Abstract: An implant strip is disclosed. In some cases, the prosthesis can take the form of an implant strip that may be implanted through the use of a surgical procedure that minimizes incision sizes and may be considered less invasive than typical spinal implant procedures. The implant strip includes provisions for implantation, including teeth, spacing provisions, and various shapes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for joint preparation and fusion are disclosed. The system includes a cutting device having a handle, and rigid blade member. The blade member may include cutting edges on first and second sides, and may be curved in one or more planes. The blade member may be deployed to project outside of an outer tube, and the cutting device may be rotated to create a circular cavity. In a method of use, a cannula provides access to a procedure site such as a joint. A pathway to the joint is created, and the cutting device is inserted and deployed to undercut a cavity in the joint. A fusion device may be implanted across the joint to provide compression and fuse the joint. The system may also include instrumentation for creating access to a joint, bone graft insertion and implant insertion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple cannulas defining a lumen sized and dimensioned to receive one or more medical instruments, an inflatable outer membrane attached to an outer surface of the cannula, and at least one activator that reversibly activates the cannulas to push a fluid contained in the cannulas into the outer membrane to fill or pressurize the outer membrane. Also disclosed are methods for operating these cannulas.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw cartridge that includes a guide bar formed form an inner plate and opposed outer plates, the inner plate having a head. The cartridge has a blade that is disposed against the head of the inner plate. The inner plate is formed to have an inner tine and two opposed outer tines. The inner tine is formed to define the head against which the blade is disposed. The outer tines extend forward of the inner tine so as to define a space between the outer tines in which the blade is seated.

Abstract: An osteotome suitable for cutting through cancellous bone that is holding an orthopaedic implant requiring revision within a cavity of a bone, comprises a cylindrical waveguide connectable to a source of ultrasonic vibrations at its proximal end and a blade having a hollow part-cylindrical cross-section and a cutting edge at its distal tip. The respective longitudinal axes of the waveguide and the blade cross at an angle of about 30°, and the waveguide and blade taper and curve smoothly together where they meet. The osteotome is dimensioned such that a first antinode of the ultrasoncic vibrations is located at a proximal end of the waveguide, a second antinode is located at the distal tip of the blade and a node is located where the waveguide and blade meet. The osteotome cuts readily through cancellous bone when ultrasonically energized.

Abstract: A device may include an outer sleeve with a hollow interior, and an inner sleeve with a hollow interior to couple axially and slidingly. The outer sleeve may include an outer central body, an outer proximal end part and an outer distal end part integrally connected to one another, and an outer channel extending along the entire outer proximal end part and along a substantial portion of the outer central body. The inner sleeve may include an inner central body, an inner proximal end part and an inner distal end part integrally connected to one another, and an inner channel extending along the entire inner proximal end part and along a substantial part of the inner central body. The inner sleeve may include, in the inner proximal end of the inner sleeve, a lateral engagement element, and an axial engagement element for releasably engaging a surgical screw.

Abstract: An orthopaedic impactor includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end; a striking surface connected to the first end; an actuator held by the elongate member; and an impaction assembly held by the elongate member at the second end. The impaction assembly includes a collar that has an opening formed through; an interfacing member that has a threaded end and is split into at least four sections held partially within the opening, the interfacing member having an expansion opening formed to the threaded end that defines a center; and a separator held in alignment with the expansion opening and connected to the actuator. The separator is configured to radially expand the at least four sections away from the center when advanced through the expansion opening by the actuator.

Abstract: A lateral retractor system for forming a surgical pathway to a patient's intervertebral disc space includes a single dilator and a retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly. The single dilator may feature a narrow rectangular body for insertion at an insertion orientation parallel to the fibers of the patient's psoas muscle and at an approximate 45-degree angle to the patient's spine. The retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly consists of only two blade subassemblies, each having a blade bordered by adjustable wings, along with built-in video capabilities and lighting control for illuminating the surgical pathway. The dual-tapered-blade assembly may be passed over the single dilator at the insertion orientation and rotated approximately 45-50 degrees from the insertion orientation to a final rotated orientation parallel to the intervertebral disc space before the two blade subassemblies are retracted away from one another to create the surgical pathway. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of replacing a nucleus pulposus material wherein curable nucleus pulposus material is injected into a balloon in an intervertebral space

Abstract: Patient specific implant technology, in which an outline representation of a portion of an outer surface of a periphery of a bone volume is determined and the outline representation is used in operations related to implant matching. In addition, an instrument may be made to match a perimeter shape of a Patient Specific Knee Implant with features for locating holes in a distal femur such that posts or lugs in a femoral implant locate the femoral implant centered medial-laterally within an acceptable degree of precision to prevent overhang of either the side of the femoral implant over the perimeter of the distal femur bone resections. Further, a two-dimensional outline representation may be segmented into segments that correspond to resection cuts used in fitting an implant on a portion of a bone and operations related to implant matching may be performed based on the segments.

Abstract: A variable angle locking screw assembly that includes a plate material, a screw, and a washer at least partially located within the plate material, the washer and screw cooperating to create a wedge locking the screw in one of a plurality of axial and rotational positions, where the locked position may be undone and adjusted by manipulation of at least one of the screw and washer.

Abstract: A spinal fusion implant has a parallelepiped main body with a rotatably mounted retention plate secured to its distal end. The distal retention plate has a first position co-planar with the main body and a second, deployed position normal to the plane of the main body. The distal retention plate is in the first position when the main body is inserted between adjacent vertebral bodies and is in the second position after the main body is inserted between adjacent vertebral bodies. In further embodiments, a proximal retention plate is permanently deployed in normal relation to the main body or both the distal and proximal retention plates are rotatably mounted and both are deployed co-planar to the main body before insertion and normal to the main body after insertion.

Abstract: A system for performing surgical repair of the spine includes a distractor and a permanently implanted bone plate system. A surgical repair methodology is also disclosed that employs an implanted bone plate system with a substantially void internal volume which is attached to adjacent vertebrae subsequent to the distraction and adjustment of curvature of the vertebrae and prior to the excision of disc and/or end plate tissue through the bone plate. The device further facilitates the subsequent delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization, such as by disc arthroplasty. The plate may be permanently implanted, such as when a fusion between the attached vertebral bodies is desired, but it need not be permanently implanted.

Abstract: An acetabular cup remover with a blade for removing tissue adjacent an acetabular cup. The blade is oscillated against an arcuate section of tissue. Once a section of tissue is cut, an indexing assembly rotates the blade. The blade is again oscillated to cut a new arcuate section of tissue.

Abstract: A system includes a handpiece and a removable tool assembly including a holder body, a shaft, a medical tool, a guard, and a sleeve. The body engages the handpiece and defines a bore. The shaft extends within the bore and the tool is provided to the distal end of the shaft. The guard is coupled to the body via a snap fit connection at the bore and may be friction fit to a bearing sleeve located between the guard and the shaft, such that longitudinal translation of the guard relative to the body longitudinally displaces the guard. The shaft extends within the bore of the body and the guard. The guard is positioned relative to the body by a distance to define a working length of the tool between the distal end of the guard and the distal tip of the tool. The working length of the tool may be used to cut tissue, without concern that cutting will be deeper than intended.

Abstract: A cover for use in protecting a resected surface of a long bone for use in joint arthroplasty includes a body, a plurality of independently moveable members moveably attached to the body, two of the plurality of independently movable members configured to move linearly with respect to the body along a first plane and along a first axis, the body and the plurality of independently moveable members defining a first periphery of the cover along the first plane in one configuration which is smaller than, and encompassed by, a second periphery of the cover along the first plane in a second configuration, and a lip fixedly extending downwardly along an outer radial periphery of one of the body and the plurality of independently moveable members in a direction not co-planar with the first plane.

Abstract: Described herein are bone graft material (BGM) delivery devices having a tray configured to provide a mixing and/or holding area for BGM to substantially prevent BGM from inadvertently being delivered to an unacceptable surgical site.

Abstract: A bone screw is provided including a longitudinal core member having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction and having an outer surface and a helical groove in the outer surface, the groove being defined by opposed sidewalls; and a helical thread body configured to be accommodated in the groove. When the thread body is assembled in the groove of the core member and when the core member is straight, the thread body is configured to abut one opposed sidewall without abutting the other opposed sidewall along a full turn of the thread body, the thread body is configured to slide in the groove between the opposed sidewalls of the helical groove parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a first portion of the thread body that is outside the helical groove has a height greater than a second portion of the thread body that is in the helical groove.

Abstract: A bone fusion method, system and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together in order to replace degenerated discs and/or bones, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises a frame and one or more extendable plates that are able to be angled, rotatable, adjustable, and have top profiles designed to correct and/or match the replaced discs/bones. The bone fusion device is able to be inserted between or replace the vertebrae by using a minimally invasive procedure wherein the dimensions and/or other characteristics of the bone fusion device are selectable based on the type of minimally invasive procedure.

Abstract: A guide device for knee replacement is configured such that during knee replacement surgery and/or knee replacement revision surgery for implanting a prosthetic knee implant, a degree of external rotation of a femur is identified and aligned through a cut surface of a proximal tibia, then a distance of a gap between the cut surface of the proximal tibia and a cut surface of a distal femur is identified during the surgery, so the degree of external rotation and the distance of the gap are identified simultaneously with one guide device, and thereby it is possible to facilitate the surgery, thereby reducing operation time and minimizing occurrence of a sequela of operation.