Abstract: A system for accessing lesions or abnormalities using intra articular localization, the system has a first arm with a localizing pin at a first end for defining a virtual pathway and a guide component. The guide component has a straight guide portion and a curved guide or arcuate portion. The curved guide or arcuate portion defines a second arm having a plurality of angularly spaced guide notches for locating a movable guide configured for passing a pin or drill or pin or punch held in the movable guide along a selected path to form an entry access. The straight guide portion has a plurality of notches for holding or coupling the first arm at or in proximity to a second end of the first arm. The selected path extends toward the virtual pathway to form the entry access using intra articular localization.

Abstract: An implant including first and second end plates, each of which defines at least one anterior ramped surface and at least one posterior ramped surface. A posterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and has guiding ramp surfaces which correspond with the posterior ramped surfaces. An anterior actuator is positioned between the first and second end plates and guiding ramp surfaces which correspond with the anterior ramped surfaces. An actuator assembly extends between the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator and is configured to selectively move the posterior actuator and the anterior actuator simultaneously, move posterior actuator independently of the anterior actuator, or move the anterior actuator independently of the posterior actuator.

Abstract: Methods are provided for planning, performing, and assessing of surgical correction to the spine during a spinal surgical procedure. These methods are implemented by a control unit through a GUI to digitize screw locations, digitize anatomical reference points, accept one or more correction inputs, and generate one or more rod solution outputs shaped to engage the screws at locations distinct from the originally digitized locations.

Abstract: Systems, tools, and screws for reducing a bone fracture are disclosed. In embodiments, the system comprises: a screw, a driver, a sleeve comprising a longitudinal bore configured to enable insertion of the driver through the sleeve, a locking mechanism configurable into a first state that locks the sleeve to the driver and a second state that unlocks the sleeve from the driver, and a retaining sleeve coupled to a first end of the driver and configured to couple to the screw. In the first state, the sleeve applies a compressive force while distal threads of the screw are driven into the bone while retaining proximal threads of the screw in the sleeve. After a desired compression is achieved, the locking mechanism is configured to the second state, allowing the proximal threads of the screw to be driven into the bone while maintaining application of the compressive force to the bone.

Abstract: The risk of bone cement extravasation can be reduced by delivering a calcium-dependent polymerizing sealant into a bone structure prior to delivery of bone cement into that structure. The polymerization of the sealant in response to the calcium within the bone structure can fill cracks and any other potential cement leakage paths, thereby minimizing the potential for subsequent extravasation. The benefits of the use of a calcium-dependent polymerizing sealant can be provided in any procedure involving the use of bone cement, such as spinal fixation, vertebroplasty, and kyphoplasty, among others.

Abstract: A system for use during a surgical procedure includes a control unit configured to obtain a first anatomical characteristic of a patient; measure a second anatomical characteristic of a patient; create a targeted second anatomical characteristic; and convert at least one of the measured second anatomical characteristic and the targeted second anatomical characteristics to a patient position.

Abstract: The Marchand Salpingectomy is a fast, safe and minimally invasive procedure for removal of the fallopian tubes. The procedure involves minimal blood loss and gives the patient the benefit of permanent sterility as well as a decreased lifetime incidence of ovarian cancer. The procedure relies on two novel aspects of the technique which make the surgery significantly different than any surgery previously described as well as extremely minimally invasive.

Abstract: An orthopaedic driver handle including a drivetrain having a driving end and a driven end opposite the driving end and defining a longitudinal axis, and a separable housing covering at least a portion of the drivetrain. The separable housing includes a first portion and a second portion separably connected to the first portion such that sliding the first portion relative to the second portion in a direction of the longitudinal axis unlocks the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: A surgical guard configured to protect a patient's oral cavity during surgery is disclosed. The surgical guard includes a first arcuate wing comprising a first end and a second end and a second arcuate wing comprising a first end and a second end. A wing connector couples the first end of the first arcuate wing and the first end of the second arcuate wing. The first arcuate wing, the second arcuate wing, and the wing connector are configured to retract and insulate the lips and oral commissure of a patient during oral surgery.

Abstract: A fastener device includes an anchor body that defines a through hole. The anchor body further includes an inner surface that defines a least a portion of the through hole. The fastener includes a head, a threaded shaft that extends out with respect to the head in a distal direction, and a neck between the head and threaded shaft. The head includes an outer surface configured to articulate along the inner surface when the fastener head is inserted in the through hole. At least a portion of the outer surface is convex and defines a portion of a sphere that defines a first diameter. The neck defines a second diameter and the fastener defines a ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter in a range between about 2 to 1 and about 3 to 1.

Abstract: An instrument guide assembly for a bone plate includes an insert configured to be arranged in a hole of a plate member, the insert having a through-hole, and a guide member separable and positionable through the through-hole of the insert, the guide member having a head portion, a shaft portion extending from the head portion, and a guide channel extending through the head and shaft portions for guiding a drill or other instrument therethrough. The insert is movable axially relative to the guide member from a first position at an end of the shaft portion opposite the head portion and past a first stop to a second position at the head portion. At the second position, the insert remains axially movable in a limited range between the first stop and the head portion, while the first stop prevents the insert from moving back to the first position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positioning a cut guide using navigation-based techniques are discussed. For example, a system for use in an orthopedic surgery on a target bone can comprise a cut guide adjustably positionable onto the target bone via two or more coupling receptacles created on the target bone. The coupling receptacles can include one or more guide members and a plurality of landing members. The system also includes an input interface that can receive a target bone representation, and a model receiver module that can receive a generic post-coupling bone model. The target bone representation can include a data set representing two or more landing sites of the target bone, and the generic post-coupling bone model can include a data set representing a bone having two or more coupling receptacles each sized, shaped or otherwise configured to receive and secure the respective coupling feature of the landing members.

Abstract: A method is provided for joining at least two components of a medical instrument, the at least two components are held so as to form at least one soldering gap between mutually assigned joining areas of the components, a solder material is arranged for filling the at least one soldering gap, and the arrangement of the at least two components and of the solder material is heated to a soldering temperature of the solder material, wherein the solder material is an iron-based solder. A use of an iron-based solder and a medical instrument, in particular a laryngoscope spatula, are also provided.

Abstract: A patient specific trial repositioning block is disclosed which extends the know operating technique using patient-specific cutting blocks by virtue of the fact that the soft-tissue situation or ligament tension conditions can be checked and corrected intraoperatively. The trial repositioning block can be dimensioned according to the tibia structure and femur structure. During use of the trial positioning block in an operation, the block can bring the femur to lie in a planned corrected end position on the tibia. Trial repositioning can be performed after the sectioning of the tibia, and the operator, after sectioning of the tibia, can already have an accurate picture of the end result of the operation.

Abstract: A bone plate having at least one variable angle locking hole is described. The variable angle locking hole allows a bone anchor having a threaded head to be driven into underlying bone while oriented at an angle with respect to a central hole axis of the hole that is within a range of angles at which the head is configured to threadedly mate with the at least one thread of the bone plate. Accordingly, the bone anchor can be driven into the underlying bone until the threaded head threadedly purchases with the bone plate inside the variable angle locking hole.

Abstract: A manual distractor unit is mounted upon a support frame attached to an operating table side rail. An ankle strap is attached to the support frame and to the patient's ankle. A patient's knee support pad, extending from the distractor unit, is positioned under the patient's knee to provide traction to the patient's limb at the ankle, which is secured to the support frame by the ankle strap.

Abstract: A device used for oral intubation on a patient having a mouth and airway (or oropharynx) is disclosed. The device comprises a hard palate pivot support attached to a laryngoscope blade by a plurality of actuating arms, wherein the hard palate pivot support is used to push against the roof of a patient's mouth and consequently open a patient's airway in order to visualize the vocal chords. A method of use is further disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expansible intravertebral implant system comprising an intravertebral implant (1) with an expandable anterior part (11), which is expansible in a vertebral body, and a posterior part; and a pedicle fixation (2) having at least one hollow portion for receiving the posterior part. The present invention also relates to said expansible intravertebral implant system additionally comprising a posterior element (3), arranged partially outside the vertebra and rigidly connected to the pedicle fixation (2), for serving as an anchoring point for at least one intravertebral rod or at least one system of artificial ligaments.

Abstract: In another embodiment, a hip joint navigation jig is provided that includes an anatomical interface comprising a bone engagement portion. A registration jig is also provided that is coupled, e.g., removeably, with the anatomical interface. A rotatable member is provided for rotation about an axis that is not vertical when the jig is mounted to the bone adjacent to a hip joint and the registration jig is coupled with the anatomical interface. An anatomy engaging probe is coupled with the rotatable member for rotation about the axis and is translatable to enable the probe to be brought into contact with a plurality of anatomical landmarks during a procedure. An inertial sensor is coupled with the probe to indicate orientation related to the landmarks, the sensor being disposed in a different orientation relative to horizontal when the probe is in contact with the landmarks.

Abstract: Novel bone screw and plate assemblies including locking confirmation mechanisms are provided. In certain cases, a locking confirmation mechanism is operably attached to the plate, and comprises a toggling arm having an upper portion, a mid-portion and a lower portion. When a bone screw is positioned in a plate in an unlocked configuration, the locking confirmation mechanism assumes a first position. When the bone screw is positioned in the plate in a locked configuration, this causes the locking confirmation mechanism to pivot and assume a second position. The locking confirmation mechanism thus provides a convenient visual and/or tactile means to assess when the screw is in a locked configuration.