Abstract: An external fixator for securing two or more bone elements. The external fixator includes an elongated bar; a first carriage for mounting on the bar and for securement to a first bone element; a second carriage for mounting on the bar and for securement to a second bone element; and a drive mechanism for driving the first and second carriages along the length of the bar independent of one another.

Abstract: A method of preparing an intermedullary canal of a bone for total joint arthroplasty including drilling a hole into the intermedullary cavity of a bone and inserting a centering rod longitudinally into the intermedullary canal of the bone. The rod is inserted to align the rod along the longitudinal axis of the bone. Osteotomizing the articulating surface of the bone and preparing the intermedullary canal of the bone to receive a prosthesis. The preparation including placing cannulated instruments in a telescoping manner over the centering rod and into the intermedullary canal to create a cavity suitable for receiving a bone prosthesis. The cannulated instrumentation includes a cannulated osteotomy guide, a cannulated reamer, a cannulated box chisel, and a cannulated broach. The instrumentation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the normal position of body parts includes attaching a positioning device to opposite sides of body parts abnormally approaching each other too closely. The positioning device is adjusted for repositioning the body parts to a normal position. An apparatus for maintaining the normal position of body parts includes a positioning device to be placed in the vicinity of opposite sides of body parts abnormally approaching each other too closely. The positioning device is fixed in place relative to the body parts. The positioning device is adjustable for repositioning the body parts to a normal position. The apparatus may be used in combination with body parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for inserting a fiducial marker. It comprises a housing and guide assembly, an obturator assembly, a drill for forming a bore hole at an implantation site, and a marker inserter for inserting a marker into the bore hole. The housing and guide assembly comprise a cylindrical housing having a bore provided therein, and a guide tube that is disposed and shiftable within the bore of the housing. The obturator assembly, drill and marker inserter are insertable in the distal end of the guide tube and shiftable therein.

Abstract: A milling guide for connection to an exposed end of a bone for guiding a milling device along the bone to mill away portions of the bone for accommodation of an orthopaedic implant. The guide includes a plurality of walls positioned in intersecting planes, each of the walls including a slot therein for capturing a milling device. A recess in the travel path of the milling device permits the milling device to rotate from the plane of one wall to that of another wall whereby the milling device is not removed from said milling guide during the cutting of intersecting planes on the bone.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing fractures of the upper end of the femur, comprising a plate which includes in its upper part two parallel, cylindrical barrels offset by a first angle with respect to a vertical plane passing through the middle of the plate and a second angle with respect to a horizontal axis passing through the middle of the plate.

Abstract: An orthopedic bone bolt and bone plate construct comprising a bone plate member and a series of fasteners. The bone plate member has at least one open portions, with the open portions allowing placement of a series of fasteners therethrough at spaced apart positions along a length of the open portions. The series of fasteners are attachable to the plate member at the open portions, with at least one of the fasteners including a multi-angle fastener having a pair of fastener sections configured to be angled relative to one another. The multi-angle fastener comprising; an upper section having a central longitudinal axis and an outer surface; a lower section having a central longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a threaded portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's bone tissue and a joint for connecting the upper and lower sections together.

Abstract: A template for guiding at least one suture through the periurethral fascia and vaginal mucosa adjacent a patient's urethra during a urethropexy procedure, wherein the at least one suture is attached to an anchor secured within the body of the patient above the patient's urethra, is provided. The template comprises first and second wing members extending laterally from opposite sides of the template; and at least one suture guide aperture positioned in each of the wing members at a predetermined location; the template configured to be alignable within the vagina of a patient such that one of the wing members will be positioned adjacent either side of the urethra with the at least one guide aperture in each wing member positioned such that a suture may be retrieved from within the patient's body through the at least one aperture. A method for performing a urethropexy procedure employing this template is also provided.

Abstract: A bone organizer or template for positioning K-wires or the like in bone fragments and holding the K-wires in place while the fracture mends is described. The invention also provides a simplified method of reducing a distal radius fracture by placing a plurality of K-wires into the bone fragments of the fracture in a plurality of planes, and after the K-wires are inserted into the bone fragments, they are inserted into a bone organizer and anchored in place to the bone organizer to hold the bone fragments together while mending.

Abstract: The instrumentation comprises a pair of vertebral implants (1) provided with screws (4) for anchorage to two corresponding vertebrae located on each side of a damaged vertebra, and a plate (3) having two end portions (3a) for connection to the two implants, and equipped with serrations (6, 15) for fixing it to the implants. The end portions (3a) of the plate have a rounded periphery and the instrumentation comprises fixing screws (50) having heads (51) which are rounded so that their surface is flush with the surface of the plate when they are anchored in the apertures of the implant and the apertures of the end portion (3a) of the plate. This arrangement ensures that the ends of the plate (3) do not come into contact with the vertebral discs when the angular position of the plate (3) relative to the implants varies, and reduces the overall size of the instrumentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides both methods and apparatus for stable internal fixation of distal radius fractures. The apparatus includes a tined plate designed for implantation which is attached to the distal radius with the tines located in fragments of the distal radius and the methods are adapted to placed the plate in the proper position on the dorsal surface of the distal radius.

Abstract: A low cost lancet device for creating a skin incision. The lancet contains a unistructurally formed plastic body, thereby making the lancet device easy to manufacture at low cost. The plastic body contains a resilient spring loop that attaches an arm element to an opposing base element. The spring loop is curved, therefore the arm element is retained above the base element by the spring loop. A blade is disposed on the arm element. The blade aligns with a slot in the base element so that when the spring loop is compressed, and the arm element is moved toward the base element, the blade extends through the slot in the base element. A protrusion extends from the base element that obstructs the movement of the arm element toward the base element. As a result, when a force is applied to the arm element, the arm element abuts against the protrusion and applies a bias to the protrusion that acts to displace the protrusion.

Abstract: Acupressure clamps include a U-shape band having opposite end portions respectively provided with a pressure applying screw and a spherical counterabutment. The end portions can be parallel with a line of action of the screw extending through the protuberance for application of pressure to precisely opposite portions of a foot or, the end portions can diverge for simultaneous application of pressures along non aligned axes at two locations on a back of a hand. Another device for the leg below the knee or the sole of the foot has a body engaging, arcuate plate carrying a pressure screw and mounted on a fastening strap. A device for the big toe is a socket with a pressure screw and a device for smaller toes is a clip.

Abstract: A novel surgical scissor blade having a sharp shearing edge and comprising an injection molded powdered metal, and a method for making the same.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for retaining a connecting rod of a spine fixator on a pedicular screw, wherein it comprises two identical ring-shaped elements, of which each comprises an opening bore of conical profile, at least one cylindrical notch made perpendicularly to the conical bore for positioning a connecting rod, at least one elastically deformable finger and at least one vertical hole which is intended to receive and maintain the corresponding finger of the other ring before assembly thereof on the corresponding pedicular screw.

Abstract: A vertebral fixation device includes a fixation main body, two fixation rods and a rotatable clamping block. The fixation main body is made up of a fixation base having a fixation hole. Located respectively at both ends of the fixation base is a fixation block having an arcuate surface capable of holding one of the two fixation rods in conjunction with one of two arcuate recesses of the rotatable clamping block. The rotatable clamping block is provided at the bottom thereof with a retaining projection engageable securely with the fixation hole of the fixation main body.

Abstract: An expandable bone marrow cavity fixation device comprises a hollow tubular body provided peripherally with a plurality of through holes, in each of which a diameter-adjusting element is movably disposed. An adjustment element is adjustably disposed in the hollow interior of the tubular body such that the inner end of the diameter-adjusting element is urged by the adjustment element. An urging element is rotatably disposed in the hollow interior of the tubular body such that the upper end of the adjustment element is urged by the bottom end of the urging element, and that the adjustment element can be so actuated by a rotational motion of the urging element as to force the diameter-adjusting elements to jut out of the through holes of the tubular body to bring about an increase in outer diameter of the tubular body.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's proximal tibia with a surgical saw and cutting instrumentation is disclosed. The method of the present invention prepares the patient's proximal tibial to receive a tibial implant. The patient's intramedullary canal is first reamed and then an intramedullary rod is placed in the intramedullary canal as a reference. A first cutting instrument is bound on the rod above the patient's proximal tibia. The first cutting instrument includes a stylus that is used to set the depth of cut by referencing the top of the proximal tibia. The proximal tibia is then transversely cut with the saw by tracking the first cutting guide surfaces with the saw. The first cutting instrument is removed together with its stylus. A secondary cutting instrument is then placed on the rod above the proximal tibia. The second cutting instrument has a cutter at its center for cutting longitudinally into the proximal tibia.

Abstract: An improved biopsy forceps for retrieving a tissue sample from an internal organ includes device for ejecting a tissue sample from the cups after the sample is retrieved from the internal organ. The improved biopsy forceps has scissor links for operating the cups, and plungers rigidly attached to the scissor links. The plungers protrude through apertures in the cups when the cups are fully opened, ejecting the tissue sample. Alternatively, the forceps have pushing members positioned inside of the cups and attached to the distal end of an actuating wire. The ejection device is actuated from the proximal end of the forceps by sliding the wire. A latch mechanism can be provided on the proximal end to selectively prevent actuation.

Abstract: A surgical probe is disclosed for use in defining and dissecting tissue planes. The operative end of the probe is defined to provide a flat wide fan-like shaped spray at the operative end which aids in lifting organs, such as the gall bladder, as well as loosening the adhesion underneath such organs. The probe can also be provided with a dissecting edge, also at the operative end of the probe. The dissecting edge can be used to cut and dissect the desired organ(s) of the patient.