Abstract: A hook device for use with support rod implantation apparatus is disclosed which is positionable along the central axis of the posterior surface of the spine and has independently rotationally positionable blade and head portions. The head portion is engageable with a deflecting top cylindrical portion which sits above the lamina. The insertion, and subsequent locking of a rod in the rod receiving channel of the head portion causes the blade portion and the head portions to be compression locked together by virtue of an interference fit.

Abstract: A bone fixation screw system and method of utilization thereof is provided for a bone having first and second sections with a fracture interface there between. A preferred embodiment of the bone fixation screw system includes a side plate having a first part for placement adjacent the bone second section and a second part angled from the first part providing a barrel. The barrel is adapted for insertion into a transsectionally extending bore into the bone in at least the second section of the bone. A lag screw is also provided for positional retention of the first section of the bone with respect to the second section of the bone. The lag screw also has a first part of a resorbable material for threaded connection of the lag screw within the bore of the bone in at least the first section of the bone, the lag screw having a second part connected with the first part made from a stronger nonresorbable material.

Abstract: A machining assembly, including a of the disclosure novel broach design, are disclosed for preparing a femoral medullary cavity for receipt of a femoral prosthetic stem, wherein the configuration of the implantation site allows for the neutral alignment of the prothesis within the medullary cavity for improved rigid fixation of the prosthetic stem therein. Aspects of the inventive machining assembly include a novel broach comprising a proximal lateral recess that allows for initial avoidance of the greater trochanter during implantation, thereby resulting in the preparation of a neutrally aligned cavity with respect to the broach. The machining assembly also includes a guide and a second cutting instrument for removing the bone of the greater trochanter once neutral alignment between the medullary cavity and broach are achieved for the subsequent implantation of a neutrally aligned femoral prosthesis.

Abstract: A femoral sizing guide of the type in which a sizing guide block is located at the distal femur utilizing locator feet for engaging the posterior condyles to assist in the location of a femoral cutting guide of suitable size in the implant of a femoral knee prosthesis includes a coupling arrangement by which locator feet of selected size are independently coupled interoperatively with the sizing guide block for enabling a surgeon to compensate for conditions encountered at the implant site, during the implant procedure, and attain a stable placement of the femoral sizing guide at the distal femur for accurate sizing and location of the femoral knee prosthesis.

Abstract: An osteosynthesis device comprises a plate and screws which are screwed into bone through holes in the plate. The diameters of the holes at the top face of the plate are larger than at the bottom face of the plate. The screws have a spherical head which, when screwed in rests snugly against the wall of the screw hole with an annular contact surface. Both when the screw is located perpendicularly with respect to the plate and when located at an angle with respect to the plate, the contact surface is located above the center line of the hole depth.

Abstract: A safety penetrating instrument for establishing a portal in a wall of an anatomical cavity includes a cannula, a penetrating member disposed in the cannula, a protective sheath disposed between the penetrating member and the cannula to place the tip of the penetrating member in a protected, non-exposed state, and various mechanisms for simultaneously retracting one or both of the penetrating member and the protective sheath while extending the cannula. Retraction of one or both of the penetrating member and the protective sheath and extension or protrusion of the cannula is triggered individually or in combination by movement of one or more of the three members upon entering the anatomical cavity. Additionally, a probe can be carried by the safety penetrating instrument for triggering retraction and/or extension of the members in a similar manner or upon moving a predetermined proximal distance during penetration of the anatomical cavity wall.

Abstract: A device for postoperative fixation back into the cranium of a plug of bone removed therefrom during a surgical operation. The device comprises a pin (11) and two concavoconvex disks (21 & 22) of a physiologically compatible metal or metal compound. The pin has a flat head (111) at one end and one (21) of the disks comes to rest against the head. Each disk has row of teeth (213 & 223) extending along the edge of the concave side and a bore (211 & 221) through the center. The shaft (112) of the pin fits into the bores. The disks can be mounted on the shaft with the teeth on each one facing the teeth on the other. The second disk can be fastened to the shaft.

Abstract: An insertion device for a surgical pin includes a body defining a bore therein and a retainer disposed in the bore for frictionally engaging a portion of the surgical pin. The bore includes an aperture defining an entry into the bore, a surface for limiting the depth of insertion of the surgical pin, a wall surface extending from the insertion limiting surface, and a recess in the wall surface disposed between the aperture and the insertion limiting surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer is an O-ring disposed within the recess. The O-ring defines a resilient aperture having a diameter less than that of the pin.

Abstract: A modular spinal plate assembly for use with modular polyaxial pedicle screw implant devices includes a track portion having a pair of parallel rails and a multiplicity of compressible coupling elements which are slideably mounted about the rails. The compressible coupling elements each have a through hole through which a post portion of a modular polyaxial screw may be mounted. In addition, the coupling elements include slots, oppositely oriented, on either side of the element, which slots may be compressed to effectuate the deflection and compaction of the coupling element when a compressive load is applied. This load is applied by a top locking nut being advanced along the post portion of the modular polyaxial pedicle screw, downwardly onto the coupling element. The subsequent compaction causes the coupling element to be compression locked to the rails, thereby becoming rigidly fixed at a specific position along the axial extent of the track element.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a bone cement injection gun during pressurized injection of bone cement into the intramedullary canal of a bone prepared for implantation of a prosthetic device to facilitate continuous removal of fluid and blood products from, and simultaneous drying of, the interior surfaces of the intramedullary canal. An elongate tubular member having a central bore is installed on the nozzle of a bone cement injection gun and conducts bone cement through its central bore. A fluid flow passageway, isolated from the central bore, extends from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular member. A fluid inlet at the distal end is connected to a source of vaccum and a porous absorbent pad surrounds a fluid inlet at the distal end of the tubular member. The pad is received in the intramedullary canal and swells when moisture is absorbed.

Abstract: A cerclage cable system comprises a cable in conjunction with a biasing mechanism for maintaining cable tension. Inadvertent loss of cable tension is compensated for by the biasing mechanism. In one embodiment, cerclage cable system includes a leaf spring disposed between the cable and the bone. Alternative embodiments include other biasing mechanisms, such as helical compression springs and resilient materials. Further embodiments include biasing mechanisms in line with the cable to maintain tension. Such a cerclage system maintains cable tension by taking up inadvertent slack in the cable with the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: A surgical screwdriver for inserting bone screws in bone tunnels in ligament reconstruction has, in a preferred embodiment, a cannulated flexible shaft portion. The flexible shaft portion is formed by a plurality of linkage members disposed in series. Each linkage member is joined to an adjacent linkage member so as to permit adjacent linkage members to be pivotally movable with respect to one another about a pivot axis. The screwdriver is used in methods of arthroscopic cruciate ligament reconstruction including the steps of introducing the screwdriver along a guide wire through a portal that is offset from the longitudinal axis of a bone tunnel and driving an interference screw mounted on the driver in the bone tunnel to fixate a bone block in the bone tunnel.

Abstract: A multi-axial bone screw assembly includes a bone screw having a partially spherical head. The bone screw head is truncated at an upper surface in which a tool receiving recess is defined. The assembly includes a receiver member including a central bore that defines a tapered recess to receive the head of the bone screw. The bore of the receiver member also defines a channel communicating with the recess and configured to receive a spinal rod therein. A portion of the channel is threaded to receive a set screw above the rod. The assembly also includes a crown member disposed between the rod and the head of the bone screw. As the set screw is tightened into the receiver member, the set screw compresses the rod against the crown member, which presses the head of the bone screw into the tapered recess. In one embodiment, the head of the bone screw includes a flared edge that penetrates at least the crown member as the assembly is tightened.

Abstract: A method of implanting a hip prosthesis includes utilization of a device at the implantation site to confirm that the femoral prosthesis will have a neck length corresponding to a preoperative plan. First, a desired neck size for the femoral prosthesis is determined. Then, the femoral prosthesis is positioned in the femur. Next, a locator rod component is advanced toward the femoral prosthesis along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the femoral prosthesis until a greater trochanter locator mounted on the side of the locator rod component is as close as possible to contacting the greater trochanter of the femur. Next, a neck sizing component, which has neck size markings on its outer surface, is placed on the neck projection of the femoral prosthesis.

Abstract: A cable tensioning device comprises tubular shaft having an outer threaded portion, and a handle member surrounding a portion of the shaft, with the shaft and handle member being connected in screw-threaded relation. The shaft moves longitudinally relative to the handle as the handle rotates, driven by the screw threaded connection. A gripping member is carried on the shaft distal to the handle member for holding a replaceable bit, which, in turn, may carry a cable crimp. A cable lock is positioned typically proximal of the handle member to hold the ends of cables extending through the tubular shaft. Rotation of the handle member can cause the shaft to move longitudinally to lengthen the distance between the cable lock and a crimp held by a bit which, in turn, is held by the gripping member, to impose a tension on the cable. A meter is present for measuring the amount of tension applied to the cable.

Abstract: An osteosynthesis clip consisting of a central member and two side members. The central member includes two portions with an outwardly-open obtuse angle therebetween, and the distal ends of the side members include a sloping portion defined by an inward-facing surface. Ancillary equipment for fitting the clip is also disclosed. The clip is characterized in that the side members converge at an angle of less than 20.degree. and their outer surfaces have jagged portions which prevent withdrawal.

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: A tubular guide part which is insertable into the medullary space is connected to a source of pressure medium and to a blocking element having the form of a hollow body which can be inflated in the manner of a balloon. The hollow body is inflated via the supply of pressure medium from a basic position situated in the cross-sectional region of the guide part into an expanded position in which the hollow body seals off one portion of the medullary space, which is to be filled with bone cement and is to receive a prosthesis shaft, from a neighboring portion of the medullary space. After insertion of a part of the prosthesis shaft into the bone cement bed, the hollow body can be shrunk into its basic position by the removal of pressure medium and withdrawn from the medullary space together with the guide part. The cavity in the bone cement bed ensuing therefrom is filled up by bone cement expelled during insertion of the remaining portion of the prosthesis shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical drill made of metal, for instance made of surgical grade stainless steel or carbon steel, intended for use when implanting cylindrical implants into bone tissue, preferably dental implants made of titanium. The body (3) of the drill (1) is coated by a thin layer of titanium nitride (TiN). The layer of titanium nitride is brightly colored and circumferential bands (8, 9, 10, 11) having a darker color have been etched around the envelope surface of the body (3) of the drill, said bands (8, 9, 10, 11) being located at predetermined distances from each other and having predetermined widths.

Abstract: An elongated bone plate having an upper surface and a lower surface is provided along its length with at least a pair of spaced apart screw holes extending therethrough from the upper to the lower surface. The plate is provided, on at least a selected one of its upper or lower surfaces between at least one pair of the screw holes, with an indentation.