Abstract: Systems and related methods for preparing and treating damage in an ankle joint. The system may include one or more of a reamer, a surgical device, a tibial implant, a placement tool, and a talar implant. The reamer may prepare an intramedullary canal for implantation of an implant. The reamer may include a plurality of nested reamer elements that may be expanded into the intramedullary canal. The surgical device may include a housing containing the reamer and be configured to orient the reamer with the intramedullary canal. The tibial implant may include a plurality of stem components. The placement tool may be configured to combine the plurality of stem components. The talar implant may be configured to be implanted in a talus.

Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at at least one of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A bone plate assembly including at least one bone plate, polyaxially adjustable fixation elements and a polyaxially adjustable locking mechanism. A first plate includes at least one polyaxial element for lockable connection with a fixation pad, and a connection feature which allows the plate to translate and polyaxially rotate relative to the locking mechanism. A second plate includes at least one polyaxial element for connection with a fixation pad and a connection feature for non-rotatable connection with the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism allows translation and polyaxial adjustment of the first plate relative to the second plate and locks the first and second plates via a taper lock. The fixation pad includes a deflectable spacer configured to prevent premature locking of the pad. Methods for implantation of the bone plate assembly between two bone structures are disclosed. Instrumentation for implantation, compression and locking of the bone plate assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at at least one of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a coaxial catheter and insert, and method of making. The catheter assembly includes a coaxial catheter, an insert, and a hub. The coaxial catheter includes an inner lumen and an outer lumen. The insert includes first and second passageways, the first passageway defined from a first opening on a distal end of the insert to a second opening on a proximal end of the insert, the second passageway branching from the first passageway to a third opening. A portion of the insert distal end is received in a proximal opening of the outer lumen, and a proximal section of the inner lumen extends through the first passageway. The hub is molded over the insert and a proximal section of the outer lumen.

Abstract: A bifurcation insert for a coaxial catheter and a catheter assembly incorporating the bifurcation insert. The bifurcation insert contains an opening at a distal end and two openings in a proximal end, the distal end being configured for positioning within a proximal end of an outer lumen of the coaxial catheter. At the proximal end of the bifurcation insert, an arterial side is configured to receive a first extension tube, while a venous side is configured to receive a second extension tube. The catheter assembly incorporating the bifurcation insert includes a hub that is molded around the insert and properly positioned extension tubes and coaxial catheter such that each component is set into place with respect to one another.

Abstract: A bone plate assembly including at least one bone plate, polyaxially adjustable fixation elements and a polyaxially adjustable locking mechanism. A first plate includes at least one polyaxial element for lockable connection with a fixation pad, and a connection feature which allows the plate to translate and polyaxially rotate relative to the locking mechanism. A second plate includes at least one polyaxial element for connection with a fixation pad and a connection feature for non-rotatable connection with the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism allows translation and polyaxial adjustment of the first plate relative to the second plate and locks the first and second plates via a taper lock. The fixation pad includes a deflectable spacer configured to prevent premature locking of the pad. Methods for implantation of the bone plate assembly between two bone structures are disclosed. Instrumentation for implantation, compression and locking of the bone plate assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.

Abstract: An inserter tool for coupling a spinal rod with an implant includes an outer shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated opening extending between the proximal and distal ends, a handle secured to the proximal end of the outer shaft, and an inner shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner shaft being telescopically received within the elongated opening of the outer shaft and being adapted to move between the proximal and distal ends of the outer shaft. The tool includes a compressible clamping tip secured to the distal end of the inner shaft, the clamping tip including a first section secured to the distal end of the inner shaft, a flexible arm that extends from the first section, and an opening disposed between the first section and the flexible arm.

Abstract: An inserter tool for coupling a spinal rod with an implant includes an outer shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated opening extending between the proximal and distal ends, a handle secured to the proximal end of the outer shaft, and an inner shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner shaft being telescopically received within the elongated opening of the outer shaft and being adapted to move between the proximal and distal ends of the outer shaft. The tool includes a compressible clamping tip secured to the distal end of the inner shaft, the clamping tip including a first section secured to the distal end of the inner shaft, a flexible arm that extends from the first section, and an opening disposed between the first section and the flexible arm.

Abstract: Modular bone implants, means of assembly, and their method of use are presented.

Abstract: A measurement tool is designed to measure the relative displacements between two bony landmarks of a spine, such as pedicles and facet surfaces. The measurement tool may have a registration interface designed to be registered to a first bony landmark, and a contact feature shaped to contact a second bony landmark. The registration interface may be registered to a frame rigidly coupled relative to the first bony landmark. The measurement tool also has a displacement structure that permits motion of the contact feature relative to the registration interface along multiple dimensions. The displacement structure may have two or three sliding joints that enable relative translation along orthogonal axes. Each sliding joint may have a rod with a plurality of markings that can easily be read to acquire measurements from the displacement structure.

Abstract: A needle assembly including a positive flush mechanism for use with a vascular access port. The needle assembly is configured to supply fluid to the port and to provide a positive flush to overcome negative pressures in the port that can potentially occur during withdrawal of the needle from the port.

Abstract: A reamer may be designed to engage a guide member, such as a guide wire, implanted in bone at any of a plurality of relative orientations such that the resulting resection of the bone does not depend on the relative orientation. The reamer may have a shaft that receives torque and a reaming head with a cavity into which a protruding portion of the guide wire is insertable. The cavity may have a generally conical shape capable of receiving the guide wire at a variety of relative orientations. The orientation of the reaming head is determined not by that of the guide wire, but by a stationary frame to which the reamer is coupled. The reamer may optionally have an offset assembly that causes the reaming head to rotate about an axis displaced from that of the shaft to reduce the size of the incision required to reaming head.

Abstract: A crosslink is provided for securing orthopedic implants, such as facet joint replacement implants, together. The crosslink has a pair of implant coupling components, a pair of rod coupling components, a rod, and a pair of fasteners. Each facet joint implant may include a semicylindrical interface received in a resilient member of the corresponding implant coupling component to permit relative cephalad/caudal adjustment between the crosslink and the implants. The resilient members grip the semicylindrical interface of the implant to enable at least temporary attachment of the implant coupling components to the implants independently of the rod. Clocking features on the semicylindrical interfaces and on the interfacing areas of the implant coupling components and rod coupling components may limit assembly of the crosslink to discrete relative orientations and prevent play after assembly. The fasteners secure the rod coupling components to the rod at the desired positions along the rod.

Abstract: An apparatus is designed to attach an implant to bone in a manner that permits rotational adjustment of the implant about multiple axes prior to securement via the apparatus. The apparatus includes separate rotational and translational fasteners that can be individually locked to independently restrict rotation and translation of the implant relative to the bone. The rotational fastener includes an interpositional member, an expandable engagement member, and a rotational locking member that urges the expandable engagement member to advance along the interpositional member. The resulting expansion of the engagement member causes it to engage the implant. The rotational fastener is slidable along a fixation member implanted in the bone until the translational fastener is applied to restrict relative translation between the rotational fastener and the bone.

Abstract: An implant for resurfacing at least a portion of an articulation surface of a bone includes a body having a first side with a top articular surface and an opposing second side with a bone apposition surface. The bone apposition surface is adapted to bias against a natural or resected articulation surface of a bone. An elongated flexible first line is coupled to and extends from the body.

Abstract: A method for mounting a tibial condylar implant includes forming a tunnel having a proximal end on a lateral, medial, or anterior side of a proximal end of the tibia and a distal end on an at least partially resected lateral or medial facet at the proximal end of the tibia. A condylar implant is positioned over the distal end of the tunnel. A fastener is advanced into the tunnel from the proximal end of the tunnel. The fastener which is at least partially disposed within the tunnel is secured to the condylar implant.