Abstract: A bone screw and method of using the same for immobilizing a joint, the bone screw including a screw head, an elongate shaft having a threaded outer wall and a helically-shaped slot extending through the outer wall and longitudinally along the shaft. The slot extends longitudinally along a middle section of the threaded outer wall, terminating short of the proximal and distal ends of the shaft, or the slot extends through the distal end and/or to the proximal end of the shaft immediately adjacent to the screw head. The slot includes a cutting edge that is arranged to engage bone when the screw advances therethrough for cutting away a portion of the bone. A reservoir is located within the elongate shaft for collecting bone that is cut away or removed by the cutting edge.

Abstract: A medical device and a method of use thereof for frameless stereotaxy guided intracranial surgery. The medical device includes a central section made from a material that is transparent to ultrasound providing a sonic window, and an ultrasound reflective frame surrounding the central section. The method includes the steps of registering the ultrasound reflective frame with the frameless stereotaxy system for localization of the medical device during surgery. The medical device allows use of ultrasound imaging wherein the output of ultrasound imaging can be computationally combined with MRI or CT imaging data to compensate for anatomical changes in brain during surgery and enhanced localization and navigation to the surgery target.

Abstract: The invention is directed in various aspects to a system including anchors, anchor components, and anchor assemblies and subassemblies that are adapted for attachment to a bony structure of a clinical subject. For example, two or more such anchors in the form of screws may be affixed to bones, for example, vertebral structures such as the pedicle, and each anchor is connected to a stabilizer such as a surgical rod that is inserted between the anchors. The anchors and assemblies are novel in many respects owing to their modular nature, which in contrast to conventional systems, allows the anchors to be provided to a surgeon in modular, subassembly and fully assembled form to enable a broad array of choices in devising the optimal plane for surgical bone fixation.

Abstract: The invention is directed in various aspects to a system including anchors, anchor components, and anchor assemblies and subassemblies that are adapted for attachment to a bony structure of a clinical subject. For example, two or more such anchors in the form of screws may be affixed to bones, for example, vertebral structures such as the pedicle, and each anchor is connected to a stabilizer such as a surgical rod that is inserted between the anchors. The anchors and assemblies are novel in many respects owing to their modular nature, which in contrast to conventional systems, allows the anchors to be provided to a surgeon in modular, subassembly and fully assembled form to enable a broad array of choices in devising the optimal plane for surgical bone fixation.

Abstract: A surgical reamer for cutting an opening in a facet joint for placement of a dowel between the sides of the facet joint to immobilize the joint and create a fusion. The reamer is used with a set of surgical instruments to prepare facet joints for insertion of dowels. The reamer creates a bone shelf above the opening for the dowel to prevent migration of the dowel. The reamer is configured with a flat profile in one plane to allow insertion into the facet joint and the profile of the dowel in the perpendicular plane to create a shape corresponding to the dowel when rotated. The neck of the reamer is smaller in diameter at the coronal end to allow creation of a bone shelf in the facet above the opening for the dowel. The bone shelf resists migration of the dowel out of the prepared opening in the facet.

Abstract: An osteo-integrated implant utilizes a metal seal formed on the outer diameter of the implant components spaced axially from the annular seat or junction of the components. The sealing surface of one component is machined on the internal diameter of a counter-bored cylindrical member extending over the junction to engage the outer diameter of the other component. The mating surface is formed on the outer diameter and is machined such that an interference fit exists between the two surfaces when the abutment is fully seated in the implant. The design allows for both radial and axial micro motion without compromise to the sealing effectiveness.

Abstract: An implant abutment system uses a combination of an implant anchor, an abutment having a plurality of connection features for connecting to the implant, and a locking pin for locking the abutment into the implant. The implant anchor includes an axial bore on a superior end having inner surface features matching outer surface features of the inferior end of the abutment. The cooperative operation of these features prevents abutment rotation once the abutment is positioned within the implant and also provides indexability for angled abutments. Such anti-rotation features are accomplished with matching splines and flutes machined on the cooperative surfaces between the abutment exterior and the implant bore inner surface. The invention also provides a retention feature for locking the abutment into the implant consisting of a resilient segmented end having a retention surface positioned to match a cooperatively formed surface in the implant bore.

Abstract: An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith.

Abstract: An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith.

Abstract: An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith.

Abstract: An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith.