Abstract: Systems and methods for treating conditions and diseases of the spine are disclosed herein. A device includes a balloon catheter comprising at least one inner lumen incorporated within an elongated shaft; a distal end having an inner balloon positioned inside and completely surrounded by an outer balloon; and a proximal end having an adapter for passage of at least one of an inflation fluid or a medical instrument; and an optical fiber comprising an outer diameter sized to pass through the inner lumen of the elongated shaft; a nonlinear light-emitting portion of a given length, wherein a portion of a cladding material from the nonlinear light-emitting portion has been removed so that light energy may be emitted along the length of the nonlinear light-emitting portion; and a linear elongated portion for guiding light towards the nonlinear light-emitting portion.

Abstract: A teleoperated surgical system is provided that comprises a support arm; a surgical instrument, moveably mounted to the support arm, including a housing a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and having an end effector at the distal end portion thereof; an actuator to impart movement to the surgical instrument; an optical fiber, including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, mounted to the surgical instrument to emit first light from its distal end at the distal end portion of the surgical instrument; and a light source disposed to impart the first light to the proximal end of the optical fiber at a first angle within an acceptance angle of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A retractor holds a surgical incision in a body in an opened state to ensure a surgical field in small-incision endoscopic surgery, and includes a base body that is a thin plate made of tin having a purity of not less than 99.9% and has an elongated rectangular shape in an extended state of the base body. The retractor, in an extended form in a rectangular shape or in a rounded form in a small shape, can be inserted from a small incision wound into the body, and can easily be delivered to the surgical incision in the body by a surgical instrument. The base body is bent and deformed into a desired shape by the surgical instrument and is applied to the surgical incision in the body, so that the surgical incision can be held in an opened state so as to ensure the surgical field.

Abstract: A patella fracture fixation system includes a bone plate that is configured to be implanted along an anterior approach. The bone plate has a fixation hub and a plurality of fixation nodes that are connected to the fixation hub. The fixation hub and the fixation nodes can define respective fixation holes. The bone plate can further include legs that are configured to be bent around respective inferior aspects of the patella.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical device includes an elongate member, a first coupler, and a second coupler. The elongate member has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a side portion. The side portion of the elongate member has a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion. The first receiving portion is configured to receive a first support member. The second receiving portion is configured to receive a second support member. The first coupler is coupled to the elongate member and is configured to engage the first support member to help retain the first support member within the first receiving portion. The second coupler is coupled to the elongate member and is configured to engage the second support member to help retain the second support member within the second receiving portion.

Abstract: A device for mixing and dispensing bone material is provided. The device comprises a tubular member having an interior surface configured to receive bone material and a fluid to mix the bone material disposed within the tubular member. The tubular member is flexible and has a proximal opening configured to slidably receive a plunger, and a distal opening configured to dispense a mixed bone material from the interior surface of the tubular member. The plunger is less flexible than the tubular member. Methods of mixing and dispensing bone material are also provided.

Abstract: A medical otoscope, comprises an otoscope body and an observation apparatus connected to one end of the otoscope body, the other end of the otoscope body having a tapered portion capable of inserting into an ear, the observation apparatus comprising at least one optical lens group arranged along a same optical axis, the optical lens group comprising at least one optical lens capable of moving along the optical axis, central axis of the observation apparatus being coaxial with or deviating from central axis of the otoscope body. The focal length of the medical otoscope can be adjusted by means of arranging two groups of optical lenses movable relative to one another, and the medical otoscope has a simple structure and is convenient for operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for balancing joints, including knee joints. The devices convert unequal forces at a joint to a rotation or displacement of a pointer or gauge. The devices are able to display the relative difference in force between the lateral and medial sides of a joint from flexion to extension. In certain aspects, the devices are useful for balancing the knee during total knee surgery. The devices can be inserted between the trial femoral and tibial components of the knee and measures whether one condyle experiences more force than the other.

Abstract: Implantable fixation devices for rejoining opposed portions of a separated bone. The devices include plates that may be affixed to a rib and realign separated portions of the rib or other body part. The devices may also include various locking mechanisms that receive a cable that may be used to realign and bring together separated portions of a bone or other body part. The devices may further include plates that may be affixed to a sternum and realign separated portions of the sternum or other body part.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis that includes a biased coiling member and a conforming coiling member. The biased coiling member may be biased to curve from a substantially linear configuration to a nonlinear configuration. The conforming coiling member may be engaged with and curved by the biased coiling member from the substantially linear configuration to the nonlinear configuration. The biased coiling member may define a longitudinal axis when in the substantially linear configuration. The biased coiling member and the conforming coiling member may move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis. The prosthesis may be implanted in a surgical procedure that minimizes incision sizes and may be considered less invasive than typical implant procedures, especially spinal implant procedures.

Abstract: An osteo-implant including two end portions, at least one middle structure, and a plurality of connection portions is provided. The middle structure is disposed between the two end portions and includes a plurality of middle portions. The middle portions are connected to the two end portions through the connection portions. When the two end portions are moved relatively along an axial direction of the osteo-implant, the two end portions drive the middle portions to push with each other and have displacements along a radial direction of the osteo-implant through the connection portions, such that an outer diameter of the osteo-implant is increased by the middle portions.

Abstract: A trocar for preparing pilot holes, tunnels and other spaces within bone includes a piercing tip, a cutting element, and an expansion element for expanding the cutting element radially outwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the trocar. The cutting element includes one or more cutting blades. The trocar also includes a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft can include one or more apertures axially and radially aligned with the one or more cutting blades. The expansion element can include an activation rod housed inside the hollow shaft. The one or more cutting blades can be in the form of two opposed cutting blades separated by a gap, the two opposed cutting blades being radially displaceable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The activation rod can include a wedge that partially enters the gap between the two opposed cutting blades to displace the cutting blades to an expanded position.

Abstract: A system including an instrument having a working tool configured to penetrate a tissue; a sensor configured to generate in real-time one or more torque signals related to torque of the working tool; a controller in operative communication with the sensor and configured to receive the one or more torque signals. The controller processes the torque signals into one or more processed signals representative of torque, energy, power or a combination thereof. The system also includes a display providing to the user in real-time the one or more processed signals. Related devices, systems, methods, and articles are provided.

Abstract: A distraction screw includes a proximal portion secured to a first vertebra, a distal portion secured to a second vertebra and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is coupled to the proximal and distal portions and is positioned in an intervertebral space. The intermediate portion is configured and adapted to enable distraction of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an expandable fastener for orthopaedic applications and arranged for fastening when positioned in a bore hole in bone. The fastener comprises a body having an axis. The fastener further comprises an expansion portion moveable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration such that, in use, the expansion portion urges outwardly from the body towards the bone surrounding the bore hole. The fastener is arranged such that ingrowth of bone between the expansion portion and the body is substantially avoided when the expansion portion is in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: An expandable, intervertebral spacer includes a top component and a base component in engagement with the top component, the base component defining at least one channel for receiving a hardening material, and placement of the hardening material within the channel causes the top component to move between a first position in which the top component is a first distance from the base component and a second position in which the top component is a second distance from the base component, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The hardening material can be removed from the channel by a flexible coring tool, and the top component forced toward the base component to collapse the spacer.

Abstract: Intervertebral endoprosthesis discs suitable for surgical implantation between two vertebrae having and methods thereof. The prosthetic disc may have an endoprosthesis body including an anterior region and a posterior region designed to be positioned between a first vertebra and a second vertebra with a first and second movable insert positioned rotatably in anterior cavities and is rotatable to adjust the fasteners.

Abstract: A blade cartridge for use with a surgical saw includes a bar and a rack. The bar includes a first holding feature for removably holding the bar static to the saw. The rack includes a base moveably disposed in the bar and has cutting teeth defining extending beyond the bar. A drive link extends from the base, providing a second holding feature for releasably engaging a reciprocating drive integral with the saw. One of the base and the bar includes a guide slot. The other of the base and the bar includes a static member extending into the guide slot. The guide slot and the static member allow the rack to reciprocally move from proximal to distal to proximal along a longitudinal axis of the bar. The bar includes two plates and a spacer between the plates. The base is located between the plates.

Abstract: A system and methods for a safe and efficient distributing of bone graft material into an intervertebral disc space are provided. Systems are provided for receiving, removing, and replacing of preloaded load cartridges in a rapid and repeating manner. The systems can also be designed for rapidly delivering the biologics from a single load cartridge and, to even further facilitate a rapid and repeating delivery of biologics, the load cartridge and cartridge tamp can be adapted so that the cartridge tamp can capture and remove the load cartridge after delivery of fusion promoting material in the load cartridge.

Abstract: The invention refers to an extension device (1) for a bone screw (4) and to a screwdriver instrument (2) connectable to the extension device (1); it is proposed that the screwdriver instrument (2) comprises a toggle lever mechanism (62) having a first and a second lever arm (64, 66), which are pivotally connected to each other through a common articulation point (68), that the first lever arm (64) may be removably applied, in the area of its free end (70), at a first pivot bearing point (72) on the extension device (1) and is pivotally mounted and axially supported in the applied state, and that the second lever arm (66) is pivotally mounted and axially supported at a second pivot bearing point (74) on the shank, that the first lever arm (64) is elastically and longitudinally extendable, and that this longitudinal extensibility and a distance between the second pivot bearing point (74) and the common articulation point (68) of the lever arms (64, 66) are adapted to each other in such a way that when manually