Abstract: The present invention is directed to one piece connector for connecting angularly misaligned implanted pedicle screws to transverse spinal rods in spinal fixation systems. The body portion includes a bore having an inside diameter and a longitudinal axis, with the longitudinal axis of the bore being positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The leg portion includes a slot placed through a section of the leg portion, along the transverse axis of the leg portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The slot intersects the bore of the body portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore. The slot allows the one piece connector to be securely clamped around a longitudinal spinal rod when a pedicle screw is implanted at variable distances from the longitudinal spinal rod.

Abstract: A spinal fixation and retrieval device includes a bone plate and a plurality of screws. The bone plate has a plurality of slot holes via which the screws are fastened onto vertebrae under treatment. The screws have a head, a neck, and a threaded stem in sequence. At least one of the slot holes of the bone plate is a long slot hole having a dimension so that the neck of the screw is restricted in the lateral direction and is able to move in the longitudinal direction of the long slot hole.

Abstract: An electronic frame lock includes an electronic lock and an electronic key. The electronic lock is formed of a controller, a motor, and an insertion pin. The motor receives a control signal from the controller, so as to pull or push the insertion pin to bring about the unlocking or locking effect. The electronic key transmits a signal to the controller of the electronic lock. As the signal is compared and verified by the controller, the motor is started to pull the insertion pin, so as to unlock the electronic lock.

Abstract: A transverse connector clip for connecting cylindrical rods to each other in a spinal fixation system, comprising a clip body having two sides. The first side of the clip body has a longitudinal axis and a pair of mirror image hemi-cylindrical shells. These hemi-cylindrical shells have an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of a cylindrical rod.

Abstract: A method of using a plaster of Paris as an orthopedic filling material prepared by mixing 15-80% by weight of calcium sulfate half-hydrate and 85-20% by weight of water, an aqueous solution, an aqueous dispersion, or an aqueous suspension; and stirring the resulting mixture into a paste having a viscosity in the range of 20 and 75 poises. The paste is injected into a cavity of a bone or a vertebra to be reinforced. The injected paste becomes hard in the cavity, and eventually will be absorbed by the patient.

Abstract: An intervertebral fusion device is formed of an elastic block body which is provided in the upper contact surface thereof with a plurality of downward elastic slots substantially parallel to one another, and in the lower contact surface thereof with one or more upward elastic slots substantially parallel to the downward elastic slots. The upward elastic slots and the downward elastic slots are arranged in an alternating manner. The elastic block body has a left surface and a right surface, which are substantially planar in construction. The upper contact surface and the lower contact surface of the elastic block body are of a convex construction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of using a computer to collect chemical signals directly from a chemical sensor. This method first converts output signals received from the chemical sensor into digital signals by using a transforming circuit and an analog-to-digital converter in cooperation with a control computer program executed in the computer; transfers the digital signals to the computer and processes the digital signals in the computer in accordance with the type of the chemical sensor used.

Abstract: A ring-shaped artificial intervertebral disk is made of an elastic material implantable into the human body. The artificial intervertebral can be transformed mechanically to have a straight rod shape before being implanted. Upon being implanted into the vertebrae, the artificial intervertebral disk regains its original ring shape.

Abstract: An intervertebral fusion device comprises a hollow tubular body, a plurality of stretching elements, an adjustment element, and an urging element. The tubular body is provided peripherally with a plurality of receiving holes in which the stretching elements are disposed movably. The adjustment element is disposed in the hollow interior of the tubular body such that inner ends of the stretching elements are urged by the adjustment element. The urging element is disposed in the hollow interior of the tubular body such that the adjustment element is urged at the top thereof by the bottom of the urging element, and that the adjustment element can be actuated by a rotational motion of the urging element so as to cause the stretching elements to jut out of the receiving holes for bringing about an increase in diameter of the tubular body.

Abstract: A bone marrow cavity fixation device for treating a fractured bone is composed of a tubular body, a plurality of diameter-adjusting elements, an adjustment element, and an urging element. The tubular body is provided axially with a hollow interior and is further provided peripherally with a plurality of through holes communicating the hollow interior with the outside of the tubular body. The diameter-adjusting elements are disposed movably in the through holes such that the diameter-adjusting elements can be so urged by the adjustment element located in the hollow interior as to jut out of the through holes to bring about an increase in diameter of the tubular body. The adjustment element can be actuated by a rotational motion of the urging element which is located in the hollow interior such that the top end of the adjustment element is urged by the lower end of the urging element.

Abstract: A vertebral auxiliary fixation device comprises a holding mat and a plurality of fastening elements. The holding mat is fastened by the fastening elements to a vertebra such that the holding mat covers the outer side of a foreign object which is implanted in the vertebra, and that the holding mat prevents the implanted foreign object from jutting out of the vertebra. The holding mat and the fastening elements are made of a material capable of being assimilated into the tissues of a human body.

Abstract: An artificial spinal disc for surgical placement between adjacent vertebrae including a first component for attaching to a first vertebrae, the first component having a concave recess, with the concave contoured surface having a circumference of 360.degree.. A second component for attaching to a second vertebrae, the second component including a projection with a convex surface, the convex contoured surface having a circumference of 360.degree.. The corresponding contoured surfaces shaped to allow an unrestricted rotational and a flexion/extension bending motion between the first and second components relative to a patient's normal spinal axis when in a standing position with the spine in a straightened position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of using a computer to collect chemical signals directly from a chemical sensor. This method first transforms analog chemical signals received from the chemical sensor into analog electronic signals in a transforming circuit in cooperation with control computer programs executed in the computer, then uses an Analog-to-Digital converter, which connects the transforming circuit with the computer, to transform the analog electronic signals into digital signals; and finally transfers the digital signals to the computer.

Abstract: A vertebral auxiliary fixation device comprises a receiving piece, a sliding piece, and a plurality of fastening elements. The receiving piece is provided with two sliding grooves in which the sliding piece is slidably received. The receiving piece and the sliding piece are provided respectively with through holes engageable with the fastening elements which are fastened onto a vertebra intended to be fixed.

Abstract: An orthopedic fixation device includes a fixation ring, a universal pad, a threaded fixation element, and a fastening nut. The universal pad contains a circular hole and is provided at one end with a protruding arcuate surface and at another end with a recessed arcuate surface concentric with the protruding arcuate surface. The fastening nut is provided with a protruding or recessed arcuate surface located at one side facing the universal pad. The threaded fixation element has an arresting portion which is provided with a protruding or recessed arcuate surface located at one side facing the universal pad. The protruding and recessed arcuate surfaces of the fastening nut and the threaded fixation element are engageable with the universal pad.

Abstract: A vertebral fixation device includes a fixation main body, two fixation rods and a rotatable clamping block. The fixation main body is made up of a fixation base having a fixation hole. Located respectively at both ends of the fixation base is a fixation block having an arcuate surface capable of holding one of the two fixation rods in conjunction with one of two arcuate recesses of the rotatable clamping block. The rotatable clamping block is provided at the bottom thereof with a retaining projection engageable securely with the fixation hole of the fixation main body.

Abstract: An expandable bone marrow cavity fixation device comprises a hollow tubular body provided peripherally with a plurality of through holes, in each of which a diameter-adjusting element is movably disposed. An adjustment element is adjustably disposed in the hollow interior of the tubular body such that the inner end of the diameter-adjusting element is urged by the adjustment element. An urging element is rotatably disposed in the hollow interior of the tubular body such that the upper end of the adjustment element is urged by the bottom end of the urging element, and that the adjustment element can be so actuated by a rotational motion of the urging element as to force the diameter-adjusting elements to jut out of the through holes of the tubular body to bring about an increase in outer diameter of the tubular body.

Abstract: A universal and eccentric fixation mechanism for an orthopedic surgery comprises a universal receiving seat, an eccentric collar, a rod body, and an urging and fixing element. The eccentric collar is received in a spherical hollow receiving seat of the universal receiving seat and provided with an urging slit. The eccentric collar has a hollow portion in which the rod body is held such that one end of the rod body is fastened with a bone fixing element. The slit of the eccentric collar can be urged to close by the urging and fixing element so that the rod body is held securely in the hollow portion of the eccentric collar. The hollow portion of the eccentric collar is cylindrical in shape and has an axis deviating from the spherical center of the eccentric collar of a spherical construction.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism of a vertebral fixation rod includes a rod body, a retaining bolt, a U-shaped connection element, and a fastening nut. The retaining bolt is provided at one end thereof with a ring for holding the rod body and at another end thereof with a bolt portion having a rectangular head. The U-shaped connection element is provided at one end thereof with a U-shaped fitting portion dimensioned to fit over the bolt portion of the retaining bolt and is further provided at another end thereof with a connecting portion engageable with a vertebra to be fixed or with a vertebral fixation device. The fastening nut is engaged with the rectangular head of the bolt portion of the retaining bolt. The fastening nut is provided therein with a plurality of bevel slide blocks for causing the retaining bolt to slide along the slide blocks when the fastening nut is rotated, and is further provided with one or more stop elements to engage with the rectangular head of the retaining nut.

Abstract: A femoral component used in an artificial knee joint has an integral body provided with a lateral condyle protecting top, a medial condyle protecting top, and a condyle groove protecting edge. The lateral condyle protecting top and/or the medial condyle protecting top are provided respectively with at least one retaining slot or hooking eye in the outer side thereof. The retaining slot or hooking eye serves to enable the femoral component used in the artificial knee joint to work in combination with a femoral hipbone rehabilitating device, such as a bone plate.