Abstract: A tracking device for a navigation system that includes a localizer. The tracking device has a tracking body. At least one tracking element is supported by the tracking body and configured to transmit a tracking signal for the localizer. A visual indicator is supported by the tracking body and has an emitter configured to generate a visible light. A tracker controller supported by the tracking body is configured to receive a signal from the navigation system indicative of the tracking signal being received by the localizer, and in response, control the visual indicator to activate the emitter to generate the visible light to produce a color to indicate to a user that the tracking signal is being received by the localizer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses including apparatuses that can be used in a unicompartmental knee replacement procedure, a bicompartmental knee replacement procedure comprised of two unicompartmental knee replacements, a knee replacement procedure that utilizes a single femoral component and two unicompartmental tibial components, and other types of knee replacement procedures are disclosed. According to one example, an apparatus for guiding a tibial bone cut during knee replacement surgery is disclosed. The apparatus can comprise a mounting portion and a cutting portion. The mounting portion can be configured to couple with an alignment mechanism. The cutting portion can be connected to the mounting portion and can define a capture for a proximal cut. The cutting portion can have an aperture disposed adjacent a first end of the capture.

Abstract: A surgical tool that has a pair of transmissions coupled to one another to effect driving of a cutting tool in both bidirectional intermittent rotational manners and in opposite directions of continuous rotation. The transmissions are driven by a motor coupled to one of the transmissions which is coupled to the second transmission.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a limb bone fixation system capable of automatically transforming from AO (Association for Study of Internal Fixation) to BO (Bio-logical Osteosynthesis) elastic fixation. The system includes a bone nail, a bone bridge, and connecting pieces attached to the bone bridge. The bone bridge is divided into a plate-shaped bone bridge and a rod-shaped bone bridge. A gasket made of a rigid degradable biomaterial is added between all connecting pieces at a broken end of one side of a fracture and the bone bridge, which can form rigid fixation for the fracture at initial fixation.

Abstract: A length adjustable modular screw includes a neck assembly and a shank. The neck assembly has proximal and distal ends and includes an expander component and a collet component that are slidably engagable by insertion of the expander component in a through channel of the collet component along a common axis. The length adjustable modular screw also includes a shank suitable for insertion and retention within a bone, the shank including a threaded portion between proximal and distal ends and a socket adapted to coaxially receive at least a portion of the distal end of the neck assembly. The length adjustable modular screw has a length that is selected by splaying at least a portion of the distal end of the engaged expander and collet components of the neck assembly within the socket of the shank.

Abstract: Medical devices are provided, comprising a medical device and a sensor.

Abstract: A bone rivet is provided that may be used as an alternative to a bone screw for bone fixation. The bone rivet includes a head and a threaded shaft that can be expanded upon installing the bone rivet into bone. A channel extends through the bone rivet and is shaped corresponding to a bulb of a mandrel used for installing the bone rivet. A first section of the channel has a smaller width than the mandrel's bulb to enable the bulb to expand the threaded shaft and a second section is sized to have a greater width. The installation process eliminates the task of rotating a typical bone screw during its installation. The threaded shaft also includes a cutting flute, which cuts a thread path for the threaded shaft into the bone thereby reducing the amount of torque needed to rotate and remove the bone rivet from bone.

Abstract: A bone graft delivery system and method for using same to deliver graft material into a surgical site. The system includes an interbody implant having a securing site disposed on a surface of the implant and a holder having an elongated, hollow handle including a distal end. The distal end of the holder is configured to removably engage the securing site of the interbody implant to secure the interbody implant to the distal end of the holder until such time as a user desires to disengage the holder from the interbody implant. The interbody implant may be a cage implant having opposing anterior and posterior surfaces, opposing first and second lateral surfaces, and opposing top and bottom surfaces, wherein the top surface comprises a first aperture and the bottom surface comprises a second aperture, the posterior surface comprising a third aperture, the first, second, and third apertures all linking to a main cavity, the main cavity generally extending between the top surface and the bottom surface.

Abstract: A vertebral body distraction support nail, including a support nail body including an inner core, an outer sleeve and a distraction ball, and a support nail cap including a cylindrical upper support nail cap and a pressure cap. The inner core is threadedly connected inside the outer sleeve, and has upper and lower ends both extending out of the outer sleeve. The lower end of the inner core is provided with a tapered stapling head. The distraction ball is fitted over the inner core between the tapered stapling head and the outer sleeve. An upper support nail cap cavity has a lower end connected to an upper end of the outer sleeve and an upper end into which the upper end of the inner core extends. The pressure cap is engaged with and slidably connected to the upper end of the inner core and the upper support nail cap.

Abstract: A device for tensioning a surgical thread comprising: an elongated body having a tip portion adapted to be arranged in contact with a knot of a surgical thread wound about a patient's bone and a maneuvering member connected to the elongated body by a screw and nut mechanism configured to adjust the distance between said elongated body and said maneuvering member, said maneuvering member having respective coupling portions for coupling opposite ends of the surgical thread wound and knotted about the bone. The opposite ends of the surgical thread reversibly constrainable to the respective coupling portions in a use configuration of the device. The distance between the elongated body and the maneuvering member can be increased along a movement axis to tension the opposite ends so as to tighten the surgical thread about the bone. The tip portion has a groove shaped to receive at least partially the knot.

Abstract: An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.

Abstract: Systems for variable angle insertion of surgical fasteners relative to an orthopedic plate with locking of the surgical fastener relative to the plate upon insertion. The systems may include a pivot member secured relative to either the orthopedic plate or the fastener. In either regard, the pivot member may provide locking engagement with the plate to lockingly engage the fastener relative to the plate.

Abstract: A resection guide locator includes a bone engagement portion with surfaces that are complementary to the surface topographies of a bone to be resected during surgery. A housing includes a socket defined by a resilient annular wall that is sized and arranged so to accept a resection guide by press-fit to thereby position and hold the resection guide within the socket. The resection guide is maintained in a predetermined, preferred position while the surfaces are releasably locked in position on the bone. A method is disclosed for forming and using the resection guide locator.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for bone stabilization, especially ulna head stabilization. The stabilization system may include a bone plate having an elongated portion extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The bone plate defines a plurality of through holes extending through the elongated portion. A plurality of fasteners are configured to extend through one or more of the plurality of through holes in the bone plate and configured to secure the bone plate to the bone. The proximal end of the elongate portion has an arcuate configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crescent or tri-corner shaped orthopedic plate with at least a first and a second end, and generally coextensive top and bottom surfaces joined directly or indirectly by an edge. The plate includes a plurality of fixation holes the first end of the plate and a second end of the plate that receives locking screws and intermediate the two holes, the plate includes a recess that defines a screw hole edge at an angle relative to the top surface of the plate so as to receive and support a screw in the recess. The invention further relates to a method of fusion using the plate and a clamp designed for the method.

Abstract: A surgical device for intraoperative angle measurements during surgery. The surgical device includes a shaft having a bone probe configured to remain in contact with cortical bone of the patient while a user orients the shaft to a desired orientation. The device includes a housing having an electronic circuit configured to measure an orientation angle. The electronic circuit may include: an input device configured to receive user input data; a measurement circuit configured to measure a change in orientation of the shaft in relation to a reference axis; a control circuit coupled to the input device and measurement circuit and configured to determine the orientation angle of the shaft relative to the reference axis; and an output device configured to communicate the orientation angle to the user. The device includes a power supply configured to provide power to the electronic circuit.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant system adapted to fixate bone includes a bridge with first and second bores therethrough and first and second elastic members extending from the bridge respectively into the first bore and the second bore. During insertion respectively of anchoring devices through the first and second bores and into the bone, the anchoring devices respectively contact the first and second elastic members and depress the first and second elastic members respectively into the first and second bores such that the first and second elastic members deform to store energy therein while transitioning from a natural shape to a fixation shape. After insertion of the anchoring devices, the first and second elastic members, in attempted transitions from the fixation shape to the natural shape, respectively deliver the energy stored therein to the anchoring devices such that the anchoring devices urge the bone into a fixation position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming pilot apertures for surgical screws. The method provides at least three points of contact to the screw shank to provide reliable positioning and retention of the bone screw. The method also provides slots or areas for insertion and retention of bone growth promoting materials which further secure the bone screw over time. The method is useful for patients of all ages, and may be particularly useful for patients that have osteoporosis or patients that are very active by providing additional securement of the bone screw to the underlying bone.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which changes in the position and/or orientation of an anatomical structure or of a surgical tool can be measured quantitatively during surgery. In some embodiments, a surgical electronic module can be configured to attach to a surgical device, to continually detect changes in a position and/or orientation of the surgical device during surgery, and to communicate the changes to a user. In this way, where the surgical device is attached to a portion of a patient's anatomy and/or is used to manipulate the patient's anatomy, the surgical electronic module can detect changes in the position and/or orientation of said anatomy. In embodiments where more than one module is used during surgery, the modules can continually detect changes in their positions and/or orientations relative to one another, which correspond to changes in relative positions and/or orientations of the surgical devices to which the modules are attached.

Abstract: A fixation device includes a head, a tapered body coupled to the head and extending along a central longitudinal axis, and a flexible tail extending distally from the tapered body and defining a central bore therethrough. The flexible tail is movable from an initial configuration aligned with the central longitudinal axis to a deflected configuration that extends away from the central longitudinal axis when a force is applied to the flexible tail.