Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for performing surgery on a heart of a patient comprising a first arm, a second arm and an actuator, the actuator moving the first arm relative to the second arm. The apparatus further includes a first blade on the first arm and a second blade on the second arm, the first and second blades having first and second surfaces facing away from each other, the first and second surfaces being adapted to atraumatically engage tissue or bone for the retraction thereof. The apparatus also includes a stabilizer adapted to be mounted to one of the first and second arms and having a foot, the foot being configured to atraumatically engage the surface of the heart. In a various embodiments, the apparatus includes removable blades mounted to the arms, suture stays removably mounted to the arms, and multiple rails for mounting the stabilizer in various positions.

Abstract: Surgical methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing the heart. The methods and apparatus facilitate access to an anastomosis site, allow various instruments or devices to be maneuvered and secured in place, and provide stabilization of the heart. In particular, the apparatus involves a retractor assembly having a pair of opposing blades having a channel adapted to engage an incision in a patient. The retractor blades may have features to cooperatively engage an instrument mount. The retractor blades may have a number of suture locks for securing sutures used during surgery. The retractor system is particularly useful in accessing, positioning and stabilizing the beating heart for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Abstract: A method for performing an anterior cruciate ligament repair procedure wherein a bone plug attached to a section of tendon or ligament is fixed in a bone tunnel. The method utilizes an adhesive to secure the bone block in the bone tunnel.

Abstract: An epilating device including a plurality of blades, a blade moving member, and an actuator. The plurality of blades are configured to pluck hairs and includes at least one movable blade which is configured to oscillate to grip and release the hairs. The blade moving member is configured to be reciprocally and linearly moved to oscillate the at least one movable blade. The actuator is configured to move the blade moving member reciprocally and linearly without contacting the blade moving member.

Abstract: A kit for centering proximally an implant within a canal formed in a femur is provided. The kit includes a cutter apparatus adapted to form a reference in a resected surface of the femur and a guide adapted to support the implant and formed for extension into the reference to align the implant within the canal. The cutter apparatus includes a body formed to include first and second ends and teeth extending from the second end. The teeth are positioned in a pre-determined pattern to form the reference when the cutter apparatus is moved relative to the femur. In addition, the guide includes a handle, a clamp coupled to the handle and formed with jaws adapted to engage the implant, and an extension extending from at least one of the jaws. The extension is received within the reference to align the implant within the canal.

Abstract: Intraoral distractor for callus distraction in the human lower jaw with a proximal (posterior) and a distal (anterior) fixation part and a first displacement mechanism for a linear lengthening of the distance between the two fixation parts so as to lengthen the body of the mandible or the ramus of the mandible in the area of an osteotomy. The distractor is characterized in that the invention provides for a distraction element with a joint, the axis of articulation of which is oriented in such a way as to allow for a change in the angular position to each other of the body of the mandible and ramus of mandible in the area of the osteotomy. The one fixing part is assigned to the ramus of mandible and the other fixing part to the body of mandible. The distraction element is joined to the fixing parts in such a way that it is situated outside the tissue in the oral cavity and on the buccal side of the teeth in the vestibule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for producing a shock wave to impact an object that includes a transfer member. The device has a voice coil assembly including a permanent magnet and a bobbin member, wherein the permanent magnet provides a first magnetic field. A hammer is attached with the bobbin member; and a coil is operatively attached to the bobbin member, wherein when a voltage is applied to the coil a second magnetic field is generated that opposes the first magnetic field and thereby propels the hammer to contact the transfer member to cause a shock wave to travel along the transfer member.

Abstract: The depilation system comprises an electric depilation apparatus and a cartridge. The depilation apparatus comprises a depilation head, a drive unit, and a chamber adapted to accommodate the cartridge. The cartridge comprises a reservoir for holding a substance, a discharge channel, and a pump. The chamber extends between the depilation head and the drive unit. The depilation head is movable with respect to the depilation apparatus in such a manner that the chamber is accessible. In order to enable the pump to be actuated, the depilation apparatus comprises an actuator which extends into the chamber. A mechanism couples the actuator to a button at the exterior of the depilation apparatus in such a manner that the actuator can be driven by moving the button.

Abstract: A double-jointed bone bolt for use in an apparatus for maintaining vertebra in a desired relationship. The apparatus has a rod that extends substantially along the spine and one or more bone bolts. At least one of the bone bolts is double jointed. The double-jointed bolt has a mounting portion with a hook or coarse threads to engage a vertebra, and the mounting portion is attached to a pivot post in a manner that allows the pivot post to be rotatable about a common axis in respect to the mounting portion. The pivot post of the bone bolt is then pivotally attached to a connector portion of the bone bolt that has machine threads upon which a surgeon may attach a clamp. The clamp has a second bolt and an arm. The second bolt holds the rod and the arm to the clamp. The second bolt has a first channel to attach to the rod, while the arm has a second channel to attach the double-jointed bone bolt.

Abstract: A kit of surgical instruments comprises a plurality of differently sized/shaped hollow tubes constructed to receive bone graft, and a plurality of differently sized and/or shaped plungers to be inserted into the hollow tube. A surgeon may select a hollow tube and plunger which correspond based upon the size and shape of the graft receiving area and the prosthesis to be implanted. The plungers are further constructed and arranged so that when the hollow tube is moved in a direction away from a graft receiving area, the bone graft is delivered to the graft receiving area. A set of modular plunger portions may be included for constructing a plunger corresponding to a tube.

Abstract: In an episiotomy retractor, distal portions of the blades are shaped to diverge away from one another for enhanced retraction and gripping of respective adjacent vaginal walls, proximal portions of the blades are shaped to diverge away from one another to retract the labia as the blades retract respective adjacent vaginal walls, and the proximal inferior longitudinal edges of the blades cooperatively define, when the retractor is in use, an open work area for a surgeon about the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall of a patient.

Abstract: An article of manufacture for load bearing medical use such as a joint implant suitable for total joint replacement. The article comprises a polyurethane-containing component and is monolithic with respect to polyurethane-containing component(s). The joint for long term load applications is structurally an articulated joint and the polyurethane component provides a surface for articulation with the polyurethane.

Abstract: An intraocular lens insertion device comprises a pad formed by an elastic element harmless to a living body, a drawing thread mounted on a rear portion of the pad, and an insert portion formed at a front portion of the pad. The insert portion has a shape suitable to fit into a ciliary sulcus of an aphakic eye. The pad has a thickness capable of covering a tip end of a surgical needle.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing vertebrae of a spinal column has a stabilizing rod and clamps each having a receiving bore for receiving the stabilizing rod. The clamps each have a first leg and a second leg. Each leg has a transverse bore extending transversely to the receiving bore. The transverse bores of the first and second legs are aligned with one another. Screws having a first threaded portion for threadingly engaging a vertebra are provided. The screws have a screw head remote from the first threaded portion and a second threaded portion projecting from the screw head in a direction away from the first threaded portion. At least the transverse bore of the first leg of the clamps have a bore insert member inserted in the transverse bore and resting against the outer surface of the first leg and having an eccentric insert bore. The second threaded portion of the screws penetrate the eccentric insert bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for spinal fixation has a longitudinally extending core which provides structural integrity and allows for bone growth along the center column of the spine. The apparatus for spinal fixation further includes upper and lower platform members radially extending from upper and lower ends, respectively, of the core. The platform members each include a plurality of radially extending arms which define substantially triangular openings therebetween. The openings permit bone ingrowth therethrough to the space between the upper and lower platform members which is interrupted only by the core.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasticized dehydrated or freeze-dried bone and/or soft tissue product that does not require special conditions of storage, for example refrigeration or freezing, exhibits materials properties that approximate those properties present in normal hydrated tissue, is not brittle, does not necessitate rehydration prior to clinical implantation and is not a potential source for disease transmission. The invention replaces water in the molecular structure of the bone or soft tissue matrix with one or more plasticizers allowing for dehydration of the tissue, yet not resulting in an increase in brittleness of the plasticized product, and resulting in compressive and/or tensile properties similar to those of normal hydrated bone. Replacement of the chemical plasticizers by water prior to implantation is not required and thus, the dehydrated bone or soft tissue plasticized product can be placed directly into an implant site without significant preparation in the operating room.

Abstract: An endoscopic assembly, utilizing a braided mesh material as an expandable sheath, is disclosed. The mesh sheath is adapted to receive an endoscope for viewing the interior of a body cavity or lumen and one or more channels for performing medical procedures within the patient. The mesh sheath expands laterally as it is compressed longitudinally, which allows it to come into contact with the interior of the body cavity. By doing so, it can anchor the assembly, take samples from the body cavity, or dilate a stricture in the body cavity. Additional dilation procedures can be performed by removing the endoscope and inserting other instruments without removing the entire assembly from the patient. The body cavity can be hermetically sealed to reduce the risk of contamination of the endoscope and channels.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprising a Veress needle, a dilating obturator, and a cannula. The Veress needle has a tubular safety obturator with an opening in its front section at a needle tip of the Veress needle. A guide with a guide slot can be positioned in a patient's vagina against the posterior fornix of the vagina to guide the Veress needle through the vaginal and peritoneal walls. A guide wire may be passed through the Veress needle and through the hole in the peritoneum wall formed by the Veress needle to guide the dilating obturator through the hole.

Abstract: Bone fasteners consisting of a rivet and an expansion pin for attaching soft tissue and bone plates to bone. The rivet has an enlarged proximal end, a tubular body portion dimensioned to fit snugly within a hole drilled in a bone, and a distal end having expandable legs. The expansion pin is either slidably or rotatably mounted within an axial bore in the rivet. In a first embodiment, the expansion pin has a metallic traction portion and a conical, preferably bioabsorbable, distal end portion releasably affixed thereto. In use, the rivet is inserted into a pre-drilled hole in a bone. When tension is applied to the traction portion of the expansion pin, the conical end portion progressively advances into the bore thereby forcing the legs on the distal end of the rivet to expand outwardly. When the legs are fully expanded, further progress of the conical portion is arrested by a shoulder stop within the axial bore.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed surgical methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing the heart. The methods and apparatus facilitate access to an anastomosis site, allows various instruments or devices to be maneuvered and secured in place, and provide stabilization of the heart. The apparatus may involve a tissue stabilizer, and in particular a tissue stabilizer for use in immobilizing or stabilizing a portion of the beating heart using a compressive force delivered to the heart via the tissue stabilizer. The stabilizer may include a stabilizer base and a shaft. The shaft may be secured within an appropriate instrument mount preferably fixed to a retractor or other stable platform as disclosed herein. The stabilizers of the present invention provide improved access to a surgical site at a target vessel on the surface of the heart and may include features which facilitate optimal presentation of the target vessel.