a process gas to a predetermined pressure higher than the predetermined pressure of step (ii); (iv) sealing the capsule; (v) heating the pressurised sealed capsule at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a predetermined time to produce an implant precursor; (vi) cooling the sealed capsule, and; (vii) heating the implant precursor for a predetermined time at an elevated temperature and a predetermined pressure below atmospheric pressure, whereby to generate porosity in the implant precursor.

Abstract: A vertebral implant comprises a tubular body sized to fit between two vertebral endplates and a pair of ring-shaped cleat assemblies. Each cleat assembly comprises an outer end wall, an inner end wall, and a side wall which defines a hollow bore. One or more spikes extend from each outer end wall, and each hollow bore is sized to fit over an end of the tubular body and slidably pass from the end along at least a portion of the length of the tubular body.

Abstract: A fusion implant apparatus, in for the replacement of a vertebra or an intervertebral disc, having at least one biocompatible structure. The structure is made of a composite material having reinforcing fibers, and has a first and second face to engage adjacent bone structures to be fused, struts extending between the first and second faces, and a hollow interior space for reception of bone growth inducing substances. The fibers are long fibers and the majority of these long fibers have a direction that follows the longitudinal forces upon the first and second faces, which is the direction of trabecular structures of the adjacent bone structure, so that a majority of long fibers are essentially an extension of these trabecular structures.

Abstract: A method of determining the size and trajectory of screws in pedicles during surgery, comprising generating a three-dimensional image of the bony spine; hollowing out the vertebra in the image with cortical wall thicknesses selected by a surgeon; determining the isthmus within each pedicle; generating a straight line starting at the center of the isthmus and extending in opposite directions so that it is positioned concentrically within the pedicle without touching the walls thereof, the line terminating inside the vertebral body a predetermined distance from the anterior inner cortical wall and extending outwardly in the opposite direction to penetrate the posterior pedicle cortex; expanding the line concentrically and radially to a cross sectional size that is less than that of the isthmus, the line being expanded into a cylinder that stops growing when any portion thereof contacts the inner cortical wall of the hollowed out vertebral body; and calculating pedicle screw size and trajectory based on the cyli

Abstract: A device (1) for retracting tissue with a retaining element (2) with a throughgoing cutout (7) and with a blade (18) mounted on a retractor arm (16), retractor arm (16) being seated movably in cutout (7), wherein cutout (7) of retaining element (2) is formed in a groove shape.

Abstract: A bone fixation system has at least one cerclage cable and an elongate bone plate. The bone plate has a bone contacting surface, first and second spaced side portions and an outer surface opposite said bone contacting surface. The elongate plate includes a plurality of apertures or openings therethrough surrounded by the side portions. The apertures extending from the outer surface to the bone contacting surface and being spaced to form bridge portions between adjacent apertures. Each of the bridge portions including at least two pairs of through bores extending between the first and second side portions for receiving cerclage cable. Each of the first and second side portions forming the sides of at least one of the apertures also has a cerclage wire bore extending therethrough.

Abstract: A closure member, such as a set screw, and complementary receiving member are included in a medical implant device. The receiving member has a plurality of noncontiguous, threaded walls substantially defining a bore for receiving the threaded closure member. When the closure member is inserted into the receiving member, their respective threads interlock to join the noncontiguous walls of the receiving member. The closure member has an outer thread configured to interlock with the inner walls of the receiving member in a manner that aids in preventing the noncontiguous walls of the receiving member from moving away from the closure member. In certain embodiments, the closure member's outer thread includes a trailing edge having a point that is rearward of the trailing edge's root, and the outer thread includes a leading edge having a point that is forward of the leading edge's root.

Abstract: A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space. The guard has a body having a first portion and a second portion in pivotal relationship to one another proximate the leading end between an open position and a closed position. The first and second portions define an opening for providing a protected pathway to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one disc space penetrating extension extends from the leading end of the body adapted for insertion at least in part into the disc space. First and second portions of the extension are in pivotal relationship to one another about an axis that passes through at least a portion of the pathway.

Abstract: A low-profile surgical implant assembly is provided that includes a connector device that is an integral part of a rod, the connector device allowing the rod to be attached directly to a bone screw, such as a pedicle screw. Another aspect of the invention is a clamp device that allows the length of a rod spanning to attachment devices to be adjusted at the time of implantation, and further allows the clamp device to be secured by tightening a securing end of the clamp at the attachment device. The assemblies are useful for insertion into bone and connecting a foreign object to bone via a polyaxial coupling mechanism. A method for implanting the assembly is also provided.

Abstract: Spinal plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprises blocking structures assembled to spinal plates. The blocking structure comprises an elongate band which can be against structure of the plate. The band is mounted into a continuous or intermittent channel in the plate, and extends into an aperture in the plate. The band responds to side forces applied by interfering elements of bone fasteners driven through an aperture, by moving away from the interfering element, and returning to a blocking position over the interfering element after the interfering element has passed the band. Methods of fabrication include inserting the blocking structure, optionally longitudinally, into the channel. Methods of use include advancing bone screws through an aperture and past the band. The bone screw deflects the band as the screw passes, and the band moves to the blocking position when the screw has moved past the band.

Abstract: Orthopedic implants which include the components of zirconium or zirconium-based alloys having surfaces coated with oxidized zirconium or alternatively, other orthopedic implants comprising abrasion resistant surfaces contacting surfaces of cross-linked polyethylene are disclosed. Such implants provide low friction, highly wear resistant coatings especially useful in artificial joints, such as hip joints, knee joints, elbows, etc., but also useful in other implant devices as well. The implants also find use as vertebral disc prostheses.

Abstract: A provisional prosthesis used during trial fitting of a bipolar or unipolar joint prosthesis such as a hip acetabular component. The provisional prostheses include an outer provisional shell component having an interior part-spherical surface having an open end with at least one recess extending from said open end into said interior surface. An inner component, such as a head for femoral component, is provided which has a part-spherical outer surface for articulation with respect to the part-spherical inner surface. The outer surface has at least one recess aligned with a polar axis of the inner component and the outer component has an inner surface with at least one recess which can be aligned with a recess on the inner component. A locking assembly, including a pin, is provided which can be inserted into the aligned grooves to rotationally lock the inner and outer components together.