Abstract: A surgical tool includes a shaft for receiving implants. The shaft defines a non-linear track. The tool includes a deployment member movable along the track to deploy the implants. An implant includes a body, and a plurality of alternating threads and flutes helically arranged about the body such that the body rotates under a linear applied force. Alternatively, an implant includes a body having a distal end for pound-in advancement into tissue. The body includes a plurality of cone-shaped, stacked barbs. A surgical tool includes two implants. The first implant has forward threads and the second implant has reverse threads. The first implant has threads for rotary advancement into tissue and the second implant is configured for pound-in advancement into tissue. The first and second implants are configured for pound-in advancement into tissue.

Abstract: An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component which exhibits enhanced articular features, minimizes removal of healthy bone stock from the distal femur, and minimizes the impact of the prosthesis on adjacent soft tissues of the knee.

Abstract: A tool and method for locating a proper position for a portal incision for hip arthroplasty, the tool having at least one generally straight body defining an axis, the generally straight body having a slot at one end, the slot being angled at an approximately 45 degree angle relative to the axis of the generally straight body, the slot configured to receive a cutting member or guide tool. A second generally straight body may be connected to the first generally straight body to form a right angle. If the lengths of the two generally straight bodies are substantially equivalent, then when the second generally straight body is inserted into the acetabulum, the first generally straight body positions the slot in the proper location such that sliding a guide tool or cutting member through the slot allows a portal incision to be created in the proper location. In some embodiments, the generally straight bodies may have adjustable lengths.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for a shoulder joint includes a patient-specific alignment guide. The alignment guide includes a cap having a three-dimensional engagement surface customized in a pre-operative plan by computer imaging to be complementary and closely mate and conform to a humeral head of a proximal humerus of a patient. The alignment guide includes a tubular element extending from the cap and defining a longitudinal guiding bore for guiding an alignment pin at a patient-specific position and orientation determined in the pre-operative plan, and an orientation feature on the cap. The orientation feature is designed to orient the cap relative to the humeral head when the orientation feature is aligned with a landmark of the proximal humerus.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent has a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of cells, each cell being formed by a plurality of struts. A valve assembly is secured to the stent and includes a cuff and a plurality of leaflets. The plurality of leaflets are attached to the cuff adjacent an underwire that extends about the perimeter of the cuff.

Abstract: This description deals with a medical device, specifically a prosthetic intervertebral disc having a compressible core and at least one cast, polymeric end plate.

Abstract: A drill sleeve includes a lower end that engages a bone being drilled with a drill bit of a drill during an orthopedic procedure, an upper end that is movable with respect to the lower end, and a fluid damper between the upper and lower ends for resisting movement of the upper end with respect to the lower end and which may reduce a distance at which a drill bit can plunge through a back side of the bone by increasing resistance to drill movement at occurrence of plunge through the back of the bone. The drill sleeve may include measurement scale and a lock that prevents relative motion of the upper and lower ends after the bone has been drilled for evaluating a position of a depth indicator with respect to the measurement scale that corresponds to a depth of the bore in the bone.

Abstract: A bone fixation plate includes a first opening formed in a plate that is configured to receive a first fastener; a second opening formed in the plate that is configured to receives a second fastener, and a retention member that extends into a third opening formed in the plate between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the retention member is elastically deformable between at least three positions.

Abstract: A device for partial acetabular replacement includes a patient-specific acetabular guide. The acetabular guide has a first surface configured to nestingly mate in only one position to the patient's acetabulum. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific guiding formation configured to guide a cutting tool to remove damaged tissue from a defect of the patient's acetabulum and prepare a patient-specific implantation slot corresponding to the defect after removal of the damaged tissue. A patient-specific partial acetabular implant can be configured to nestingly mate with the patient-specific implantation slot.

Abstract: Dimensionally adjustable spinal prostheses are adjustable in an axial or superior to inferior dimension such that spinal prostheses may assume variations in height. The height adjustable spinal prostheses are characterized by first and second portions that are configured for adjustable coupling with one another. Spatial adjustment between the first and second portions is provided by an adjustment assembly. The adjustment mechanism preferably, but not necessarily, provides infinite adjustment over a minimum prosthesis height to a maximum prosthesis height. In one form, first and second ends of the height adjustable spinal prostheses are configured to receive an endplate. The endplates aid in attachment and/or anchoring of the spinal prosthesis within the spine. The endplates may be fashioned in various configurations such as circular or anatomical. In one form, the adjustment assembly utilizes rotational motion for varying the axial position of one prosthetic portion relative to the other prosthetic portion.

Abstract: A method for aligning a bone cutting guide on a tibia may involve coupling a cutting guide alignment device and an attached cutting guide with a tibia, adjusting the alignment device in a varus/valgus orientation, adjusting the alignment device in an anterior/posterior orientation, attaching the cutting guide to the tibia, and removing the alignment device from the cutting guide, leaving the cutting guide attached to the tibia. The adjustments to the alignment device may be made according to vertically and horizontally oriented laser lights emitted from the alignment device. As the alignment device is adjusted, the bone cutting guide attached to the alignment device changes position relative to the tibia.

Abstract: A fixation system includes a plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a central longitudinal axis, at least one fixation hole extending between the top and bottom surfaces and comprising an undercut therein, and at least one passage intersecting one of the undercuts. At least one resilient clip is disposed in at least a portion of the undercut, with the at least one clip having a pair of generally parallel sides and an end tab. At least one fastener is provided and comprises a head and a threaded shaft, with the head comprising a perimetral groove extending around at least a portion thereof and an instrument receiving portion. The at least one clip is configured and dimensioned to seat in the undercut with the end tab extending within the passage, and the at least one fastener is configured and dimensioned to be received in the at least one fixation hole and securable therein when the at least one clip abuts the perimetral groove of the head.

Abstract: A hinged bone screw and tool set is used for implanting such bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws. The hinged bone screw includes a shank with an upper portion and a receiver with integral arms forming a U-shaped channel. A lower curved seat partially defining the U-shaped channel cooperates with an upper portion of the bone screw shank for hinged movement of the shank with respect to the receiver. The tool set includes an insertion tool, a bone screw driver, a reduction tool and a closure starter. The insertion tool includes a bone screw attachment structure and a laterally opening channel. The insertion tool further includes a threaded portion for cooperation with the reduction tool to provide synchronized placement of a closure structure in the bone screw receiver while reducing and capturing a longitudinal connecting member within the receiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bone plating system and method for fracture fixation of bone. The bone plating system includes a bone plate, at least one locking screw, and at least one non-locking screw. The bone plate has locking holes with threads and non-locking holes. The locking screws have a shaft with a thread for engaging bone and a head with a thread configured and dimensioned to mate with the thread of the locking holes. The non-locking screws have a thread for engaging bone and a non-threaded head. Both the locking and non-locking screws remain seated in their respective holes for substantially as long as the bone plate is implanted. The non-locking screws compress the bone plate against the bone and hold fracture reduction while the locking screws are secured to the plate at a fixed angular relationship. The mixed fixation achieved by this bone plating system and method is particularly useful for treatment of per-articular fractures.

Abstract: An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.

Abstract: A computer assisted surgery (CAS) system and method for preparing an anatomical structure to receive an orthopaedic implant. The method generally involves the steps of determining a contour of the anatomical structure by using the CAS system to acquire a plurality of points on the anatomical structure and provide a best fit approximation of the anatomical structure based on the plurality of points, selecting an implant to replicate the anatomical structure, and preparing the anatomical structure to receive the implant.

Abstract: A method is provided for manipulating a spinal body spacer for use in spinal surgery on a patient. The method includes attaching a placement tool to the spinal body spacer and manipulating the placement tool so as to locate the spinal body spacer in a desired location. The placement tool can by removed by unscrewing the placement tool from a threaded receiving aperture of the spinal body spacer. The method also includes passing a tip of an extraction tool through the threaded receiving aperture of the spinal body spacer, the tip of the extraction tool having at least one tab. The tip of the extraction tool is rotated such that the at least one tab of the tip of the extraction tool passes through keyways of the spacer and extends into the interior space of the spinal body spacer.

Abstract: A patient-specific guiding system for guiding an instrument relative to a portion of an anatomical feature of a patient. The patient-specific guiding system includes a patient-specific guide. The guide includes a first portion having a first patient-specific inner surface that conforms to a first surface of the anatomical feature and an outer surface opposite the first patient-specific inner surface. The first portion also includes a guide surface for use in guiding the instrument relative to the anatomical feature. The guide also includes a second portion having a second patient-specific inner surface that conforms to a second surface of the anatomical feature and an outer surface opposite the second patient-specific inner surface. The second portion is removably connected to the first portion.

Abstract: A method for fusing a joint, which includes the step of inserting a first anchoring zone of an arthrodesis device being in a first closed position into a first opening within a first bone. The first anchoring zone includes a first pair of legs. Each leg is capable of transitioning between the first closed position and a first open position for internally gripping the first opening. Also, included in the method is the step of inserting a second anchoring zone of the arthrodesis device being in a second closed position into a second opening within a second bone. The second anchoring zone includes a second pair of legs. Each leg is capable of transitioning between the second closed position and a second open position for internally gripping the second opening.

Abstract: A substantially rigid plate is secured to a medial portion of a clavicle relative to a fracture in the clavicle. The plate is positioned so that it extends at least partially over a distal portion of the clavicle relative to the fracture. The plate has surfaces that define a first opening through which a suture can pass. A hole is formed in the clavicle. A washer may be positioned at a side of the plate opposite the clavicle. Alternatively, the plate may include suture holes or edge features for securing a suture. A suture is secured to the washer, to at least one suture hole or to at least one edge feature, and extends through the first opening, through the hole in the clavicle and is secured to the coracoid process.