Abstract: A guide device is provided for use with a spinal fixation element that has at least one pair of thru bores formed therein. The guide device generally includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and it includes at least one pathway extending therethrough, and at least one alignment element that is positioned distal of the guide member. Each alignment element(s) is adapted to interact with a spinal fixation element to position the guide member with respect to the spinal fixation element such that the each pathway in the guide member is aligned with a corresponding thru bore formed in the spinal fixation element. The guide member can then be used to guide tools, devices, and/or implants through each pathway in the spinal fixation element and into bone.

Abstract: A guide device is provided for use with a spinal fixation element that has at least one pair of thru bores formed therein. The guide device generally includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and it includes at least one pathway extending therethrough, and at least one alignment element that is positioned distal of the guide member. Each alignment element(s) is adapted to interact with a spinal fixation element to position the guide member with respect to the spinal fixation element such that the each pathway in the guide member is aligned with a corresponding thru bore formed in the spinal fixation element. The guide member can then be used to guide tools, devices, and/or implants through each pathway in the spinal fixation element and into bone.

Abstract: A drill guide for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the drill guide generally includes a support member having first and second arms mated thereto. Each arm includes a proximal end and a distal end having at least one barrel coupled thereto and defining a lumen for receiving a tool. One or both arms can be slidably movable along the support member to allow the distance between the arms to be adjusted. In use, the arms can be adjusted to engage a spinal fixation plate and to position the barrels on each arm in alignment with bores formed in the fixation plate. The drill guide can then be used to drill, awl, tap, and insert implants, such as spinal screws, into the vertebral bodies to attach the fixation plate thereto.

Abstract: Bone plates and bone plate systems are provided in which a bone plate includes first and second longitudinally extending rails, with a plurality of bone screw holes formed therein. At least one transverse strut connects the first and second longitudinally extending rails, each of the at least one transverse struts being disposed between adjacent bone screw holes formed on the same longitudinally extending rail. The bone plate system can additionally include a plurality of bone screws adapted for placement within the bone screw holes and a guide device. The guide device can register with at least one bone screw hole of the bone plate by placement of an alignment element upon a portion of the bone plate external to one of the bone screw holes such that one of the bone screws can be installed in one of the bone screw holes of the plate through the guide barrel while the guide device is registered with at least one of the bone screw holes.

Abstract: A surgical drill assembly is provided that includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end adapted to mate to a driver mechanism, and a distal end having a bone preparation element formed thereon. An elongate, hollow sleeve is coupled to, but slidably disposed around at least a portion of the elongate shaft. The hollow sleeve includes a stepped region that is positioned between proximal and distal portions such that the distal portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the stepped region to allow the distal portion to be disposed within a lumen in a drill guide, and the stepped region to abut the drill guide. In use, the elongate, hollow sleeve is effective to longitudinally align the elongate shaft therein during a surgical procedure. The elongate shaft can also optionally include a stop member that is effective to limit penetration depth of the bone preparation element with respect to the hollow sleeve.

Abstract: A tissue retractor and guide device for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. In general, the device includes an elongate member having a guide member formed thereon or mated thereto with at least one lumen extending therethrough for receiving a tool. The guide member is adapted to couple to a spinal implant, while the distal portion of the elongate member is effective to retract tissue disposed adjacent to the guide member.

Abstract: A guide device for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the guide device generally includes a support member having first and second arms mated thereto. Each arm includes a proximal end and a distal end having at least one guide member coupled thereto and defining a pathway for receiving a tool. One or both arms can be slidably movable along the support member to allow the distance between the arms to be adjusted. In use, the arms can be adjusted to couple to a spinal fixation plate and to position the guide member on each arm in alignment with the fixation plate. The guide device can then be used to drill, awl, tap, and insert implants, such as spinal screws, into the vertebral bodies to attach the fixation plate thereto.

Abstract: A drill guide for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the drill guide generally includes a support member having first and second arms mated thereto. Each arm includes a proximal end and a distal end having at least one barrel coupled thereto and defining a lumen for receiving a tool. One or both arms can be slidably movable along the support member to allow the distance between the arms to be adjusted. In use, the arms can be adjusted to engage a spinal fixation plate and to position the barrels on each arm in alignment with bores formed in the fixation plate. The drill guide can then be used to drill, awl, tap, and insert implants, such as spinal screws, into the vertebral bodies to attach the fixation plate thereto.

Abstract: A guide device is provided for use with a spinal plate that has at least one pair of screw bores formed therein. The guide device generally includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and it includes at least one lumen extending therethrough, and at least one alignment element that is positioned distal of the guide member. Each alignment element(s) is adapted to interact with a spinal plate to position the guide member with respect to the spinal plate such that the each lumen in the guide member is aligned with a corresponding screw bore formed in the spinal plate. The guide member can then be used to guide a tool or implant through each lumen in the spinal plate and into bone.

Abstract: A guide device is provided for use with a spinal fixation element that has at least one pair of thru bores formed therein. The guide device generally includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and it includes at least one pathway extending therethrough, and at least one alignment element that is positioned distal of the guide member. Each alignment element(s) is adapted to interact with a spinal fixation element to position the guide member with respect to the spinal fixation element such that the each pathway in the guide member is aligned with a corresponding thru bore formed in the spinal fixation element. The guide member can then be used to guide tools, devices, and/or implants through each pathway in the spinal fixation element and into bone.

Abstract: A modular drill guide for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. The drill guide generally includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to engage a spinal fixation plate, and at least one guide member removably and replaceably matable to the shaft. The guide member can have a connector member with at least one bore extending therethrough for receiving at least a portion of the shaft, and at least one barrel formed thereon and defining a lumen for receiving a tool, such as an awl, a drill bit, a fastener, or a driver device. The shaft can optionally be coupled to an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The barrel(s) include a bore formed therethrough for receiving a tool.

Abstract: Bone screws and bone plates are provided that offer the surgeon the ability to either assemble the screws to the plate, or the plate to the screws, depending on the surgeon's preference and the patient's circumstances. The bone screws and bone plates of the present invention include a combination of geometric configurations that allow the screws and plates to fit together from different assembly directions. Additionally, the bone screws and bone plates can include material resilience features to allow expansion/contraction during assembly to allow bidirectional attachment to one another.

Abstract: A centralizer for an intramedullary stem of an orthopaedic component that is adapted to be implanted into a medullary canal of a bone includes an annular body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The centralizer also includes a first exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The first exterior fin possesses a first length. The centralizer also includes a second exterior fin secured to the exterior surface of the annular body so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The second exterior fin possesses a second length which is greater than the first length. A method of implanting an orthopaedic component into a patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating sheets of material. The apparatus includes: a housing; a continuous web of sheet material supported by the housing; a device to advance the continuous web; a device to sever the continuous web into strips of a desired length; and a device for accumulating a strip or a plurality of strips into a single collation, wherein the plurality includes one or more strips of a given length and only one strip of a variable length equal to or less than the given length.