Abstract: A medical forceps is provided with a tubular outer shank, on whose distal end there is formed a forceps jaw with two jaw parts. The two jaw parts are each rotatably mounted on the outer shank at two sides opposite one another. A tubular inner shank for actuating the jaw parts is displaceably arranged in the inside of the outer shank in its longitudinal direction. The inner shank is coupled to the two jaw parts for their actuation via two lever systems. Each of the lever systems is linked to the two jaw parts, one lever system on each of the two opposite sides.

Abstract: An instrument assembly for inserting a lateral fastener into a lateral bore of a stem body implanted into a bone. The instrument assembly includes an outrigger having an alignment tube extending laterally from the stem body, wherein the outrigger can be coupled with the stem body such that the alignment tube extends coaxially with the lateral bore.

Abstract: Bone screws and bone plates are provided that offer the surgeon the ability to either assemble the screws to the plate, or the plate to the screws, depending on the surgeon's preference and the patient's circumstances. The bone screws and bone plates of the present invention include a combination of geometric configurations that allow the screws and plates to fit together from different assembly directions. Additionally, the bone screws and bone plates can include material resilience features to allow expansion/contraction during assembly to allow bi-directional attachment to one another.

Abstract: A needle passer instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, including arthroscopy. The instrument has upper and lower jaws for engaging tissue and a handle. A removable needle engaging cartridge is mounted to the upper jaw. A surgical needle with attached suture is mounted in a needle passage in the lower jaw. A needle actuation rod engages the surgical needle and pushes the needle through tissue contained between the jaws. The needle is engaged by the cartridge, and the needle may be cut away from the suture.

Abstract: A drill guide with integral drill bit is provided for drilling a hole into bone. The drill guide may have a housing for engaging a screw hole of a bone plate to fix the trajectory of the drill guide and drill with respect to the bone plate. An adjustable stop assembly is also provided and is axially slidable along the drill bit. The adjustable stop has a drill bit engaging mechanism to selectively lock the adjustable stop to the drill bit at a desired location to limit the depth that the drill may penetrate into the bone.

Abstract: A vertebral fixing device which is capable of being mounted on a vertebra having a rear wall and/or two side walls from which project the ribs and/or the transverse processes. The device comprises an elongate transverse part (16) having two substantially symmetrical opposite ends (18, 20), where the transverse part (16) is adapted to be arranged against the rear wall (51) of the vertebra. Each of the ends (18, 20) is located opposite one rib and/or a transverse process (52, 54). The device includes at least two clamp-forming adjustable connection elements (26, 28, 42, 44) suitable for being connected respectively to each of the two ends (18, 20). The ribs and/or transverse processes (52, 54) are adapted to be engaged in the adjustable connection elements (26, 28, 42, 44) so as to maintain the elongate transverse part (16) in a fixed position against the rear wall (51) of the vertebra.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plating system having moveable and modular plate segments that are assembleable to vary the overall length of the plate, moveable to allow and/or cause intersegmental compression of vertebral bodies, and coupled together by a detachable fastener. The plating system includes locking elements, each locking element adapted to lock at least two bone screws to the plate, instrumentation, and method for installation thereof. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and the ability to produce the former from the latter.

Abstract: An anterior cervical plating system having modular plate segments that are assembleable to vary the overall length of the plate, moveable to allow and/or cause intersegmental compression of vertebral bodies, and coupled together by a detachable fastener. The plating system includes locking elements for locking only one bone screw to the plate, instrumentation, and method for installation thereof. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and the ability to produce the former from the latter.

Abstract: A total artificial expansible disc having at least two pairs of substantially parallel shells, which move in multiple directions defined by at least two axes, is disclosed. Several methods for implanting the total artificial expansile disc are also disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc occupies a space defined by a pair of vertebral endplates. An expansion device, which preferably includes a jackscrew mechanism, moves the pairs of shells in multiple directions. A core is disposed between the pairs of shells, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another.

Abstract: An extramedullary fluoroscopic alignment guide is disclosed, along with a surgical kit including such an alignment guide and a surgical method employing such an alignment guide. The extramedullary alignment guide includes both radiolucent and radiopaque material. The invention is useful in performing surgery on bones, for example, in performing surgery on the knee joint. The radiolucent material provides a support structure for the radiopaque material. The radiopaque material provides a radiopaque instrument reference that is sized, shaped and positioned so that the surgeon can simultaneously fluoroscopically view the patient's bone and the radiopaque instrument reference. The radiopaque instrument reference may be aligned with landmarks on the bone or other fluoroscopically viewable bones, such as the mechanical or anatomic axis. The guide may be provided as part of a kit with anchoring members and a cutting guide. The anchoring members can be set using the alignment guide.

Abstract: An implantable medical connector device is provided that employs a snap-on technology to safely and easily mate with another device. The medical connector device generally includes an elongate member having first and second connectors members formed on opposed ends thereof. Each connector member includes an opening formed in a sidewall thereof and extending into a nesting seat. The nesting seat is adapted to seat and engage an implanted cylindrical element.

Abstract: A tool for gripping an orthopedic implant having a recess. The tool includes a plurality of engagement members which extend freely from the tool body to their free ends. An elongate biasing member having a radially enlarged portion at its distal end is positioned along a central axis of the tool with its radially enlarged portion positioned between the engagement members. Axial translation of the biasing member biasingly engages the radially enlarged portion with the engagement members and resiliently deflects the engagement members from a contracted position to an expanded position. The engagement members are insertable into a recess in the implant when in the contracted position and outward biasing of the engagement members firmly secures the implant to the tool. The use engagement members which define a non-circular cross sectional shape and a correspondingly shaped recess in the implant inhibits relative rotational movement between the tool and implant.

Abstract: A method and a device for positioning a cutting guide for cutting a bone such as the tibia has a first elongated member having a longitudinally extended threaded surface. A second member is provided for receiving the first member. The second member includes an adjustment element mounted for rotation on the second member and for movement transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first member. The adjustment element has a threaded surface selectively engageable with the first member threaded surface. A biasing element extends between the second member and the adjustment element for biasing the adjustment element into engagement with the threaded outer surface of the first member so that rotation of the adjustment element causes relative movement between the first and second members. The adjustment element is moveable against the biasing element in the transverse direction out of engagement with the first member. Thus, the device allows both free sliding and threaded adjustment along the axis.

Abstract: The bone marrow mixing instrument having a handle housing with a trigger mounted thereto. The handle housing contains a ratchet drive feed mechanism with a pawl assembly and a moveable ratchet bar. The other end of the ratchet bar is secured to a mixing housing which holds syringes filled with material and defines channels leading from the syringe area to a mixing nozzle removably mounted to the mixing housing. A piston rod and piston are mounted in each syringe containing bone defect material with a piston being advanced within the respective syringe by the feed mechanism to discharge bone defect material from the syringe into the adjacent channels in the mixing housing and into the mixing nozzle.

Abstract: A resection guide alignment apparatus includes a resection guide, an intramedullary (“IM”) rod coupled to the resection guide, and a locking mechanism. The IM rod has a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal rod axis extending between the first and second ends. The IM rod further includes a coupling portion defining a longitudinal coupling axis transverse to the rod axis. The coupling portion is mounted to the resection guide such that the resection guide is movable linearly along the coupling axis between a plurality of fixable linear positions relative to the IM rod and the resection guide is movable angularly about the coupling axis between a plurality of fixable angular positions relative to the IM rod. The locking mechanism is operable to lock the linear and angular position of the resection guide relative to the IM rod.