Abstract: A circumferential retractor apparatus including a first retractor paddle, a second retractor paddle and an elastic member. Each of the first and second retractor paddles includes a body portion with an arm extending outwardly therefrom. The arm supports a grasping surface. The arm of the retractor paddle has a hole formed therein through which the elastic member passes. A slot opens at a top edge of the body portion such that a respective end of the elastic member is received therein. The slot has a dog leg configuration with a wide opening adjacent the top edge of the body portion of the respective paddles.

Abstract: A circumferential retractor apparatus including a first retractor paddle having a grasping surface and a body portion supporting the grasping surface, a second retractor paddle having a grasping surface and a body portion supporting the grasping surface and an elastic member having one end received by the first retractor paddle and an opposite end received by the second retractor paddle. Each of the paddles has a hole formed therein of a size suitable for allowing the elastic member to pass therethrough. A slot is formed in the body portion so as to open to the hole. The slot is of a tapered configuration so as to have a wide end opening to the hole and a narrow end away from the hole. The grasping surface includes a plurality of fingers extending outwardly of the body portion. Each of the plurality of fingers are arranged in parallel spaced relationship to each other. The elastic member is a length of surgical tubing.

Abstract: A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a dissection cradle that is resiliently supported along an axis skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle, in operation, is extended to cradle the target vessel, and the retractor may be fully extended to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate a side branch for exposure to a surgical tool. The retractor includes a hollow support and a spray nozzle disposed in the distal end of the retractor to form an irrigation system and lens washer that can be selectively positioned to direct the spray of irrigation fluid at a remote surgical site or at an endoscopic lens.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an impact-absorbing member for use with an implant insertion instrument and the placement of an implant in a recipient's body. Preferably, the implant is a spinal implant for insertion into the intervertebral space. The impact-absorbing member may be attached to the implant insertion instrument, the implant, or both. The impact-absorbing member reduces the impact forces on the implant during placement.

Abstract: A short main incision and portal incisions at portal positions strategically displaced from the main incision are provided in a patient's hip. One portal incision (acetabular portal) provides for a disposition of reamers in the patient's acetabulum to shape the acetabulum. A cannula is inserted through the portal incision to the acetabulum and the successive reamers of progressive size are inserted into the acetabulum through the main incision to progressively size and shape the acetabulum. An approximately hemispherical acetabular component is then disposed in the prepared acetabulum to provide for hip rotation relative to the femoral component. The other portal incision (femoral portal) provides for insertion into the patient's hip of a member for driving the femoral stem into a cavity in the patient's femur. The provision of the short main incision and the portal incision minimizes the patient's loss of blood, tissue trauma, length of operating time and patient recovery time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bone fixation apparatus. This device comprises a bone screw having a head; a cap member placed on an upper part of the head of the bone screw; a receiver member having a bore in which the cap member and the head of the bone screw are respectively accommodated and held, and a U-shaped channel through which a support bar extends; and a compression member threadedly coupled into the receiver member to downwardly bias the support bar. A multitude of stepped portions are formed at a lower end and inner surface of the receiver member to be brought into linear contact with an outer surface of a lower part of the head so that the supporting force for the head of the bone screw is increased.

Abstract: A device (2) for fixing bone sections separated because of a fracture comprises a plate (4) with bores (8) for the fastening to a bone, a plurality of internally hollow barrels (10), screwed in the bores (8) of the plate (4) and a plurality of compression screws (6) adapted to be screwed in the bone and then locked in the barrels (10).

Abstract: A retractor including: an extension member having distal and proximal ends; a retractor member connected to the distal end of the extension member, the retractor member having a retractor surface. In a first implementation, at least a portion of the retractor surface has a distal vacuum port for positively retaining the tissue upon application of a vacuum to the vacuum port. In an alternative implementation, the retractor has an illuminator for transmitting light into an interior of the body proximate to the tissue.

Abstract: A Novel surgical apparatus and method of use in osteoplasty and other methods of injecting materials into a subject for medical purposes. The present invention particularly relates to the surgical treatment of traumatic, pathogenic, or osteoporotic bone conditions of the human and other animal body systems and more particularly, to a novel apparatus and method for injection of a material into a lesion of a vertebral body or other bony structure.

Abstract: A kit (10) for resection of bone (12) for use in implantation of a joint prosthesis (14) is provided. The kit (10) includes a guide (16), a tool (26) and a stop (32). The guide (16) defines an opening (20) through the guide (16). The guide (16) is in cooperation with the bone (12). The tool (26) may be constrained within the opening (20) of the guide (16). The tool (26) includes a cutting edge (30) for resection of bone (12). The stop (32) cooperates with the guide (16) and the tool (26) to limit the movement of the tool (26) within the guide (16) so that the position of the cutting edge (30) with respect to the bone (12)m may be controlled. The stop (32) includes a plurality of positions (34) with respect to the tool (26) and the guide (16).

Abstract: A speculum system with four blades is provided. The blades project in approximately the same direction, and each blade is connected to a handle linearly or at an angle. The handles are coupled together. In one embodiment, the distance between the blades is changeable so that a field of view defined as the viewable area between the blades can be increased or decreased. In another embodiment, the blades include texture, such as ribs, holes or teeth to grip onto surrounding muscle fiber. In yet another embodiment, a stabilizing arm attaches to a stabilizing object, such as a table or heavy or immovable object, and to one of the handles to stabilize the speculum system.

Abstract: A method for fusing two adjacent bones or pieces of bone includes positioning an adjustable fusion implant between two adjacent bones or pieces of bone, the fusion implant having a first plate and an opposing second plate. A portion of a tool inserted between the first plate and the second plate of the fusion implant is expanded so as to expand the fusion implant between the bones or pieces of bone. The tool is then removed from the expanded fusion implant.

Abstract: A bone fixation apparatus and method are provided that allow a user to push bone pins into engagement with bones with more precision and accurate feel as to proper engagement and the clamping forces between the pins and bone over prior devices utilizing applicator guns and the like. Fine tuning of the clamping forces is also contemplated. Compact and highly ergonomic bone fixators are provided which allow the user to remain close to the pin application site during clamping of the pins onto the bone. Significant flexiblity is preferably incorporated by having two adjustably connected positioner bodies which can each mount a pin holder module releasably attached thereto. A fixation system with improved rigidity is also provided by way of independent clamping members for each of a pair of rod mounts on each pin positioner.

Abstract: An adjustable bone fusion implant includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of spaced apart expandable sidewalls extending therebetween. The top surface, bottom surface, and pair of expandable sidewalls at least partially bound a compartment therebetween. A discrete reinforcing member has a predetermined shape. The reinforcing member is selectively positioned within or outside of the compartment such that a compressive force applied on the top surface and bottom surface of the housing is transferred through the reinforcing member.

Abstract: A method for preparing and cutting the radial and carpal bones to receive a prosthetic wrist during a total wrist arthroplasty. Cuts on both the radius and carpal bones are made from a single broach. The broach is embedded in the intramedullary canal of the radius and a cutting tool is attached to an end of the broach to resect the radius. With the cutting tool removed, a cut block is attached to the broach and the carpal bones are resected. The cut block has a thickness that equal the thickness of the bearing component of the wrist prosthesis.

Abstract: A valve seat includes a seat body with an inlay and at least one groove. The seat body has a passage which extends from a first opening to a second opening in the seat body. A channel is located in the seat body adjacent the first opening and extends around at least a portion of the passage. The inlay is located in at least a portion of the channel. The groove extends along at least a portion of an inner surface of the passage from the first opening towards the second opening.

Abstract: A device for aligning a guide template used in resecting a distal femur in a one-compartment joint replacement. The device includes first and second support members (12;5), at least one rod-like transverse coupler (10;12), and a guide template (20). The support members each include a support surface (3;6) that is adjustable to lie in one plane (1) and designed to bear against one condyle (24;25) of a femur (21). The transverse coupler is arranged parallel to a transverse axis (2), which, in its end portion, is connected to the first support member (12) and is releasably connectable to the second support member (5). The transverse axis (2) extends parallel to a plane (1). The guide template (20) is displaceable parallel to the plane (1) relative to the second support member (5) and releasably lockable thereon.

Abstract: An acetabular prosthesis (1) includes a hollow hemispherical artificial acetabular cup (2) having expansion slots distributed over its periphery, and provided with teeth (11n,=1-3) on the outer surface, a threaded intermediate element (3) and a plastic insert (4). The intermediate element (3) is a hollow core with an outer hemispherical surface capable of being urged in contact against at least an internal meridian generatrix of each segment defined between the slots; the inside part close to the orifice of the acetabular cup (2) has a thread wherein is screwed the intermediate core (3); the internal diameter of the acetabular cup (2) orifice of the acetabular cup (2) in reception position before the intermediate element (3) is screwed, is smaller than the external diameter of the intermediate element (3).

Abstract: Device for securing bits of bone together, particularly small-sized bats of bone, for example bits of metatarsal head, in the form of a spindle including an elongate shank (1) followed, after a breakable region (2), by a fixator element (3) extending frustoconically to reduce in diameter in the direction of the anterior end (4), with a screw thread the pitch of which decreases progressively from the anterior end and of which the crests of the thread lie inside a coaxial geometric cylinder (D), the anterior end forming a self-drilling end.

Abstract: A fluid valve assembly includes a housing, a valve, a rotatable driver received in the housing in operative communication with the valve, and an over-center linkage disposed between the driver and the housing. The housing includes an entrance to permit fluid flow into the housing and an exit to allow fluid flow out of the housing. The valve is disposed between the housing entrance and exit. The valve is configured in an open state to permit fluid flow through the housing and in a closed state to block fluid flow through the housing. Rotation of the driver from a first rotational position toward a second rotational position moves the valve from the closed to the open state, and rotation of the driver from the second rotational position to a third rotational position permits the valve to return to a closed state. The over-center linkage biases the driver to either the first or third rotational position.