Abstract: A surgical drill for use with a drill bit. The drill includes a handpiece with a motor and a brake mechanism. The brake mechanism is a sliding rack adjacent a first end and a second end with a stop adjacent the drill bit. An actuator is mounted to the handpiece and a plunger is coupled to the actuator. A sensor asserts a signal when the drill bit penetrates bone. When the sensor asserts the signal indicting the drill bit penetrated bone, the actuator moves the plunger into engagement with the rack to prevent further insertion of the drill bit.

Abstract: Biomedical implant fastener systems, such as bone screw systems and the like. In some embodiments, a fastener may comprise a first plurality of teeth, and a washer configured to be received on the fastener may comprise a second plurality of teeth configured to be engaged with the first plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth may be configured to engage with the second plurality of teeth such that so as to allow for selective rotation between the washer and the fastener in a first rotational direction and so as to prevent rotation between the washer and the fastener in a second rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction when the fastener is engaged with the washer such that second plurality of teeth is engaged with the first plurality of teeth so as to prevent the fastener from backing out of the washer after engagement.

Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods for treating vertebral fractures with one or more bone pins. In one embodiment of a method, a fractured vertebral body may he accessed through a pedicle portion and an opening may be created therethrough. One or more bone pins may be inserted through the opening. In one embodiment, at least one of the inserted bone pins is inserted to extend across a fracture zone with a proximal portion of the pin engaging a first bone segment and a distal portion engaging a second bone segment. The pin or pins may be manipulated to immobilize the first and second portions of the fractured vertebra.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant is provided for insertion into an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebrae. The expandable intervertebral implant includes a pair of outer sleeve portions and an inner core disposed between the outer sleeve portions. Movement of the inner core relative to the outer sleeve portions causes the outers sleeve portions to deflect away from each other, thereby engaging the expandable intervertebral implant with the vertebrae and adjusting the height of the intervertebral space.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for removing abnormalities from bone. In general, the methods and devices can be used to allow excess bone to be scraped from a bone surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a scraper tool is provided that includes an elongate shaft having a plurality of blades movably disposed therein. The blades can be configured to move as a unit between a retracted configuration, in which the blades can be entirely disposed within the elongate shaft, and an advanced configuration, in which at least a portion of the blades can extend distally from the elongate shaft and/or flare away from one another. A distal portion of each of the blades can have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the bone to be scraped.

Abstract: A flexible implant system for positioning a flexible spacer between adjacent vertebrae including and interbody spacer and an insertion instrument. The interbody spacer including a central axis, a lateral axis, a top surface positioned generally parallel to the central axis and a plurality of hinge sections extending generally perpendicular to the central axis. A plurality of notches making up the plurality of hinge sections adjacent the top surface that permit the interbody spacer to flex. The interbody spacer further including a groove extending along a lateral side surface, generally parallel to the central axis. An insertion instrument includes a proximal end, a distal end and a tongue extending from the proximal end to the distal end along a non-linear path. The groove slidably engages the tongue to guide the interbody spacer from the proximal end to the distal end along the non-linear path.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide an arthroplasty system for making resections in a patient knee. In one implementation, the system includes a femoral cutting guide having a patient specific mating region, and a distal planar surface distally spaced from a distal resection surface based on thicknesses of femoral and tibial implants. The distal planar surface may be used to check ligament balance. The system further includes a tibial cutting guide having a patient specific mating region and a an anchor pin hole intersecting with a proximal resection slot near a medial or lateral edge of the proximal resection slot. The anchor pin hole being configured to receive an anchor pin that may serve as a sawing stop during a proximal resection.

Abstract: A hybrid cannula may comprise a rigid portion overmolded with a flexible portion. The rigid portion at its proximal end may comprise a rigid flange for preventing the proximal end of the hybrid cannula from being pushed through the portal. The flexible portion may comprise a dam within the passage of the hybrid cannula, the dam defining interior spaces thereof between the proximal and distal ends of the hybrid cannula. The flexible portion's distal end may comprise a variety of features extending therefrom, including a flange and/or a cannulated tip. The flexible portion's proximal end may further comprise a membrane to prevent liquid from projecting during insertion of a tool into the dam and/or removal of the tool from the dam. The hybrid cannula can be useful in minimally invasive surgical procedures, including arthroscopic and endoscopic surgeries.

Abstract: An aiming device includes a body extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end and including a first body opening extending laterally therethrough along a first axis, the first body opening being sized and shaped to receive a device therein, the first end of the body including a coupling for coupling the body to an implantable device in an aiming configuration in which the first body opening is aligned with a corresponding first implant opening extending through the implantable device so that a device inserted through the first body opening in the body will pass along an axis of the first implant opening and a lock releasably coupled to the body and movable relative thereto between an unlocked and a locked configuration, the lock including an engaging portion extending into the first body opening in the locked configuration to engage an outer surface of a device received therein to lock the device in a desired position within the first body opening.

Abstract: A bone plate system for reshaping a bone plate to conform to contours of bone surfaces. The system comprises a bone plate, a pair of spaced-apart guides removably attached to the bone plate, and a bending tool. The bending tool comprises a handle and a head attached to a distal end of the handle. The head defines a cavity sized and shaped to engage the pair of spaced-apart guides. The bone plate system is configured to transfer a leverage force applied by a user to the bending tool while the cavity of the head is fitted over the pair of spaced-apart guides to a regionalized bending moment to the bone plate through the pair of spaced-apart guides to reshape the bone plate.

Abstract: A sizing caliper for facilitating the selection of a femoral component of a knee prosthesis includes a caliper body, two drill guide bodies, a stylus tower configured to be slidably linked to each other wherein as the caliper body and the stylus tower are linearly displaced at an equal rate relative to the drill guide body portions and the drill guide holes remain located at the midpoint of an anterior/posterior dimension defined by the distance between the tip of the stylus and the base portion. The caliper body comprises a base portion configured to couple and decouple from the caliper body using a sliding mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices, implants, systems, techniques and methods for addressing certain conditions of the spine, including devices, implants, systems and methods for performing spinal laminoplasty or other expansion of the spinal canal. The devices of the invention are expandable in situ, providing greater versatility for surgeons performing various procedures where expansion of the spinal canal is desired.

Abstract: A patellar clamp and associated system and method for using the clamp are provided. A patellar clamp includes a pair of handles movably coupled together, a patella support portion connected to the pair of handles and configured to engage a first side of a patella, and a reamer guide configured to engage a second side of the patella. The patella support portion and the reamer guide each include a first pair of flanges configured to engage a first and second tendon associated with the patella. The reamer guide is configured to allow reaming and resurfacing the entire desired posterior articular surface of the patella in a single operation without readjusting the position of the reamer guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arched membrane and/or a membrane having rounded edges for regenerating a bone, in particular a distraction membrane, suitable for callus distraction, notably in the jaw region, to the use of the membrane for callus distraction, and to methods for callus distraction.

Abstract: An orthopedic assembly is described that comprises an orthopedic device, an anchor, and a locking mechanism. The orthopedic device can be a plate member having an aperture that is configured to receive the anchor. The anchor can include a head, neck and shank portion. The head portion can include a plurality of arms separated by grooves that are capable of splaying. The assembly is configured such that when the locking mechanism is inserted into the head portion, this causes expansion of the arms of the head. This expansion locks and secures the anchor to the orthopedic device. Various instruments are provided that can deliver the locking mechanism to the anchor, and can provide impact to lock functionality.

Abstract: An angled instrument assembly includes an angled sleeve, a driver shaft, and a tool bit. The angled sleeve includes a straight passage segment that meets an angled passage segment at a junction. The junction includes an inner elbow and an outer elbow. Material is removed from the inner surface of the inner elbow in order to improve the ease with which the driver shaft can be moved in and out of the angled sleeve. The assembly can also include drafted female or male engagement bodies for facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the tool bit with a tool bit engagement assembly located at the distal end of the driver shaft.

Abstract: An intervertebral fusion implant for the fusion of two vertebrae comprises an upper bearing body for placing on a lower end-plate of a vertebra, a lower bearing body for placing on an upper end-plate of a vertebra, and a central piece arranged between the bearing bodies. The central piece comprises a claw coupling which, in a coupling position, couples the two bearing bodies in a rotationally fixed manner to each other. In an open position of the claw coupling, the bearing bodies are freely movable in relation to each other. The claw coupling is actuated automatically via a plastic blocking body which, in its initial position, holds the claw coupling open and, under a load transferred from one vertebra to the other vertebra, is slowly deformable until it reaches a final coupling position in which the claw coupling is closed. This results in the slow fusion of the vertebrae.

Abstract: An elongated modular implant is provided which has a distal part and a proximal part both having a leading end and a trailing end, respectively. The trailing end of the distal part includes a tool engagement portion and the leading end of the proximal part includes a distal part engagement portion for an engagement with the tool engagement portion of the distal part. The implant further includes an assembly element for firmly coupling the distal part and the proximal part when the first tool engagement portion of the distal part engages the distal part engagement portion of the proximal part. The proximal part trailing end may also have a tool engagement portion identical to the trailing end of the distal part.

Abstract: A system for repairing a soft tissue or bone defect can include a C-shaped guide member having a first end and a second end and configured to extend around a condyle area of a femur of a patient. The guide member includes a threaded bore at the first end, and the second end configured to rest on a tibia of the patient. The system includes a cannulated bullet threadably received in the threaded bore and configured to be threadably advanced to secure the guide member relative to the femur. The system also includes a drilling member insertable through the bullet and configured to drill a femoral bore through the femur.

Abstract: A screwdriver with a release for driving a multi-axial bone screw into a vertebra of the spine includes an elongate shaft defining a driving tip at its distal end for engaging and rotating the head of the bone screw. The screw driver includes a screw engagement member affixed to the shaft for joint rotational movement therewith, the screw engagement member comprising a releasable retention member for releasable attachment to the bone screw yoke. A release member is disposed about the elongate shaft comprising a hollow grip sleeve and a hollow push sleeve joined together for common axial movement along the elongate shaft. The grip sleeve is freely rotatable about the shaft and the push sleeve is rotatable relative to the grip sleeve and engaged with a proximal portion of the shaft for joint rotational movement therewith.