Abstract: An awl suitable for both opening up a bone canal and for sizing that bone canal so as to obviate the use of a Charnley awl and the use of 4 to 5 distal reamers comprises (a) a tapered distal cutting head having a pointed first end, and a second end; and (b) a shaft attached to the second end, such that the shaft has a multiplicity of grooves calibrated so as to indicate the diameter of the isthmus of the bone canal. Also provided is a method of opening up a bone canal and of measuring the diameter of the isthmus of the bone canal with a single instrument.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the distraction of at least two bone segments, with mountings which are displaceable relative to each other, for the distraction of bone segments in the jaw, face and skull region, in which the mounting (11) has an at least geometrical and at least essentially linear longitudinal axis (12), along which two complementary halves (13, 14) are adjustably movable by an adjustment device (41, 43, 16, 18; 82), and indeed with an increase of their mutual distance (63); the mounting (11) is essentially longer than it is wide, the halves are guided for longitudinal movement on each other by a guide (17, 31) which is secured against twisting, on each half (13, 14), at least one flat fixing device (23, 51) is provided, which can be fixed to the bone (56, 57) and which can take up thrust forces and torques, the adjusting device (41, 43, 16, 18; 82) is accessible at one place (36) for an adjusting member (42), which is essentially directed towards a bodily orifice, and outside the end

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wrist fusion plate 10 configured to extend over a carpus area and position at least one metacarpal relative to a radius. The wrist fusion plate includes a saddle portion 36 which is placed over the carpus area. A proximal end 38 extending from the saddle portion and attachable to the radius defines a first longitudinal axis. A distal end 40 extending from the saddle portion and attachable to one of the metacarpals defines a second longitudinal axis. The second longitudinal axis is not axially aligned relative to the first longitudinal axis in a medial-lateral direction.

Abstract: Instrumentation for osteofixation including a locking bone plate and a surgical drill guide. The plate has a plurality of fastener holes with inner walls of a preselected hole diameter. The drill guide has a guide member, for guiding a drill bit, and a hollow collet disposed substantially coaxially with the guide member. A radially expandable forward end of the collet comprises a radially expandable neck and an outwardly projecting rim disposed forward of the neck. This rim defines a contracted outer rim diameter that is smaller than the hole diameter in a contracted collet position, and an expanded outer rim diameter that is larger than the hole diameter in an expanded position. Thus, the rim is freely extractable through the plate hole in the contracted position, but is unreceivable through the plate hole in the expanded position. The collet neck is configured and dimensioned to press outwardly against an inner wall of the plate hole when the neck is expanded.

Abstract: An elongated, rotatable surgical cutting instrument having a rotatable cutting element at the distal end of a bendable non-rotating elongated outer member. The instrument enables operation of various cutting devices such as a bendable rotatable burr. In one embodiment the cutting element is rotatably, but irremovably attached to the distal end of the outer member. The proximal end of the cutting element is then releasably attached to the distal end of a flexible coupling which in turn is attached to the distal end of an elongated inner member. The assembly is then rotatably secured within the outer member so the cutting element may be rotated via the inner member. An aspirating lumen extends through the cutting element, the flexible coupling and the inner member and the inner member may be removed from the outer member without detaching the cutting element therefrom. In another embodiment, the cutting element is removable from the outer member when the inner member is removed.

Abstract: A bone cerclage tool for conformally slidably abutting a device circumferentially about a bone, such that orthopedic surgical procedures can be performed on and/or in the vicinity of the bone with minimal access and/or visibility and satisfying the need for complex maneuvering around anatomical parts and minimizing unnecessary tissue removal and contact with delicate areas. The bone cerclage tool can be used to encircle a bone with a suture, wire, cable, band, or device, to secure the bone in place, or perform operations on the bone or in the vicinity of the bone. The bone cerclage tool has a resilient member housed within a curved tube for guiding a device adjoined to the resilient member circumferentially about the bone and an exit section for directing the device to conformally slidably abut against the bone as the device is extended from the exit section. A push-pull member housed within a tubular housing and adjoined to the resilient member is used to extend or retract the device.

Abstract: A method for fixing a bone block in a bone tunnel comprising the steps of placing the bone block in the bone tunnel, advancing spaced-apart first and second metal wires through the bone, transversely of the bone tunnel, so as to intersect the bone block and extend through the bone block, removing one of the wires and replacing the one removed wire with a first absorbable rod, and removing the other of the wires and replacing the other removed wire with a second absorbable rod, whereby to retain the bone block in the bone tunnel with the absorbable rods.

Abstract: A cement restrictor system is provided for making a cement plug within the medullary canal of a long bone. The system includes an inflatable body, a conduit having first and second ends that defines a fluid passage to and from the inflatable body, and a shield releasably securable to the conduit. In an exemplary method of making a cement plug with the system an obstruction, such as the shield, is placed in a medullary canal of a long bone beyond the isthmus of the long bone. The obstruction is held in place with the flatable body. A predetermined quantity of bone cement is poured into the medullary canal and localized by the obstruction. The bone cement is allowed to harden; and the conduit and inflatable body are removed from the bone.

Abstract: An orthopaedic stem inserter grips and inserts a prosthetic implant having a stem into a prepared opening in a bone. A handle includes a housing, a rotating knob connected to a first end of the housing, and an elongate element connected to the knob and extending through the housing to a second end of the housing. A body includes a pair of jaws, with each jaw being configured to grip the implant. One of the jaws is movable in directions toward and away from the other jaw. A geared rack is connected with the movable jaw. A first gear is connected with the rack, and a second gear is connected with the elongate element and selectively enmeshes with the first gear. A quick release lever is pivotally attached to the handle and has an engaging portion which engages the second gear. The quick release lever moves the second gear toward and away from the first gear upon pivotal movement relative to the handle and thereby respectively enmeshes and demeshes the first and second gears.

Abstract: The invention serves patients having a fractured bone wherein separate parts of the bone have been immobilized by an external axial fixator, and the invention provides patient-operated mechanical structure to enable him to transiently distract spaced bone-anchored regions of the fixator. In one embodiment, the patient-operated mechanism is in the form of an accessory that is detachably mounted to the fixator; in another embodiment, the patient-operated mechanism is embodied in an external axial fixator, preferably of the so-called dynamic variety.

Abstract: An osteotomy guide apparatus for assisting in the conduct of Chevron, Youngswick, and Reverdin osteotomy procedures. The osteotomy guide comprises a first and second saw slot converging at an apex. The apparatus further comprises a multiplicity of bone pin holes to firmly fix the osteotomy guide in place and optionally, a visualizer element to indicate to the surgeon the amount of correction which may be expected from the procedure before actual bone cuts are made. The guide may also comprise a first and second stage body which operate in a cooperative fashion to increase the amount of correction and stability provided by any given procedure.

Abstract: An instrument assembly for removing, as single segments, a mass of previously formed thermoplastic bone cement from a bone in a patient. A first component of the assembly includes an elongate probe having a heater tip assembly provided at one end thereof. A second component of the assembly includes an electrical system for supplying electricity to the aforesaid heater tip assembly when appropriately interconnected for effecting a heating of the heater tip. A releasable connectability of the first and second components facilitates a removal of the second component only to be replaced by a third component, namely, a hammer device so that repeated impact forces can be imparted to the elongate probe and the heater tip assembly of which is embedded in the bone cement until the impact force will cause the bone cement to crack and permit a segment thereof to be removed while being fixedly coupled to the elongate probe.

Abstract: The encephalolexianalyzer uses digital signal processing techniques on electroencephalograph (EEG) brain waves to determine whether or not someone is thinking about moving, e.g., tapping their fingers, or, alternatively, whether someone is actually moving, e.g., tapping their fingers, or at rest, i.e., not moving and not thinking of moving. The mu waves measured by a pair of electrodes placed over the motor cortex are signal processed to determine the power spectrum. At rest, the peak value of the power spectrum in the 8-13 Hz range is high, while when moving or thinking of moving, the peak value of the power spectrum in the 8-13 Hz range is low. This measured change in signal power spectrum is used to produce a control signal. The encephalolexianalyzer can be used to communicate either directly using Morse code, or via a cursor controlling a remote control; the encephalolexianalyzer can also be used to control other devices.

Abstract: The invention is of a family of bioabsorbable intermedullary rods, implantation systems and associated methodologies for implantation. Applicant's invention permits its users to use intermedullary rods when indicated for fracture fixation, yet avoid complications of presently available steel rods, including the post-utility presence of implants after a bone has healed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide instrument which is adapted for use at operations for fixation of bone fragments at bone fractures, preferably femoral neck fractures, whereby the bone fragments are intended to be fixed relative to each other by means of at least two bone screws, whereby the guide instrument (1) is adapted for guiding a first and a second drill steel which are adapted for drilling passages in the bone fragments for the bone screws. The guide instrument (1) is designed to permit guiding of the drill steels, driving through of threaded front portions of the bone screws and guiding of uptapped or unthreaded rear portions of said bone screws.

Abstract: A device for coaxially drilling holes in fractured bones for intramedullary fixation includes of a frame (20) supporting a first V-shaped support (34) for a first part of a fractured bone and a second V-shaped support (56) for a second part of the fractured bone. The V-shaped supports are spaced from each other. The apparatus has a drilling head (28) with a calibrated pin (82) at the rear side of the drilling head (28). The drilling head is alternatingly installed in the aforementioned V-shaped supports (34 and 56) for drilling coaxial and strictly aligned holes in both parts of the fractured bone. The calibrated pin (82) has the same diameter as the drill bit (78) of the drilling head and is intended for insertion into the bone hole which is drilled first in order to support and align the drilling head (28) with the second part of the bone during drilling of the second hole.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a first member extending distally from a proximal end and having an opening in a distal region for admitting tissue, and a second member disposed within the first member for moving a cutting implement and causing it to cut tissue that is exposed to the implement through the opening. A knob is attached to the proximal end of the first member and is mounted in rotatable engagement with a hub of the instrument to rotate the first member and selectively change a rotational orientation of the opening with respect to the hub. The knob is axially movable with respect to the hub to a locked position in which the knob nonrotatably engages the hub.

Abstract: A drill guide including a location pin, a guide block mechanically linked to the location pin and formed with a through hole for guiding therethrough a drill bit, the guide block being movable relative to the location pin in at least one of six degrees of freedom, and a fastener engageable with the guide block for fixing the guide block relative to the location pin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing a previously implanted component is disclosed. Generally, the novel device will be used in artificial hip revision surgery. The device comprises a stem, a handle member adapted on the first end of the stem, and a hemispherical cutting blade mounted on the second end of the stem. The hemispherical cutting blade is adapted for cutting an acetabular component from the patient. In the preferred embodiment, the hemispherical cutting blade comprises a first-half hemispherical blade and a second-half hemispherical blade. The blades are interchangeable so that different size acetabular components may be removed via the procedure herein described. The device also includes a contact point member configured on the second end of the stem member, with the contact point member adapted to contact the concave surface of the acetabular component.

Abstract: A device for locating in a desired position two or more bones or bone pieces that are in an undesired relative position, by bringing such pieces from the undesired position into the desired position, each piece having at least a pair of pins firmly fixed thereto, which pair of pins is, in turn, firmly retained in a retaining jaw member, the device comprising a straightforward and simple structure including two arms to be fixed to the jaw members and connected to arm driving motors for moving the arms along the three Cartesian axes, whereby the bones can be moved and located, or relocated, into the desired position under a controlled and programmed moving pattern, to achieve a non painful, accurate and exact correction of the bones position.