Abstract: An implant for fracture fixation having external portion shaped to be externally engaged on and secured to a stable bone fragment on one side of a bone fracture and an integral internal portion sized and shaped for being inserted into and accommodated in an intramedullary canal of an unstable bone fragment on an opposite side of the fracture. The internal portion has an end with a rounded tip of bullet-shape for fitting in an apical space at an endosteal surface of the unstable bone fragment to provide a bearing support for the unstable bone fragment over a large area.

Abstract: Bone anchor implantation devices and methods for their use are disclosed. The bone anchor implantation devices have an ergonometric and/or rotatable handle. The bone anchor implantation devices and methods find particular application for implanting a bone anchor for maintaining or improving urinary continence by suspending or stabilizing the bladder neck.

Abstract: A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis. including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple.

Abstract: A device and a method for stabilizing vertebrae in a human spine for the purpose of fixing one vertebra with respect to other vertebrae and with respect to other parts of the spinal column. This device comprises bone screws that clamp to a plate to maintain the plate in contact with the vertebrae. The device may be fabricated from non-metals, metal, alloys, or composite materials. A tapered screw head is pulled into the plate with the taper extending through the plate into the underlying bone. Extending the taper into the bone moves the screw thread stress raiser into an area of lesser deflection. This strengthens the fixation by increasing the rigidity and reducing the risk of screw breakage. Extending the taper into the underlying bone has also been shown to strengthen the taper lock.

Abstract: A screw formed of cortical bone for use in the human body with an implant having a screw hole for receiving at least a portion of a screw therethrough, includes a shaft with a thread along at least a portion of its length. The thread has an outer diameter dimensioned to pass through the screw hole in the implant. The trailing end of the screw is configured to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the screw hole of the implant so as to prevent the screw from linear motion along the mid-longitudinal axis of the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion when the screw is threaded through the screw hole to attach the implant to a bone portion of the human body. The screw is formed substantially of cortical bone of a single cortical thickness.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a polyaxial fixation device having a shank with a spherical head formed on a proximal end thereof, and a receiver member having an axial passage formed therein that is adapted to polyaxially seat the spherical head of the shank. The polyaxial bone screw further includes an engagement member that is adapted to provide sufficient friction between the spherical head and the receiver member to enable the shank to be maintained in a desired angular orientation before locking the spherical head within the receiver member.

Abstract: A minimaly invasive spacer for positioning between vertebral members. The spacer is adjustable between a first orientation having a reduced size to facilitate insertion between the vertebral members. A second orientation has an enlarged size for contacting the vertebral members. The spacer includes linkages that are attached to a pair of plates. A pull arm is operatively connected to the linkages for adjusting the spacer from the first orientation to the second orientation. A delivery device is attached to the spacer for insertion between the vertebral members. In one embodiment, the delivery device is detachable to be removed from the spacer once positioned between the vertebral members. Methods of using the spacer include positioning the spacer between the vertebral members while in the first orientation. The spacer is then enlarged to the second orientation, and the delivery device is removed with only the spacer remaining within the patient.

Abstract: A milling instrument assembly (15) is provided for vertebral endplate preparation along a cutting path obliquely oriented to the axis of approach to the vertebra. The milling instrument assembly (15) provides control of the anterior-posterior depth of endplate removal by guiding cutting assembly (120) in the disc space as it moves transversely across a housing assembly (16.) Methods and techniques are included for using the milling instrument assembly (15) in spinal surgery.

Abstract: A spine fixation apparatus and method including at least one longitudinal rod mounted parallel to the axis of the spine and having a plurality of stem clamps adjustably mounted to the longitudinal rod. Each stem clamp has a stem extending outwardly therefrom with the diameter of the stem being identical to the diameter of the longitudinal rod. A plurality of C-clamps are provided and are mounted to the stems and to the longitudinal rods. A plurality of bone pins are provided and are used to preliminarily mount the spinal fixation construct to the spine to allow the surgeon to determine by X-ray the accuracy of the construct with regard to the spine. A plurality of innovative bone screws are used to simultaneously anchor the C-clamps to the bone and to the respective stem and longitudinal rod. The bone screws are configured with a smaller diameter at the distal end having threads thereon for threadedly engaging the underlying bone.

Abstract: The inventive concept presents a device and method to better provide cooking options to a user of an outdoor cooking grill. The disclosed “Plate Setter” is a reversible, circular plate-like structure having three legs integral to, and spaced symmetrically about, the circumference of the Plate Setter. The reversible structure is characterized by two integral, back-to-back cooking surfaces. Disclosed is a first cooking surface consisting of a plurality of parallel, raised ribs elevated above a walled, circular plate bed. The second cooking surface comprises a flat cooking surface reversible from, and precisely opposite to the first cooking surface. The second cooking surface further consists of three raised beams which intersect at a common point on the surface of the second cooking surface. The raised beams provide structural strength and also partition the second cooking surface into three equal cooking sections.

Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.

Abstract: A utility cart with lock box which includes a fixed housing portion mounted to the top of a cart storage unit, and a rotating housing portion rotatably mounted to the fixed housing portion. The fixed housing portion includes spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuate back wall, and an open front. The rotating housing portion includes spaced sidewalls joined to a clear see through arcuate front wall, and an open back. The rotating housing portion is dimensioned such that it can be rotated rearwardly up and over the fixed housing to provide access to items stored in the fixed housing portion, or under the closed rotating housing portion. Alternatively the rotating housing can be rotated forwardly and downwardly to enclose all items in the lock box. The items located in the lock box are visible whether the box is opened or closed.

Abstract: A compressor/distractor system for operating on a spine is disclosed. The system includes two rod reducers which each advance a spinal rod into the shoulder portion of a pedicle screw. Each rod reducer includes an inner member, an outer member, and a pair of gripping members. Each outer member receives and advances the spinal rod into the pedicle screw. The outer member also includes a through slot which receives the proximal end of each of the pair of gripping members which may limit the longitudinal translation of the outer member with respect to the inner member. The compressor/distractor system may include a compressor/distractor device which has a compressing, a distracting, and a neutral configuration. A method for using the minimally invasive rod reducers with the compressor/distractor system to secure at least two pedicle screws in desired positions on a spinal rod is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wound dressing, a method of manufacturing a wound dressing, and a method of treating a patient are disclosed. The wound dressing may include an absorbent layer for absorbing wound exudate; and an obscuring element for at least partially obscuring a view of wound exudate absorbed by the absorbent layer in use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining contours of a patient's foot ankle and lower leg. The apparatus includes an alignment structure that orientates the foot for imaging. The alignment structure includes at least one support member that engages the plantar surface of the foot substantially only in the immediate area of the lateral metatarsal heads of the foot, preferably the fifth metatarsal head. The support generates a dorsally-directed force that locks the midtarsal joint. The alignment structure further includes a saddle that engages the rearfoot and a laser beam for aligning the second metatarsal head with the distal one-third of the lower leg to place the subtalar joint in a neutral condition. The foot is thus suspended in space such that imaging is able to produce an accurate measurement of the subject areas of the foot, ankle and lower leg without distortion of the soft tissues or bone structure.

Abstract: A bone transport system includes a nail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured for securing to a first portion of bone, the distal end configured for securing to a second portion of bone. The system includes a housing having a wall with a longitudinal opening extending a length along a portion thereof The system further includes a transport sled having a length that is shorter than the length of the longitudinal opening, the transport sled configured for securing to a third portion of bone, the transport sled further configured to be moveable along the longitudinal opening. The system further includes a magnetic assembly disposed within the nail and configured to be non-invasively actuated by a moving magnetic field, wherein actuation of the magnetic assembly moves the transport sled along the longitudinal opening. The system further includes a ribbon extending on opposing sides of the transport sled and substantially covering the longitudinal opening.

Abstract: A golf club includes a club head having a volume of greater than about 360 cm3 and a mass less than 200 g. A shaft attachable to the club head has a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point distance, BPs, as measured from the butt end, of no more than 19 inches. And the golf club has a mass less than 300 g.

Abstract: A spinal device including a variable-length member including a ratchet mechanism that has an operative configuration that allows a change in length of the variable-length member in one direction and prevents a change in length of the variable-length member in an opposite direction, wherein the variable-length member includes polyaxial-joint attachment members for attachment to bone, which permit pivoting movement of the attachment members about more than one pivoting axis, characterized by a force applicator operative to adjust or advance the ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: A compressor/distractor system for operating on a spine is disclosed. The system includes two rod reducers which each advance a spinal rod into the shoulder portion of a pedicle screw. Each rod reducer includes an inner member, an outer member, and a pair of gripping members. Each outer member receives and advances the spinal rod into the pedicle screw. The outer member also includes a through slot which receives the proximal end of each of the pair of gripping members which may limit the longitudinal translation of the outer member with respect to the inner member. The compressor/distractor system may include a compressor/distractor device which has a compressing, a distracting, and a neutral configuration. A method for using the minimally invasive rod reducers with the compressor/distractor system to secure at least two pedicle screws in desired positions on a spinal rod is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stake consists of two planar panels joined on a longitudinal axis and angularly disposed with respect to one another. Lower portions of the panels converge to a tip on the axis, and an axial tang is formed at the top of the stake. An inwardly directed flange is formed near the top of each panel, the flanges being disposed substantially in a common plane, generally perpendicular to the panels. The flanges and the tang facilitate driving of the stake into a substrate by use of a power hammer, and the driven stake resists both upward and lateral displacement. It is especially adapted for the securement of edging for restraining paving and landscaping materials.