Abstract: A device for making an incision in skin, having a housing with a slotted opening, and a triggering mechanism disposed within the housing for propelling a blade coupled thereto, through the slotted opening of the housing to make an incision in the skin. The triggering mechanism includes a finger engageable trigger located external to the housing for actuating the triggering mechanism and a spring anchoring assembly for automated machine arming the device after the triggering mechanism has been assembled into the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deploying one or more stents within a body lumen comprises a substantially tubular sheath configured for slidable movement over a catheter shaft and configured to receive a stent over a flexible, expandable distal portion of the sheath. The sheath may comprise a part of a stent deployment system including a dilatation catheter (such as a balloon catheter), and one or more substantially tubular stents positioned in their delivery configurations over the expandable distal portion of the sheath. The sheath preferably has a proximal portion that is configured so that a user may advance the sheath over the catheter by maneuvering the sheath proximal end. The substantially tubular stent is preferably a radially expandable stent having a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration.When the apparatus is introduced into a body lumen, the sheath is positioned on the catheter shaft such that the sheath distal portion bearing the stent is proximal of the catheter expandable member (e.

Abstract: Bone fixation element and transverse linking bridge for a spinal column fixation assembly, in which the fixation element and the bridge allow to accommodate more easily the connections between the parts forming the bone fixation assembly, which would make difficult the alignment and interconnection of each of the assembly connecting parts, the fixation element comprising a hook or screw presenting an intermediate portion of spherical form that may be coupled to a seat portion of a coupling piece between the fixation element and the bar of the fixation assembly. The transverse linking bridge comprising one or two bridge parts which have at their ends a coupling hook in which a pivoting spherical insert is placed, which adjusts the deviations of the respective bar during fastening.

Abstract: A method of repairing defects in alveolar bone underlying gingival tissue by placing a layer of flexible high-density polytetrafluoroethlylene (PTFE) material over the alveolar bone defect between the bone and the gingival tissue surrounding the defect. The material has a smooth surface that will not incorporate cells and will not attach to fibrous adhesions. The gingival tissue is secured over the layer of material. The alveolar bone is allowed to heal under the layer of flexible high-density polytetrafluoroethlylene (PTFE) material, and the layer of flexible high-density polytetrafluoroethlylene (PTFE) material is removed with substantially no trauma to the alveolar bone and gingival tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biopsy forceps having two jaw-pieces (9) capable of being moved away from and of being moved towards each other while a maneuvering element (2) is sliding in a sheath (3). The two jaw-pieces (9) are pivoted about a ball (20) fixed on the end of the maneuvering element. The jaw-pieces (9) are partly housed in a passage in the end of the sheath (3). They are guided by a rod (8) while they are being moved away from each other and by the end surface of the passage in the sheath (3) while they are being moved towards each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a nut to be used in a spinal screw and plate assembly to affix the screw and plate assembly to the spinal bone. The nut has a polymer insert that when contacted with a screw allows a bone plate and screw structure to relax over time.

Abstract: In transpedicular vertebral attachment systems and a device for the practice thereof a screw is provided. The screw is much shorter than a traditional screw and engages a plug of silastic or any other polymer having equivalent mechanical properties and biocompatibility, such as a metal or metal alloy. The plug is inserted in the pedicle, extending only slightly beyond the length thereof. The system is applicable to osteoporotic patients in whom the density of the bone tissue of the vertebral body is much lower, and in general in all lesions of the backbone in which instrumented vertebral fusion is indicated.

Abstract: An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture anchor into tissue using a cannulated drill guide having an indented tip. Ligament tissue at a shoulder repair site is penetrated with a cannulated drill guide and removable trochar obturator. The obturator is removed, and the indented tip is positioned to straddle the glenoid rim at the repair site. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The pre-threaded suture anchor is attached to a device driver and installed through the cannulated drill guide into the repair site, where it is drilled into bone.

Abstract: A drill attachment (10) for decreasing the rotational speed/increasing the output torque of a cutting accessory (14) that is attached to a drill such as a surgical drill (10). The drill attachment has an input drive shaft (34) that is coupled to the drive shaft (16) of the drill to rotate in unison with the drill drive shaft. The input drive shaft rotates a set of axially fixed input planet gears (58). The input planet gears rotate a ring gear (66) that is fitted around the input planet gears. The ring gear rotates a set of axially fixed output planet gears (70). The planet gears rotate an output drive shaft (84). By the selective dimensioning of the drive shaft and gears the output speed/torque can be reduced and increased as desired.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail guide rod for surgical treatment of a fractured tibia or femur comprises a hand grip, a sleeve and a graduated guide rod. The sleeve is fastened at one end thereof to the hand grip and provided at another end thereof with a threaded hole. The graduated guide rod has a measuring scale ranging between 0 cm and 70 cm at an interval of 0.5 cm. (length and interval can be increase or reduce according to the operational requirement) The graduated guide rod is provided at one end thereof with a fastening slot engageable with the threaded hole of the sleeve in conjunction with a fastening bolt. The graduated guide rod is further provided at another end thereof with a disk head.

Abstract: A bone alignment assembly is disclosed having bone anchor subassemblies for securing to both bones and a bone position retainer, wherein the bone position retainer includes a longitudinal member for maintaining a desired alignment of the bones when the bone anchor assemblies are secured to the bone position retainer. Each of the bone anchor subassemblies includes a shaft and one or more pairs of components (e.g., washers) wherein the components of each pair have mating spherical concave and convex surfaces that can mate together in a plurality of angular positions. When the shaft extends through each of the pairs of mating components, and also through a passageway of the bone position retainer that is sandwiched between the two pairs of mating components, the shaft can be secured at any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the bone position retainer.

Abstract: The cranial cover can form a contoured surface to conform to a patient's cranium. The cover is an array of generally evenly spaced screw-receiving openings. Arms extend between the screw-receiving openings from one screw-receiving opening to the adjacent screw-receiving openings. The centerline of each arm is angled to the center of the screw-receiving openings between which the arm extends. The four arms of four adjacent screw-receiving openings create a rhombus shaped central opening.

Abstract: A threaded insert is designed to snap into a standard bone plate hole. The insert has an upper section divided into sectors by slots, a lower section having deflectable tabs with external projections, and a central threaded hole. When a standard bone screw is tightened in the insert, the insert rigidly fixes the screw to the plate by collapsing the threads of the insert onto the threads of the screw, and by expanding the sectors of the upper section to clamp the bone plate.

Abstract: A buttress-thread dental implant constitutes a rigid body including axially symmetric and radially uniform circumferential spiral pitch surfaces in the range or about 22 to about 28 of such pitch surfaces per axial inch. Above each pitch surface is a concave upper bevel surface which is longer than a lower bevel surface beneath each pitch surface. The intersection of each plane of each pitch surface with each plane of each lower bevel surface defines a total included bevel angle in the range of about 90 to about 1.30 degrees. The implant is also characterized by ratio of thread pitch to thread depth in the range of about 1.25:1 to about 1.40:1.

Abstract: An expandable stent has a sheeted material which is expanded from a compacted configuration to an expanded configuration. The sheet is maintained in the compacted configuration at least in part by operation of a dynamic force, and the expansion occurs at least in part by removal of the dynamic force. In preferred embodiments, a biocompatible sheeted material is wrapped around a retaining wire to produce a compacted configuration, and the retaining wire is rotated to maintain the compacted configuration during insertion of the stent into a patient. The rotation is continued while the stent is positioned, and then the rotation is stopped or slowed to permit expansion of the sheet.

Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided with a housing, a lancet assembly, a lancet holder disposed in the housing for supporting the lancet assembly, the lancet holder being movable in a lancing direction between a cocked position and a puncture position, a drive spring for forcing the lancet holder from the cocked position to the puncture position, and a mechanism for damping movement of the lancet holder during travel of the lancet holder from the puncture position to an intermediate position between the puncture position and the cocked position. The damping mechanism may be provided in the form of a non-planar surface, such as a corrugated surface, disposed on the lancet holder and a damping member which makes contact with the non-planar surface during movement of the lancet holder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hemostat used in performing infant male circumcisions. The hemostat has a small beaded tip which prevents or limits the possibility of causing an accidental injury. Less trauma is caused during surgery due to the use of the smooth, rounded tip of the invention.

Abstract: A device for applying a continuous pressure and magnetic field to the septum of a wearer. The device comprises a generally U-shaped member comprising a base and two parallel arms, each of said arms being inserted into a nostril of a wearer, said arms being further biased toward said septum; canted bulbous protrusions at the ends of said legs for applying pressure to the septum of the wearer; and magnets within the bulbous protrusions for facilitating the closure of said arms and legs and for applying a magnetic field to said septum.

Abstract: A delivery catheter and gripping system for enabling manipulation of a prosthesis deployed or implanted at a repair site in a corporeal lumen, for repositioning of the prosthesis. The delivery catheter includes a grip at the proximal end, a jacket enlarged portion at the distal end, and a shaft therebetween, and has a channel extending therethrough, for enabling insertion, removal, expansion and compression of the gripping system. The gripping system is housed in the delivery catheter, and includes a grip and biasing spring at the proximal end, a plurality of resilient gripping elements at the distal end, and a deploying wire therebetween for enabling gripping, maneuvering, and repositioning of the prosthesis to the desired location.

Abstract: A new instrument for cleaning the top of a tongue for cleaning the upper surface of a tongue. The inventive device includes a handle with an elongate arcuate head coupled to an end of the handle. A pair of side flanges extends from the head lower surface at opposite ends of the head. An elongate arcuate scraper member extends between the opposite ends of the head and extends away from the lower surface of the head. The scraper member includes a blade portion and an attachment portion and may be detachable.