Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.

Abstract: Various methods and machines have been used in the past to measure electrical characteristics of living tissue for purpose of locating an area of abnormal nervous system activity. However, whereas prior art methodologies merely allow for the detection of pain, the apparatus, system and method of the present invention allow for the objective assessment pain severity that finds utility not only the initial diagnosis but also the on-going treatment of any disease, disorder or injury associated therewith. To that end, the apparatus, system and method of the present invention allows medical practitioners to non-invasively and quantitatively distinguish organic pain from psychosomatic pain and legitimate pain patients from drug seekers and opiod addicts, as well as to directly and objectively compare the efficacy of different drug regimens and therapy protocols.

Abstract: A biomimetic lamellar tissue scaffold for tissue regeneration comprises a plurality of lamellae formed of a polymer film and each having a first surface and a second surface. A patterned array of polymer nanofibers protrudes from the first surface of each lamella of the plurality. The lamellae form a plurality of interlamellar spaces between the first and second surfaces of adjacent lamellae. Protuberances formed on the first surface of each lamella maintain the interlamellar spaces. The arrays of polymer nanofibers on the first lamellar surface of each lamella protrude into the interlamellar spaces between adjacent lamellae and are configured to influence the propagation and differentiation of cells populated to or recruited to the scaffold.

Abstract: A biomimetic lamellar tissue scaffold for tissue regeneration comprises a plurality of lamellae formed of a polymer film and each having a first surface and a second surface. A patterned array of polymer nanofibers protrudes from the first surface of each lamella of the plurality. The lamellae form a plurality of interlamellar spaces between the first and second surfaces of adjacent lamellae. Protuberances formed on the first surface of each lamella maintain the interlamellar spaces. The arrays of polymer nanofibers on the first lamellar surface of each lamella protrude into the interlamellar spaces between adjacent lamellae and are configured to influence the propagation and differentiation of cells populated to or recruited to the scaffold.

Abstract: Herein described are suture-anchoring implanted medical devices formed from a bioresorbable metal alloy that may be used to secure soft tissue to bone. The metallic bioresorbable tissue anchoring devices of the present invention are optimally configured such that all portions of the device are resorbed over a short predetermined period of time while maintaining their tissue anchoring capability and preventing the generation of loose foreign bodies therefrom.

Abstract: A simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a socket in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the socket, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture is disclosed. Alternate embodiments of the anchor placement system and method of the present invention may forego tensioned sutures in favor of direct engagement with the soft tissue graft, whereby an end or a portion of the graft is trapped between an outer surface of the anchor and the boney surface of the wall of the socket such that friction force between the inserted portions of graft and socket maintains the position of graft relative to socket and bone. In either case, particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation.

Abstract: Described herein are specialized endoscopic drilling devices that may be readily powered by a conventional shaver handpiece and further may be utilized to secure a soft tissue graft to a boney surface. More particularly, the devices, systems and methods of the present invention enable the efficient and minimally invasive formation of off-axis sockets and/or tunnels in boney surfaces that may then serve as a site for graft placement by aperture and/or suspensory fixation means. As such, the present invention has particular applicability to the surgical repair and reconstruction of torn or ruptured tissues, such as ligaments and tendons, in the leg, knee and shoulder, for example.

Abstract: In the context of bone surgery and in particular arthroscopic surgery, there is frequently a need for the application of “percussive force” to the distal end component(s) of a surgical device, i.e., repetitive percutient or striking force analogous to that of a hammer driving a nail. Disclosed herein are mechanisms and methods for automating and/or controlling the application of such a percussive force so as to avoid the present need in the art for a “third hand”. The present invention addresses the significant and long felt need by providing a powered percussive driver device that may be controlled directly by the primary surgeon.

Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.

Abstract: Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to multi-anchor constructs. Multi-anchor constructs of the present invention may employ threaded implants exclusively, push-in implants exclusively, or a combination of threaded and push-in implants.

Abstract: A number of surgical procedures, particularly orthopaedic procedures, involve manual percussion, typically mallet-applied. As discussed in detail herein, such procedures can be problematic as they not only require a second set of hands but are often associated with incomplete and/or uncontrolled axial movement and/or injury to the surgeon's hands. Described herein are specialized hand-held devices, as well as systems, kits, and methods associated therewith, that avoid such problems by joining or replacing the external “mallet” with an internal “hammer” that can automate the delivery of controlled repetitive “strikes”, more particularly repeated strikes to a proximal end of a drill, driver and/or insertion device, so as to mete out pre-determined incremental movement to a distal end component, such as a sharpened socket-forming tip, an interference-plug type suture anchor, or a dilating device for modifying the cross-section of a tunnel formed in a bone.

Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft or “suture anchor”, threaded, knotless or otherwise, by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. The simplified placement system and method of the present invention allows the surgeon to establish the graft position and, while maintaining that position, secure the anchor without changing the suture tension or causing a shift in the graft position and furthermore, when the anchor is threaded, without spinning of the suture.

Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.

Abstract: In the context of bone surgery and in particular arthroscopic surgery, there is frequently a need for the application of “percussive force” to the distal end component(s) of a surgical device, i.e., repetitive percutient or striking force analogous to that of a hammer driving a nail. Disclosed herein are mechanisms and methods for automating and/or controlling the application of such a percussive force so as to avoid the present need in the art for a “third hand”. The present invention addresses the significant and long felt need by providing a powered percussive driver device that may be controlled directly by the primary surgeon.

Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone while maintaining suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture.

Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.

Abstract: Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for the placement of small diameter knotless anchors. For example, the implant placement system may include a cannulated tensioning device having disposed therein an elongate member of a suitably elastic metallic or polymeric material, such as nitinol, that includes at its distal end a loop of material suitable for suture retention.

Abstract: Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to multi-anchor constructs. Multi-anchor constructs of the present invention may employ threaded implants exclusively, push-in implants exclusively, or a combination of threaded and push-in implants.

Abstract: Herein described are suture-anchoring implanted medical devices formed from a bioresorbable metal alloy that may be used to secure soft tissue to bone. The metallic bioresorbable tissue anchoring devices of the present invention are optimally configured such that all portions of the device are resorbed over a short predetermined period of time while maintaining their tissue anchoring capability and preventing the generation of loose foreign bodies therefrom.

Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture.