Abstract: The present invention provides a kind of boneplate for fixation of long bone fracture and allograft materials in humans and mammals. It is a Z-shaped boneplate, which fixes the fractured bone internally by inserting the boneplate into the boneslot. A Z-shaped boneplate is made up of an upper flange member and a lower flange member and both related to a web member. Its cross section is a Z-section beam. The surgical procedure concerning this invention mainly involves cutting a proper boneslot and inserting the boneplate into the boneslot, thus making the upper and lower flanges abut the inner and outer cortexes respectively and avoid bending and torsion between the fractured ends and any displacement between the cross sections of the fractured ends, therefore, provide stable locking of the fractured ends.

Abstract: A self-tapping, self-drilling cannulated screw, for orthopedic bone surgery, has tip, shank, threaded and head portions. The tip portion includes circumferentially spaced cutting points defining end surfaces which taper approximately 17.degree. relative to a perpendicular to the screw axis to butt the distal end of the cutting edge of a cutting flute. The cutting flutes are formed at circumferentially spaced positions about the screw adjacent the tip portion and, upon insertion of the screw, efficiently direct chips through the threaded portions and past the shank portion. Reverse cutting flutes are provided at the opposite end of the threaded portion for cutting and forming threads upon unthreading and hence removal of the screw from the bone when healed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of performing surgery to resect the patella for the purpose of installation of a patellar prosthesis, along with instruments used in such surgery. The instruments include a combined clamping device and reaming guide which when clamped about the patella provides a guide for reaming the surface thereof as well as a limit stop device designed to prevent reaming the patella too deeply. The instruments also include a reaming device designed to ream an annulus of material from the patella, leaving a central raised portion for fixation of a patellar prosthesis.

Abstract: An extendable bone plate is provided. The bone plate (which can be quite small) features two plate portions which are longitudinally displaceable relative to each other. The bone plate preferably includes screw holes for bone screws and gear means between the plate portions adapted to adjust the relative positions of the plate portions. The plate portions have guide portions which are longitudinally slidable within a guide member. At least one of the guide portions includes a rack; and a gear or pinion is rotatably supported within the guide member engaged by the rack, the gear or pinion having tool-engaging surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus to aid in isolating a medical practitioner from infectious materials found in a patient. The apparatus includes a collector for providing a vacuum barrier around the mouth of a patient to trap aerosols and the like emanating from the patient during a dental procedure. The collector is flow connected to a vacuum source for drawing a vacuum, and gases drawn in by the source are passed through a filter. The collector is ring-shaped to surround the mouth and to allow the practitioner to see into the site of the procedure and is disposable after each operation.

Abstract: The ARS is an adjustable therapeutic support platform for premature and fullterm infants for the positional treatment of gastroesophageal reflux. It is designed in two sizes for use in infant incubators and in hospital/home cribs. It is made of washable plastic and can be positioned at both a 30 and a 45 degree angle. The supportive saddle and quick-release VELCRO straps secure the infant to the board while allowing fast and convenient access to the infant by all caretakers. This arrangement permits unrestrained movement of the infant's arms and legs. Features of the design achieve the objectives of optimum positional treatment of GER, maximum safety and comfort for the infant, maximum and unimpeded convenient access to the infant by caretakers, and maximum convenience for storage.

Abstract: A contraceptive cervical cap or form therefor, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A nozzle member is mounted to a medical solution container for providing an inlet port of an additional medical solution introduced into the container by means of a needle. The nozzle member comprises a tubular body and a synthetic resin sealing membrane mounted within the tubular body. Projections are formed on both surfaces in the central portion of the sealing membrane so as to prevent the sealing membrane from being strained or cracked in the step of thermally sterilizing the medical solution container.

Abstract: Fracture reduction tool is disclosed for use with a guide wire for reducing a bone fracture. The guide wire is of a uniform diameter and has a beaded end for placement into the medullary canal. The tool includes an elongated hollow shaft which can be passed into the medullary canal of the fractured bone through an entry hole prepared in the bone. The shaft has a bore along its length through which the guide wire can selectively pass. The shaft and/or the guide wire can be manipulated into and within the respective medullary canal portions of the fractured bone by translational and/or rotational movements so as to reduce the fracture. The tool also includes a measurement sleeve which moves over the shaft and provides a determination of the length of a nail to be inserted into the medullary canal of the reduced bone. A handle for the proximal end of the shaft allows for ease in manipulation of the shaft and guide wire.

Abstract: A vacuum immobilizer support is disclosed which includes an elongated, flexible casing having neck, thoracic and pelvic regions. An evacuation valve is provided to allow the casing to be converted from a flexible state to an evacuated state. Stiffener sections are provided in the casing to prevent transverse bending of the casing in the neck, thoracic and pelvic regions. The stiffener sections allow transverse bending along an axis between the thoracic and pelvic regions. An intermediate stiffener section is provided to prevent longitudinal shortening of the casing between upper and lower stiffener sections. Discrete elements are disposed within the casing and allow the casing to conform to a patient when in its flexible state and to be rigidly fixed when in its evacuated state.

Abstract: A measuring device and method for use in total hip replacement. A measuring member or arm is pivotally attached to two Steinmann pins in the ilium and a single Steinmann pin is placed in the femur next to the measuring arm. The measuuring arm is made level by the use of a bubble level at a predetermined position and measurements taken to locate the femur with respect to the ilium. This procedure is done after the hip replacement, and measurements taken again. The results are compared to see if the ilium and femur are properly positioned or need adjustment.

Abstract: An installation tool has a head for engaging an acetabular cup, and an elongated member mounting the head adjacent an end that projects from the head and is insertable into an opening through the cup. The member end is expandable for engaging the cup at the opening to prevent movement of the cup relative to the member end and hold the cup in engagement with the head in order to move the cup with movement of the member end to place the cup for implanting at a desired position. The member end also is contractable for releasing the cup after implanting at the desired position. The elongated member is composed of a tubular shaft having a passage therethrough and a rod slidably disposed through the shaft passage. The member end is composed of a split collet with expandable and contractable jaws on one end of the shaft and an outwardly flared cam element formed on one end of the rod and extending between the collet jaws.

Abstract: A modulator apparatus for use in the preparation of bone surfaces and the implantation of a modular total knee prosthesis in a patient, which apparatus comprises cutting guides, templates, alignment devices, a distractor and clamping instruments which provide modularity and facilitate bone resection and prosthesis implantation.

Abstract: A method for surgically securing body parts with a cable, typically making use of crimping pliers which comprises a pair of operating handles and connected, opposed jaws. The jaws define opposed recesses for carrying and crimping a tubular crimp member by manual pressure on the operating handles. A capstan is carried on one of the handles for winding a cable which passes through a tubular crimp member carried in the jaws. By this invention surgical cable may be looped around body parts in surgical operations, and the loop may be permanently secured at a predetermined desired tension.

Abstract: A screw for fixation of a tendon/bone graft during an arthroscopic surgical procedure includes a smooth conical forward end having a rounded tip and a spiral thread running from a position behind the smooth rounded forward end to a rearward end of the screw. The depth of the thread is shallower than a conventional screw and the exterior edge of the thread is rounded to decrease cutting and fragmentation of the tendon and bone. The screw includes an internal bore with left- and right-handed threaded portions for engagement with insertion and extraction instruments. In the method, the bone graft is harvested and sized as desired. A graft socket is drilled in the bone and then serially sized with increasingly larger sizing instruments to compact the bone and size the graft socket to the graft. A smooth bore screw socket is created by serially dilating a space between the graft and graft socket with increasingly larger dilating instruments, thereby also compacting the graft.

Abstract: Apparatus for skeletal stabilization of patients for transportation, treatment, and diagnosis, which apparatus comprises a radiolucent board having T-slots opposite each other at intervals along the long edge of the rectangular board and radiolucent straps having at one end a structure adapted to be fitted into a T-slot and secured there, and having at the other end fastening means for holding that end to another strap, together with methods for stabilizing patients using such apparatus and radiolucent straps for such apparatus and methods.

Abstract: A composition for application to seed is disclosed, the composition including bacteria and adherent. The adherent is a biopolymer secreted naturally from bacteria and also acts as matrix for protecting bacteria applied to the seed. The invention is concerned particularly with a method and composition for adhering nitrogen-fixing bacteria to legume seed using a biopolymer secreted by the bacteria to be adhered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilization of pelvic fractures, and particularly double vertical fractures, that provides for accurate restoration of the anterior and posterior integrity of the pelvic ring. The method involves rigid fixation of a posterior fracture with a plate and rod apparatus that applies rigid compression through the wings of the ilium and across the sacrum at the correct angle and non-rigid fixation across the anterior pubic symphysis with a screw and cable apparatus that applies flexible compression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the fixation of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic bones and especially vertebral body compression fractures, Colles' fractures and fractures of the proximal humerus. The method of the present invention includes a series of steps including penetrating the bone having the fracture with a guide pin, drilling the bone marrow of the bone to enlarge the cavity to be treated, following which a bone specific inflatable device is inserted in the cavity and inflated. The expansion of the device causes a compacting of the bone marrow against the inner surface of the outer wall of the bone to be treated to further enlarge the cavity. When this occurs, a flowable synthetic bone material or methyl methacrylate cement is directed into the cavity and allowed to set to a hardened condition. Following this, the instruments are removed.

Abstract: An orthopaedic surgical implant apparatus includes an elongated intramedullary rod assembly 10 for use in uniting a pair of bone segments wherein each of the bone segments includes a medullary cavity. The elongated intramedullary rod assembly 10 defines a central longitudinal axis when assembled and includes first and second points of attachment 26, 48, the rod assembly 10 being adapted to be positioned within the medullary cavities of the bone segments and secured to the first bond segment at the first point of attachment 26 and to the second bone segment at the second point of attachment 48. Structure 18, 52 is provided for shortening the predetermined distance between the first and second points of attachment 26, 48 of the rod assembly in the direction of the longitudinal axis after the rod assembly has been connected to the first and second bone segments so that the first and second bone segments are brought into contact with and press against one another.