Abstract: A low insertion profile surgical reamer for cutting a bone socket comprises a cutting structure. The cutting structure is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The structure has a static profile area upon insertion of the reamer into the bone socket and a dynamic profile area generated upon rotation, both profile areas lying transverse to the axis. The static profile area is substantially smaller than the dynamic profile area. The reamer includes centrally located holes, allowing it to be fixed to a tool holder.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail for treating long bone fractures. The nail includes a proximal portion that may have a plurality of segments. The segments may be rotatable 360 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the nail such that the position of bone screw openings in the segments can be adjusted to a desired orientation. Locking rings or other locking mechanisms may be provided between the segments to lock the segments in place and allow the segments to be unlocked for readjustment of the position of the segments. The bone screw openings may be configured to allow further angular adjustment of the bone screws with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nail. Inserts may be placed within the bone screw openings to support the bone screws in position.

Abstract: Medical devices may be made of shape-memory materials portions of which have been heat treated to exhibit spatial variations in the stiffness of the material. Devices including stents, vena cava filters and guidewires may be constructed from such materials. Devices may also be made from shape-memory materials which have been locally heat treated such that the superelasticity of the treated portion is destroyed while the remainder of the shape-memory material can transition between the martensitic and austenitic states.

Abstract: A device for implanting a cervical prosthesis includes a cervical prosthesis, an insertion instrument, and a holder which facilitates the connection of the gripping members of the insertion instrument to the prosthesis. The holder receives the prosthesis with an exact fit and has, on the anterior face of the prosthesis, an opening for admission of the gripping members of the insertion instrument. The opening contains guide elements for guiding the gripping members of the insertion instrument into a removal position in which the complementary projections and recesses of the gripping members and of the prosthesis lie opposite one another.

Abstract: A tool holder for holding a surgical reamer has a head (8) and a retaining device (14, 15). The head has an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the reamer. The head is provided with at least one radially extending slot (10) receiving a plate (1, 2) of the reamer. The retaining device (14, 15) has a component which engages with a feature of the plate of the reamer. The feature is proximate the axis of rotation of the reamer in order to centrally retain the plate in the slot.

Abstract: An intervertebral disc replacement prosthesis which can be implanted in a collapsed state, then expanded within the disc space such that minimally invasive surgical techniques may be employed for its insertion, and, by virtue of its expandable nature, ligaments can be restored to proper tension, facet joints can be unloaded posteriorly to inhibit degenerative changes, and functional mobility of the intervertebral segment can be restored.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device that can be placed between two vertebrae. The implant is characterized by having a first plate and a second plate with a spacer therebetween. The spacer fits within cavities on each of the first and second plate.

Abstract: A bone screw having a head and a shank. The shank having a ball thereon and the head having a socket for receiving the ball. The ball being externally threaded and the chamber communicating with the exterior of the head through a threaded bore. The ball being threadably received through the bore and being swivelable in the chamber after passing through the bore. The bone screw including at least one set screw that operably engages the ball to lock the head in position relative to the shank.

Abstract: Retractors discussed herein include lip retractors that have four channel retainers to retain four portions of the lips. The four channel retainers are attached to four resilient members, which are adapted to bias the four channel retainers outwardly away from one another, which in turn retract the portions of the lips that are retained by the four channel retainers to expose the teeth and/or mouth. Optionally, the retractors may be equipped with a tongue retainer. If equipped, the tongue retainer is adapted to limit the tongue to further expose the backside of the teeth.

Abstract: An acetabular reamer including a reaming head having arcuately-shaped segments generally symmetrically distributed about a center point. The arcuately-shaped segments are extendable or retractable about the center point to create a variable dimensioned recess in an acetabular region. The reamer may also include an actuator for selectively extending or retracting the segments so that the segments remain generally symmetrically distributed about the center point as the segments are expanded or retracted. The segments may further include cutting surfaces having a shape corresponding to a portion of a surface of a hemisphere. In one form, the segments may be configured in a narrow symmetrical “slice” of a hemispherical surface that provides an adjustable hemispherically shaped cutting arc.

Abstract: A fixation device for internally or externally fixing fractures comprising at least one nitinol wire having an S-shaped section and two ends wherein each of said two ends forms a hook for hooking into a bone section of a fractured bone. This device can be made from nitinol which has a transformation temperature between 25° C. and 35° C. In addition, this device can have a diameter between 0.6 mm and 5 mm. The device can be inserted using the following process which starts by cooling the wire below a transfer temperature such that the nitinol wire forms in a martensite state. Next, the nitinol wire is inserted into a interphalangeal bone underneath a patients skin. Next, the nitinol wire to heats up inside a patients body above the transfer temperature. Finally, the wire transforms wire from a martensite state to an austenite state wherein when the nitinol wire elongates in a longitudinal direction to generate a distraction force.

Abstract: Methods for treating osteolytic bone lesions of all kinds are disclosed. The method includes making two holes in the bone adjacent the lesion and first applying a negative pressure source to one hole and then injecting a flushing fluid into the other. The method also includes replacing the flushing fluid line with a source of, at least, bioimplantable material to fill the void left by the flushed out bone lesion.