Abstract: Apparatus and method for surgery is disclosed which includes a retractor having a substantially planar base defining an opening for overlying an operative site on a patient, and at least one retractor blade slidably mounted to the base. The base is positioned on the patient such that the opening therein overlies the operative site. The operative site is percutaneously accessed, and obstructing tissue is retracted by engaging the tissue with the retractor blade. A surgical instrument is provided which is engageable with the base and operable at the operative site through the opening in the base. A surgical procedure is carried out through the opening in the base with the surgical instrument.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prosthetic knee. In one embodiment of the present invention, the knee has a femoral body and meniscal body. The femoral body has a femoral alignment member, and the meniscal body has a femoral side. Extending from the femoral side are at least two guiding protrusions that extend along the longitudinal axis of the meniscal body and define at least two sides of an alignment groove. The alignment groove slippingly receives the femoral alignment member. The femoral alignment is able to move within the alignment groove and slip over the alignment groove when a force of sufficient magnitude is applied to the prosthetic and revert into the alignment groove. In another embodiment of the present invention, the groove and the alignment components are reversed on the respective femoral and meniscal bodies.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of spinal fixation involving application of a liquid medium which cures, hardens, polymerizes or otherwise serves to bind adjacent vertebrae together. The fixation which results from this binding may be temporary or essentially permanent in duration, and may be used to treat conditions or disease of the spine, such as inflammation, instability or fracture. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid medium comprises a low viscosity cyanoacrylate-based adhesive.

Abstract: A surgical tack for bone fixation having a body portion with barbs on the outside of the body portion to fixedly engage a bone structure, and a head portion to assist in implantation of the surgical tack. The tack also includes fins on the body portion to reduce implantation forces while not reducing the holding power of the surgical tack. The barbs extend from the fins to engage a bone structure and increase the holding force of the surgical tack. Additionally, a break-away portion is affixed to the head portion to engage an implantation device to assist an implantation of the surgical tack.

Abstract: A modular femoral prosthesis includes a stem member adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a femur. The stem member has a continuously tapered elongated bore and a threaded aperture defined therein. A first end of the elongated bore defines a post-receiving opening. The post-receiving opening is defined in a proximal end surface of the stem member. The elongated bore extends between the post-receiving opening and a threaded aperture. The femoral prosthesis also includes a neck member having a neck body, a head-receiving support member secured to the neck body so as to extend outwardly therefrom, and a tapered post secured to the neck body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The tapered post is adapted to be received into the elongated bore of the stem member. A method of performing a joint replacement procedure by use of a modular prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: The catheter and introducer needle assembly of this invention includes a catheter adapter at its proximal end having a hollow septum disposed therein. The septum preferably is hollow to minimize drag as the introducer needle is removed therefrom. If desired a gel or lubricious material may be disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular femoral prosthesis having a neck element 18 that can be selectively positioned atop a stem element 12 by inserting a grooved shaft 26 that extends downward from the bottom of the neck element 18 into a corresponding slotted recess 32 originating on a top portion of the stem element 12 and continuing longitudinally partially therethrough. The axial orientation of the neck element 18 relative to the stem element 12 can thus be rotated accordingly during insertion of the grooved shaft 26 into the slotted recess 32. The stem 13 can be cylindrical in form or tapered. Locking screw 30 is provided to secure the neck element 18 to the stem element 12.

Abstract: The present invention features an acromial-humeral prosthesis for use in performing acromial-humeral arthoplasty. The prosthesis is useful for cases where massive, irreparable tears to the rotator cuff have occurred. The principle function of the prosthesis is to prevent superior migration of the humeral head. An acromial tray is inserted using a specialized insertion tool. The acromial tray is held in place against a prepared inferior surface of the acromion by a pair of screws. A concave, disc-like polymeric component is affixed to the bottom of the acromial tray by sliding the component onto one or more matching rails on the inferior surface of the acromial tray This component is relieved to accept the long head of the biceps tendon anteriorly and the greater trochanter laterally. The inventive prosthesis helps prevent non-anatomical articulations of the humerus and other inappropriate glenohumeral kinematics.

Abstract: A method and system for the extracorporeal treatment of blood to remove fluid from the fluid overloaded patient is disclosed that non-invasively measures an oxygen level in the venous blood. The oxygen blood level is used to detect when hypotension is about to occur in a patient. The oxygen level measurements are used as feedback signals. These feedback signals are applied to automatically control the rate of fluid extraction to achieve the desired clinical outcome and avoid precipitating a hypotensive crisis in the patient.

Abstract: A modular femoral prosthesis includes a stem member adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a femur. The stem member has a continuously tapered elongated bore and a threaded aperture defined therein. A first end of the elongated bore defines a post-receiving opening. The post-receiving opening is defined in a proximal end surface of the stem member. The elongated bore extends between the post-receiving opening and a threaded aperture. The femoral prosthesis also includes a neck member having a neck body, a head-receiving support member secured to the neck body so as to extend outwardly therefrom, and a tapered post secured to the neck body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The tapered post is adapted to be received into the elongated bore of the stem member. A method of performing a joint replacement procedure by use of a modular prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for identifying the position of the distal holes for passage of securement screws provided in an intramedullary nail inserted in a medullary canal of a long bone, having an arm that protrudes from said medullary canal, provided with a fixing element for rotational and axial fixing to the end of said nail, the arm comprising a portion that protrudes outside the bone provided with elements for the coupling, at a selective distance, of a hollow stem which encloses a plurality of channels allowing sliding therein of guiding wires for guiding a cannulated bone drilling tool and at least one securement screw to be inserted after removal of the cannulated tool through the bone and distal holes of the intramedullary nail.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and method for emergency administration or self-administration of thrombolytic therapy in early stage of a heart attack. The apparatus includes a needle injector for making a venipuncture, a battery operated micro cooler for maintaining low temperature environment for vials with lyophilized thrombolytic and adjuvant drugs, a container with a diluent for reconstitution of the lyophilized drugs, a programmable infusion pump, and a microprocessor for controlling the process of infusion and recording the data. As the system is activated, said container becomes fluidly communicable with the infusion pump and vials with drugs in the cooler. Designed for autonomous execution of several schedules of infusion, it also can be controlled remotely by a qualified operator via an Internet interface.

Abstract: An equine dental speculum maintenance system utilizing rotatable and replaceable wear components in order to extend the useful life of an equine dental speculum. Both the toothed rack and the pawl are rotatable and replaceable.

Abstract: A coating material color changer includes multiple modules. Each module includes a body constructed from an electrically non-conductive material, such as an insulative resin or polymer, and a plate coupled to the body and constructed from, for example, stainless steel. Each plate includes at least one of a receptacle for receiving an electrically non-insulative contact and an electrically non-insulative contact oriented to be received in such a receptacle when multiple modules are coupled together in a coating material color changer to couple the plates of the modules of the coating material color changer together electrically.

Abstract: A coupler for connecting a first, slotted, implanted spinal fixation element to a second spinal fixation element includes a post and a head disposed on a distal end of the post. The head of the coupler has a width shorter than a width of a slot in the first, slotted, implanted spinal fixation element, and a length longer than the width of the slot in the first, slotted, implanted spinal fixation element. The coupler with a head so configured can be placed in a first orientation so that the head passes through the slot in the first, slotted, implanted spinal fixation element, and then can be placed in a second orientation wherein the head is trapped beneath the first, slotted, implanted spinal fixation element while the post having a connecting element extends through the slot. Systems and methods for extending a first, implanted spinal fixation element to one or more additional vertebrae while leaving the first, implanted spinal fixation element in place are also disclosed.

Abstract: A spinal implant replaces excised tissue removed during spine surgery. This implant includes fasteners which firmly attach it to vertebrae adjacent to excised tissue so as to transmit tension and torsional loads to and from those vertebrae. The body of the implant has through cavities into which bone growth material is placed during surgery. The body of the implant also has a finite modulus of elasticity in compression so as to share compressive loads with emplaced bone growth material and with new bony growth facilitated by the emplaced material and the load sharing.

Abstract: A light weight, portable, temperature regulated enclosure for the pre-heating of artificial insemination guns and the transportation of loaded artificial insemination guns to the place of usage is disclosed. A flexible, planar heater using an etched electrically resistive metallic foil heating element and attached temperature sensor provides regulated heat to the interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering fractionally inspired oxygen (FiO2) to a patient in response to receiving an arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation signal (SpO2) are disclosed. The SpO2 is measured, for example, by using a pulse oximeter. An algorithm receives a signal indicating the SpO2. The algorithm determines wither the SpO2 is in the normoxemia range, hypoxemia range or hyperoxemia range. The algorithm also determines trends by calculating a slope of second-to-second changes in the SpO2. Based on the current SpO2 and the trend, the algorithm determines the appropriate FiO2 for the patient and instructs a device, such as a mechanical ventilator or an air oxygen mixer as to the appropriate FiO2 to be delivered to the patient. The system initializes various parameters with default values, but a user (e.g., a nurse) can also update the settings at any time.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a handheld and hand operated liquid trigger sprayer includes a nozzle housing and a flow control member contained in the nozzle housing. The nozzle housing has an oblong liquid discharge orifice and a plurality of liquid breakup channels that radiate outwardly from the orifice. The flow control member has a head with a conical surface that engages over the liquid breakup channels and together they break up a flow of viscous liquid into separate liquid streams that impact with each other at the entrance to the discharge orifice and the liquid is discharged from the nozzle orifice in a narrow, fan spray pattern of the viscous liquid.

Abstract: With a device for applying a coating agent onto a cyclically moved substrate, a uniform coating thickness may be achieved, although the rate of advance is not constant. At least one spray valve is provided which is permanently supplied with coating agent and the nozzle opening of which being adjustable with regard to the size of its effective discharge area in case of change of the rate of advance of the substrate according to the dependency, for a constant layer thickness of the coating agent, on the discharge rate of the coating agent out of the spray valve on the rate of advance of the substrate.