Abstract: Retaining mechanisms are attachable to a bone plate to retain one or more bone fasteners in the bone plate. The retaining mechanisms include a retaining element and an attachment element, the attachment element having a distal portion attachable to the bone plate. The retaining element can be distally biased relative to the attachment element. Instruments are engageable to the retaining mechanism to attach the retaining mechanism to the plate.

Abstract: A plug for stopping the flow of bone cement in a channel within bone includes an elastomeric inflatable structure protected from bone fragments and sharp edges by a shield extending around the inflatable structure. The shield may be formed as two or more coaxial structures having flexible members extending between opposite ends, with flexible members from an inner such structure curving outward to lie between adjacent flexible members from an outer such structure as the inflatable structure is inflated. The core is also removably connected to an insertion tool, with passageways in the insertion tool and in the core being used to insert a fluid into the inflatable structure. A valve extends as a sleeve around the core, and over the passageway, allowing fluid to flow into the inflatable structure, but preventing it from flowing out of the inflatable structure.

Abstract: A method for closing an opening in a wall of a body lumen wherein an elongate member is advanced into the body lumen and a distal portion of an obturator is positioned distally beyond the distal end of the elongate member within the body lumen and in which one or more expandable elements on the distal portion of the obturator are expanded. The obturator is then withdrawn until the expandable elements contact the wall of the body lumen and a clip having tines is advanced over the elongate member until the tines penetrate the wall of the body lumen. The tines and the expandable elements are offset from one another. The elongate member is withdrawn from the body lumen and the clip substantially closes the opening in the body lumen.

Abstract: An anti-splay closure with a pair of spaced removal apertures, includes a cylindrical closure body with an external, continuous, helically extending anti-splay guide and advancement flange and a breakaway installation head. The removal apertures are spaced from and parallel to an axis of the closure body and are also spaced from a radially outer surface of the body. The apertures are sized and shaped to receive a removal tool having prongs with a complementary shape to the bores. The closure is used with an open headed bone implant screw which is provided with internal, helically extending mating guide and advancement structure complementary to the flange of the closure body.

Abstract: In a device for injecting bone cement, the discharge direction of the bone cement after insertion of the cannula should be controllable in a certain region. This is made possible through a radial exit aperture which is provided on the front end of the cannula. Since the cannula is inserted with the aid of a guide wire, it has an orifice on its front end, which orifice must be closed off by means of a ball prior to the injection. A plunger serves to insert the ball. So that the situation of the radial aperture is known at all times, even with inserted cannula, the handle of the cannula has an asymmetrical shape.

Abstract: A plating system for stabilization of a bony segment includes a plate engageable to at least first and second bony elements. For spinal stabilization, the plate is attached at least to first and second vertebrae with at least one bone fastener in each vertebra. Retaining members are attachable to the plate to prevent the bone fasteners from backing out of the plate. One retaining member is a variable retaining member that allows the bone fasteners to toggle in the plate without interference. A second retaining member is a fixed retaining member that fixes the bone fasteners relative to the plate.

Abstract: A bone plate is provided for fixation of spaced vertebra. The bone plate has at least one through passage for securing the plate to bone with a bone fixation screw. The threaded shaft of a bone fixation screw is inserted through a bushing located in the through passage of the bone plate and the screw is thereby threadably secured to the underlying bone and the bushing is then compressed inward against the head of the screw with cams that are actuated by rotating the bushing in the through passage whereby the screw is locked relative to the bone plate. The bushing is not only compressed inwardly against the head of the screw but is also compressed downwardly by the cams into a seat to clamp separate elements of the bone plate together.

Abstract: A fixation system for bones with a force support having holes and bone screws adapted to be inserted into the holes where at least one hole is oriented obliquely to the force support.

Abstract: A handling device to hold a bearing liner which is to be introduced into the socket of an acetabular cup has a support provided with an alignment element on the acetabular cup and having an opening which has a deformable rim adapted to receive the outer circumference of the bearing liner to be inserted. The bearing liner which may be, for example, conically tapered, is inserted into the opening in the support until the rim on the handling device is engaged. The held bearing liner can now be accurately located in a tapered socket of the acetabular cup utilizing the alignment device. Because the lower surface of the support rests against the upper rim of the acetabular cup, the complementary tapered bearing surfaces are not fully engaged. Engagement is achieved by pushing the bearing liner downwards through the deformable rim of the opening in the support so that the liner is correctly inserted. The handling device is now free of the bearing liner and can be removed.

Abstract: A system for sealing a hole in a body, comprising a generally cylindrical mesh formed from a plurality of helical strands which is inserted into the hole, with at least one end of the cylindrical mesh being moved least partially through an interior portion of the cylindrical shaped mesh such that the mesh expands radially outwards against sides of the hole.

Abstract: A two-piece cut block for performing a minimally invasive partial or total knee arthroplasty. The present invention comprises a cut block that can be inserted into an incision in two parts then assembled in vivo.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reinforcing implant for tissue sutures used for mechanically reinforcing stitched tissue zones, and consisting of a textile lap based on polyuronic acid or one of its salts

Abstract: A surgical tool system comprising a handpiece and a cutting accessory that is releaseably secured to the handpiece. The handpiece has a gear assembly with two drive heads. The gear assembly turns the drive heads at different rotational speeds relative to each other. The cutting accessory is provided with one of two drive hubs. If the cutting accessory is provided with a first drive hub, the drive hub mates to a first one of the drive heads so as to turn of the speed of that head. If the cutting accessory is provided with a second drive hub, the drive hub mates to the second drive head so as to turn at the speed of that head. Thus, the speed at which the cutting accessory is actuated is a function of the associated drive head.

Abstract: A method of locating a vessel lumen to enable placement of a vascular hole closure device comprising the steps of providing a syringe containing a fluid therein, connecting the syringe to an elongated instrument, exerting a force on the syringe plunger as it is inserted through the tissue towards the vessel wall, and detecting movement of the syringe to eject the fluid to determine entry of the elongated instrument into the vessel lumen.

Abstract: Vertebra bodies in the human spine are stabilized through the use of minimally invasive surgery for the implantation of an elongate implant plate assembly having spaced first and second screw receiving socket elements which are configured for respective attachment to first and second spaced vertebra with the aid of bone fixation screws and these elements are slidably received with respect to each other for adjustably changing the distance between the screw receiving socket elements. A lock assembly is also provided for selectively locking the first and second screw receiving elements from further relative sliding.

Abstract: A bone plate is provided for fixation of spaced vertebra. The bone plate has at least one through passage for securing the plate to bone with a bone fixation screw. The threaded shaft of a bone fixation screw is inserted through a bushing located in the through passage of the bone plate and the screw is thereby threadably secured to the underlying bone and the bushing is then compressed inward against the head of the screw with cams that are actuated by rotating the bushing in the through passage whereby the screw is locked relative to the bone plate. The bushing is not only compressed inwardly against the head of the screw but is also compressed downwardly by the cams into a seat to clamp separate elements of the bone plate together.

Abstract: This invention discloses a medical catheter and methods for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally. The method may comprise inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve; deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical catheter to stabilize and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet; deploying a cutting mechanism of said medical catheter to cut a valve base of said defective valve; and removing said defective valve from the patient.

Abstract: A uni-directional dynamic spinal fixation device includes first and second plates having openings at remote ends for receiving bone screws to fix the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of a bone graft-receiving site. The first and second plates have male and female parts having interlocking elements cooperable with one another enabling movement of the plates and the adjacent vertebrae to one another to progressively compress the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae and prevent movement of the first and second plates and adjacent vertebrae away from one another.

Abstract: The invention concerns an osteosynthesis system, comprising at least a linking element in the form of a rod, at least two fixing elements each capable of being anchored in a vertebra, and a locking screw. The invention is characterized in that the base of the head has a general horse-saddle shape, and the head has guide means for an independent closure component designed to be fixed on the head after the linking element has been positioned in the fork of the head, said closure component being generally U-shaped whereof the branches are urged to co-operate with the branches of-the fork-shaped part of the head and whereof the base comprises an internal thread for co-operating with the locking screw and the guide means provided on the head is formed by an arc-shaped shoulder on the outer side surfaces of the fork-shaped part. The invention also concerns an ancillary and an element for fixing such a system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic knife for being guided into an incision formed at an eyeball and for widening the width of the incision, the ophthalmologic knife comprising a handle and a blade portion having a flat shape formed at a end portion of the handle. The blade portion is formed with cutting edges arranged on both sides in a narrowing manner toward a front tip of the blade portion, and the front tip of the blade portion is formed with a guide portion arranged between the two cutting edges for guiding the blade portion into the incision formed at the eyeball.