Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for the approximation of two bones, the apparatus including a first anchor that is rotationally driven into a first bone by a second bone anchor, which receives driving torque from a driver tool. After the first anchor is secured in the first bone, the second anchor is disengaged from the first anchor but remains connected to the first anchor by a flexible link of a designed length. The second bone anchor is secured in the second bone and has provisions to be lengthened or shortened to adjust the overall length of the implant, thereby adjusting the approximation between the two bones.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for percutaneous intramedullary fixation. A protective outer sheath is provided for internal fixation of the proximal tibia. Additionally, a unique intramedullary plate is provided that is adapted for percutaneous insertion into the intramedullary canal of a long bone. A plate holder is also provided that may be utilized through the outer sheath to drive and position a fixation plate within the intramedullary canal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting a vertebral body may include an optional access cannula, introducer device, and a stylet having a stylet shaft. The access cannula includes a hub portion and a cannula shaft extending from the cannula hub. The cannula shaft includes a distal end positionable within the vertebral body that defines a lumen along a longitudinal axis. The introducer device may be a telescoping or pivoting introducer device that is removably coupled to the hub portion of the access cannula. The introducer device controls the movement of the flexible distal portion of the stylet shaft and the flexible sheath from within the introducer device through the access cannula to within a target site in the vertebral body, wherein the flexible distal portion is moved from the constrained to the unconstrained state to displace cancellous bone within the target site.

Abstract: A robot for spinal surgery may include an open rectangular base designed to slide on a rail of a fixed support to reach to different parts of the spine. The robot may include a moving top platform that can accommodate a surgical instrument, and three legs to support the top platform on the base and move the top platform in 6-degree-of-freedom relative to the base. In one embodiment, each of the three legs may include a lower part and an upper part joined by an electric linear actuator for sliding the upper part linearly relative to the lower part. In one embodiment, the lower part of each leg may be joined to a shaft of a rotary actuator that is mounted to the base, and the upper part of each log can be joined to the top platform at a fixed point via a passive spherical joint.

Abstract: Biomaterials, in particular bone foams, a process for preparing such materials as well as an applicator for applying the biomaterials directly to the patient's application site, and the use of a composition comprising water, a surfactant and a propellant in the preparation of a bone foam for the preparation of a calcium phosphate foam wherein the foam is obtainable by the mixture of at least two phases, a first phase comprising water and optionally a propellant, a second phase comprising one or more sources for calcium and/or phosphate, and wherein the foaming is performed during the mixture of the at least two phases to provide an improved calcium phosphate foam, process for the preparation of a calcium phosphate foam, use of a composition, solid state structure, calcium phosphate cement foam and bone foam applicator.

Abstract: Bone plates for engaging bone members are described herein. The bone plates can receive one or more screws to secure the bone plates to an underlying bone member. The one or more screws can be inserted into bone plate holes that can be considered locking or non-locking. The bone plates described herein can have particular combinations of locking and/or non-locking holes. In addition, instruments such as distal and proximal aiming guides can accompany the bone plates to guide one or more screws into the bone plates.

Abstract: Provided are systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing minimally invasive spinal surgery. For example, provided is a minimally invasive surgical apparatus for securing a pedicle screw or lateral mass screw to a vertebral lateral mass or pedicle. The example apparatus includes an instrument portal, a pedicle screw or lateral mass screw reducer, an anchor pin receiving chamber, an anchor pin, and a handle.

Abstract: A smart surgical instrument for artificial joint replacement includes a femur resection device, a tibia resection device, and a detector having a shape corresponding to the resected surfaces of a femur and a tibia. The femur resection device includes a laser device such that the femur resection device can be aligned for resection of the femur without drilling an intramedullary hole, thereby preventing complications attributable to the intramedullary hole. The tibia resection device includes a laser device, thereby enabling an easy and fast surgical operation without using an extramedullary aligner used for alignment of a tibia during resection of the tibia. The detector includes a rotation detection means and a pressure detection means and is inserted between trials to allow numerical verification for medial and lateral balance of forces and a rotation state of the trials. The surgical instrument enables a precise, accurate, easy, and fast surgical operation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a tool, a handpiece, and a locking member. The handpiece includes both a coupling member configured to cooperate with the tool, and a driver for rotating the tool. The locking member is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position in response to centrifugal force generated during rotation of the locking member. The locking member is configured to secure the tool to the handpiece when in the locked position.

Abstract: A reducer device for insertion into a surgical cannula includes a tubular member having a proximal opening and a distal opening and an electrically conductive component configured and positioned to provide an electrically conductive path from an interior of the tubular member to an exterior of the tubular member. The electrically conductive path is localized along an axial length of the tubular member. A method of configuring a surgical device includes positioning a surgical cannula within an incision of a patient's body wall, positioning a reducer device within the surgical cannula, and positioning a surgical instrument within the reducer device. Positioning the surgical instrument within the reducer device includes forming an electrically conductive pathway between the surgical cannula and the surgical instrument.

Abstract: Methods of manipulating cancellous bone within a vertebral body. A steerable assembly is directed through an access cannula such that a deflectable portion of the steerable assembly protrudes from the access cannula to within the vertebral body. The steering instrument is actuated from an operating tension mode in which a tension is placed on the control element of the steering instrument to a slack tension mode in which the tension on the control element is released. The steerable instrument may exert substantially zero lateral force on the deformable conduit in the slack tension mode. The steering instrument is moved relative to the deformable conduit positioned within the vertebral body. The steering instrument is actuated to move the steering instrument from the slack tension mode to the operating tension mode in which the deflectable portion may assume a curved configuration not substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the access cannula.

Abstract: An instrument includes a sleeve extending between proximal and distal ends. The sleeve defines a passageway. The distal end defines an engagement portion including an engagement surface extending from a first end to a second end. A peg extends outwardly from the first end. An opening that is in communication with the passageway extends through the second end. A knob is coupled to the proximal end. A shaft includes a proximal end and an opposite distal end. The distal end of the shaft includes a mating portion. The mating portion extends through the opening. The proximal end of the shaft is coupled to the knob. The knob is rotatable relative to the sleeve to rotate the shaft relative to the sleeve. Methods of use are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprises surgical instruments for use with an implantable interspinous device having at least one pair of wings for securing the implantable device to a spinous process. The instrument system may include a surgical instrument for expanding or spreading the pair of wings to accommodate the spinous process. Further, a surgical instrument may be provided for crimping or compressing the pair of wings against the spinous process for secure attachment of the device to a vertebra. The surgical instruments may be configured similar to pliers and apply force to the pair of wings within a predetermined range so as to avoid damage, weakening or breakage of the pair of wings. The surgical instrument system may also include interspinous devices of differing sizes.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, in particular for use in dental surgery, includes a machining device and a protector device. The machining device has a shaft with a connection region and a hollow cylindrical head, wherein an active region, in particular for machining and/or for grinding of bone, is formed at a distal edge of the head. The protector device surrounds the head, at least in regions, and is rotatably coupled with a bearing element of the machining device extending, at least in regions, inside of the head.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a device for mixing a polymethyl methacrylate bone cement formed of two starting components and for storing the starting components of the bone cement. The device has a tubular cartridge with a cylindrical interior. A powder is contained in a front of the cartridge and a container containing a monomer liquid is arranged in a rear of the cartridge. A discharge piston is arranged between the container and the powder, and a conveying piston is on the side of the container opposite the discharge piston. The discharge piston and the conveying piston are arranged in the interior of the cartridge movably in the longitudinal direction. A conduit is provided that connects the front part and the rear part of the interior of the cartridge to one another in a manner permeable for the monomer liquid and for gases and which is impermeable for the powder.

Abstract: Various embodiments of wedge plates configured to promote bone growth are disclosed. Generally, a wedge plate comprises a first bone contact section, a second bone contact section, and a wedge section located between the first bone contact section and the second bone contact section. The wedge section is sized and configured to be received within a wedge formed in a bone. The wedge section comprises at least one feature configured to promote bone growth. A bone growth stimulant may be located within the at least one feature.

Abstract: A pivotal bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper capture structure and a head. The head has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod.

Abstract: Instrumentation sets and methods for preparing and implanting an osteochondral allograft to a bone lesion. Instrumentation sets include a pair of guide blocks, a recipient guide block and an allograft guide block, for preparing a cavity at the bone lesion matched by a similarly sized and shaped allograft. Guide blocks provide simple and direct techniques for preparing a matching cavity, formed at the bone lesion, to a bone implant, to be secured within the cavity. Methods include use of the instrumentation to restore bone surfaces for any number of sites using any allograft source. In some cases, the bone lesion is in a humeral head and the allograft source is a talus.

Abstract: A portable handheld system for imaging of a throat of a patient, including: a mouthpiece including at least one bite guide for stabilizing the mouthpiece with respect to teeth of the patient when the patient bites on the at least one bite guide; intraoral optics operable to collect light from the throat of the patient and to direct the light towards an imaging sensor; and an imaging sensor operable to capture light directed by the intraoral optics to provide an image of the throat; wherein a mechanical connection between the mouthpiece and the intraoral optics constrains a spatial relationship of the intraoral optics with respect to the mouthpiece so that when the patient bites on the at least one bite guide: the intraoral optics is stabilized by the mouthpiece inside a mouth of the patient having a FOV which includes at least part of a tonsil of the patient.

Abstract: A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a driver assembly with a tubular shaft, a pair of implant holder arms, an implant distractor, an internal actuator, and a distractor knob, the system also including a delivery device with a tubular shaft, a receiving assembly, and a pair of forks, where the delivery device is adapted for slidable insertion of the driver assembly, the system also including an implant, a chisel, and an injector. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.