Abstract: An apparatus for suturing anatomical tissue includes a hollow needle guide having a distal end, a needle disposed within the needle guide and movable between a retracted position where at least a portion of the needle is disposed within the needle guide and an extended position where the needle is disposed externally of the needle guide, suture material connected with the needle, and a manually articuable needle receiver for guiding a distal end of the needle as a proximal end of the needle is advanced distally through the needle guide and capturing the needle when the proximal end of the needle emerges from the distal end of the needle guide.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail inserting and mounting instrument includes a base portion which can be mounted to one end of an intramedullary nail inserted in bone marrow of a pair of bone pieces of a fractured bone to be interconnected, a guide shaft portion which is integrally provided on the base portion and which extends in the direction of an extension of the intramedullary nail, a pressing member which is movable along the guide shaft portion to come into contact with one end of one of the bone pieces, and a pressing member moving device which moves the pressing member along the guide shaft portion. The disclosure also addresses a method for inserting and securing the intramedullary nail to the fractured bone using the mounting instrument.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for suturing and ligating anatomical tissue utilizes one or more knotting elements carried by a length of filamentous suture material for tying the suture material to create one or more adjustably tensioned stitches. The knotting elements are carried by the suture material at fixed spaced positions or can be movable along the suture material, and suture instruments are provided to facilitate the formation of a plurality of stitches, particularly during endoscopic procedures.

Abstract: An anchor securable within a bore created in bone is provided. The anchor comprises: a body having a longitudinal axis, and proximal and distal ends; at least three wing members extending outwardly from, and secured to the body, each of the wing members capable of being elastically flexed from a normal deployed position to a compressed position, each of the wing members further having an external end positioned away from the body, at least a portion of the external ends of the wing members substantially aligned along a first imaginary plane extending through the body at an angle to a transverse cross-section through the body, this transverse cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body; and an aperture positioned adjacent the proximal end of the body. An anchor-insertion tool, a loaded anchor-insertion tool, and a surgical kit are also provided.

Abstract: An instrument for holding an acetabular cup. An elongate hollow tubular member has a proximal end and a distal end and a generally transverse end face at the distal end. A pair of pins extend axially outwardly from the transverse end face. An elongate rod is mounted within the elongate hollow tubular member for axial movement relative thereto. A ball is attached to one end of the elongate rod proximate the transverse end face and is moveable together with the elongate rod. The ball has a spherical surface for engaging a portion of the inner bearing surface of an acetabular cup that extends radially inwardly relative to the polar axis of the acetabular cup. Retraction of the ball toward the end face of the tubular member draws the cup toward the end face. Corresponding holes in the rim of the cup receive the pins to prevent lateral movement of the cup on the end face of the instrument.

Abstract: A non-invasive method and apparatus for determining the dynamic biomechanical characteristics (frequency response functions and natural frequency) of a musculoskeletal structure is provided. The method generally comprises exciting the musculoskeletal structure over a broad range of frequencies with a low amplitude, high velocity impulsive input force, measuring the input force with a force transducer, detecting the output motion response with an output transducer, processing input force and output response data into time-signal histories with a data acquisition and analysis means or digital computer, transforming the time-signal histories from the time domain to the frequency domain by applying Fourier analysis; and calculating a frequency response function and the natural frequency from the input force and dynamic output response time-signal histories.

Abstract: An improved chiropractic adjusting instrument and method is provided for use in spinal manipulative therapy and for exciting a human spine at its natural frequency. The chiropractic adjusting instrument includes a thrust element for delivering an input force, a body contact member removably attached to the thrust element, a spring member for propelling the thrust element and the body contact member outwardly, and an adjustment knob arranged on the thrust element for adjusting the amount of potential energy imposed on the spring member and for controlling the magnitude of the resulting input force. In use, the input force is mechanically tuned to the natural frequency of a musculoskeletal structure (e.g., a human spine) by positioning a shaped mass on the thrust element, by varying the stiffness of the removable body contact member, and/or by varying the stiffness of the spring member. The input force is then delivered to the musculoskeletal structure at its natural frequency.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for fastening together opposing portions of a body organ. The instrument comprises a first support for supporting the first opposing portion of the body organ, a second support opposing the first support, for supporting the second opposing portion of the body organ, and a displacement-preventing member connected to the first or second support for preventing the supports from displacing relative to each other. The member comprises a pin protruding from one of the supports and a hole formed in the other of the supports. The pin is made of thermoplastic resin. When heated, the pins is softened and deformed, whereby the first and second supports are secured to each other, fastening together the opposing portions of the body organ.

Abstract: A device for determining resection surfaces on the femur (20) and on tibia (10) in preparation for implantation of a total knee endoprosthesis includes a femoral saw template (12) and a removable tibial component (35) which can be locked in the area of the tibial tuberosity and repositioned there in exactly the same place. The tibial component has a fixed plate and a movable plate. The frontal plane of the tibia is first established and, using the movable plate, pushed in parallel in the direction of the femoral saw template (12), which at this stage is arranged on the frontal aspect of the femur (10) for pivoting around the femoral axis. The movable plate (24) of the tibial component (35) is pushed until finally at least a linear contact between tibia positioners (25) of the movable plate and the femoral saw template (12) is created.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spinal fixation system. The system comprises a screw for pivotally attaching a bolt to a vertebrae to be treated. A pivot block is threaded onto the bolt to move the pivot block up and down the bolt. A rod is secured at each of its ends to vertebrae on either side of the vertebrae to be treated and a clamp block is attached to the rod and the pivot block to thereby allow the pivot block to push, pull or rotate the vertebrae to be treated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for accelerating the stretching of skin and the closing of open skin wounds. The method includes attaching a plurality of anchors to skin to allow a cable to be attached across the open skin wound. The cable is attached between the plurality of anchors across the wound, whereby when the skin stretches proximate to the wound sufficient tension is applied to the cable by an adjustable tightening mechanism member. Sufficient tension is applied to the cable by tightening mechanism member, whereby the skin proximate to said open skin would is stretched. The tension applied to the cable is detected and adjusted, as needed, to maintain the sufficient tension, thereby accelerating wound closure.

Abstract: An ophthalmic method and apparatus preferably for removing the relatively soft cellular epithelium from a predetermined region of the relatively hard fibrous cornea of the eye preparatory to reshaping the cornea as by laser ablation or the like, preferably by an abrasive surface formed by the ends of a bundle of thin soft filaments constrained against lateral movement and rotatable to comminute and emulsify the epithelium into tiny removable cell-particles, with features, where desired, of concavely contouring the surface formed by the free ends of the filaments to correspond to the anterior convex cornea, and interiorly hollowing the bundle to provide an annular abrasive surface formed by filament ends surrounding the hollow.

Abstract: A spinal plate is provided that has two components of curvature in the lower surface that opposes the spinal vertebrae. This lower surface preferrably has the shape of a toroidal segment. A series of plates may be taken from a principal "s"-shaped template of similar shape on its lower surface. For convenience of manufacture, the shape of the curvature of the "S"-shaped template along the sides of the template is circular. A special hole pattern is also disclosed in respect of a tapered thoracic portion of the template.

Abstract: Electromechanical microstructures (microgrippers), either integrated circuit (IC) silicon-based or precision machined, to extend and improve the application of catheter-based interventional therapies for the repair of aneurysms in the brain or other interventional clinical therapies. These micromechanisms can be specifically applied to release platinum coils or other materials into bulging portions of the blood vessels also known as aneurysms. The "micro" size of the release mechanism is necessary since the brain vessels are the smallest in the body. Through a catheter more than one meter long, the micromechanism located at one end of the catheter can be manipulated from the other end thereof. The microgripper (micromechanism) of the invention will also find applications in non-medical areas where a remotely actuated microgripper or similar actuator would be useful or where micro-assembling is needed.

Abstract: A self-reaming intramedullary nail and method for using the same are disclosed. Nail 10 includes a rotatable reaming head 30 mounted to the distal end 24 of the cannulated nail body 20. A detachable drive shaft 40 connects reaming head 30 through nail body 20 to a conventional rotational drill device 8. Reaming head 30 and drive shaft 40 have longitudinal bores 31, 41 that when connected form a passage for receiving a guide wire 6.

Abstract: Surgical procedures for stabilizing a spine include exposing a portion of each of adjacent vertebrae requiring fusion and placing an osteoinductive material within an area between the portions of the adjacent vertebrae in contact with the cortical bone of the portions. In another aspect, surgical procedures for stabilizing a spine are provided which include exposing a portion of each of adjacent vertebrae requiring fusion, adding an osteoinductive cytokine to a carrier material and placing the carrier material between the portions of the adjacent vertebrae in contact with the cortical bone of the portions.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention a spinal fixation system includes an elongated spinal element (11) configured to extend adjacent the spine, and a plurality of fixation elements (15) each engagable to the spine and to the elongated spinal element (11). The embodiment further includes an extension member (28) having a head portion (30) defining a variable angle surface and an elongated portion (29) extending from the head portion, and a clamping member (31) for clamping the extension member (28) to the elongated spinal element (11). The clamping member (31) defines a mating surface configured for mating engagement with the variable angle surface of the extension member (28) to permit orientation of the elongated portion (29) of the extension member (28) at a plurality of angles relative to the elongated spinal element (11).

Abstract: A suture fastening device which includes a first member having a base and first and second legs projecting in a lengthwise direction along the base. The legs are parallel to each other and are resiliently biased toward a spaced apart position in relation to each other. A second member is provided and includes an aperture for receiving the first and second legs of the first member. The first and second members are connected by a hinge portion. A suture is held in serpentine fashion by positioning the suture transversely across both legs and locking the first member to the second member by forcing the legs through the aperture.

Abstract: A connection assembly for connecting a spinal implant rod to a spinal implant bolt includes a rod connecting member having an aperture for receiving a portion of the rod and a bolt connecting member having an aperture for receiving a portion of the bolt. The rod connecting member and bolt connecting member are rotatably engaged to one another. A rod interface washer is positioned over a portion of the rod connecting member, and a bolt interface washer is positioned over a portion of the bolt connecting member. The rod interface washer and bolt interface washer are moveable in part between the rod connecting member and the bolt connecting member, the rod connecting washer being fixed against rotation relative to the rod connecting member and the bolt interface washer being fixed against rotation relative to the bolt interface washer.

Abstract: Device for stabilizing, and/or compressing, and/or distracting certain portions of the spinal column is provided. The device utilizes pedicle screws, and an adapter is provided which may be connected by a screw device to the head of a pedicle screw. A roughened portion of the adapter cooperates with a roughened portion of the pedicle screw head to provide for a non-rotatable connection of the adapter with respect to the pedicle screw. The adapter has a circular opening or a recess for receiving the threaded rod which is fixed to the adapter by a threaded device.