Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, a needle holder, and an actuator. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder defines a needle passage configured to hold an associated needle. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position, and is configured such that movement from the first operating position toward the second operating position moves the associated needle in an advance direction. The actuator includes a manually operated member and a biasing mechanism biasing the actuator toward the second operating position. The manually operated member is operatively connected with the biasing mechanism so as to preclude the biasing mechanism from moving the actuator toward the second operating position until after the manually operated member has been moved from a non-actuated position toward an actuated position.

Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, an actuator, and a curved needle holder. The elongate body includes a distal end portion extending along a longitudinal axis. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from the distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a curved needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. A distance measured parallel with the longitudinal axis between where the curved needle holder begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis to either where the elongate body begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis or where the elongate body connects with a handle can be between about 10 cm to about 20 cm.

Abstract: A bone saw and a method for using the bone saw. The bone saw includes a saw blade comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a distal tip comprising a cutting edge. The flexible saw blade is rectangular in shape over at least a portion thereof. The bone saw further includes a saw handle base insert a saw shaft tip assembly comprising an opening through which the flexible saw blade is advanced. The saw shaft tip assembly may comprise a saw shaft tip comprising a channel comprising a distal end and a proximal end and a saw channel insert disposed within the channel of the saw shaft tip to form a lumen between the saw shift tip and the saw channel insert. The bone saw may further comprise a saw blade advancement mechanism coupled to the flexible saw blade for moving the flexible saw blade in discrete amounts.

Abstract: A method for generating hydrogen, wherein a tablet is formed using a solid acid, a metal borohydride, and an inert binder, and that tablet is placed into a volume of water, causing hydrogen to be released.

Abstract: A suturing device includes a handle, an elongate body, an actuator and a needle holder. The handle includes a proximal handle end and a distal handle end. The elongate body connects with the handle and includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator includes a manually operated member including an operator contact surface spaced from the proximal handle end in a direction toward the distal handle end. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip and defines a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The needle passage is configured to receive at least a portion of an associated needle when the actuator is in the first operating position.

Abstract: A loading fixture for loading a needle into a suturing device includes a chassis, a clamp assembly and a needle holder. The clamp assembly is connected with the chassis. The needle holder is movably mounted to the chassis. A method of assembling a suturing device includes holding a suturing device. The method further includes inserting a needle having a suture attached thereto through a distal opening into a needle passage of the suturing device. The method also includes maintaining a portion of the suture extending out of the distal opening and outside of the suturing device.

Abstract: Minimally invasive methods and devices for introducing a spinal fixation element into a surgical site in a patient's spinal column are provided. In general, the method involves advancing a spinal fixation element in a first, lengthwise orientation along a pathway extending from a minimally invasive percutaneous incision to a spinal anchor site. As the spinal fixation element approaches the spinal anchor site, the fixation element can be manipulated to extend in a second orientation, which is preferably substantially transverse to the first orientation, to position the fixation element in relation to one or more spinal anchors.

Abstract: Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element through at least one sidewall opening of at least two percutaneous access devices such that the spinal fixation element extends in a lengthwise orientation that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each percutaneous access device. The spinal fixation element can then be advanced in the lengthwise orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in or adjacent to the receiver heads of at least two adjacent spinal anchors. A fastening element or other closure mechanism can then be applied to each spinal anchor to engage the spinal fixation element within the receiver heads of the adjacent anchors.

Abstract: Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element through at least one sidewall opening of at least two percutaneous access devices such that the spinal fixation element extends in a lengthwise orientation that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each percutaneous access device. The spinal fixation element can then be advanced in the lengthwise orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in or adjacent to the receiver heads of at least two adjacent spinal anchors. A fastening element or other closure mechanism can then be applied to each spinal anchor to engage the spinal fixation element within the receiver heads of the adjacent anchors.

Abstract: Minimally invasive methods and devices for introducing a spinal fixation element into a surgical site in a patient's spinal column are provided. In general, the method involves advancing a spinal fixation element in a first, lengthwise orientation along a pathway extending from a minimally invasive percutaneous incision to a spinal anchor site. As the spinal fixation element approaches the spinal anchor site, the fixation element can be manipulated to extend in a second orientation, which is preferably substantially transverse to the first orientation, to position the fixation element in relation to one or more spinal anchors.

Abstract: Minimally invasive methods and devices for introducing a spinal fixation element into a surgical site in a patient's spinal column are provided. In general, the method involves advancing a spinal fixation element in a first, lengthwise orientation along a pathway extending from a minimally invasive percutaneous incision to a spinal anchor site. As the spinal fixation element approaches the spinal anchor site, the fixation element can be manipulated to extend in a second orientation, which is preferably substantially transverse to the first orientation, to position the fixation element in relation to one or more spinal anchors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle, a cartridge configured to removably couple to the handle, an actuator movably coupled to the handle, and a lock operably coupled to the actuator. A first needle assembly and a second needle assembly of the cartridge are operably coupled to a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, respectively, of the actuator when the cartridge is coupled to the handle. The first coupling portion is configured to transition the first needle assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration such that a first capture portion engages a first needle. The second coupling portion is configured to transition the second needle assembly from a first configuration to a second configuration such that a second capture portion engages the second needle. The lock is configured to selectively limit movement of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a receive coil system nested within a transmit coil system forming a closed magnetic circuit. The transmit coil system includes a non-planar tapered transmit coil disposed within a tapered ferrite housing and a layer of insulating material surrounding the non-planar tapered transmit coil and the tapered ferrite housing. The receive coil system includes a ferrite plug comprising a column portion centrally secured to a plate portion, a non-planar receive coil wound around the column portion, a layer of insulating material surrounding the column portion and the non-planar receive coil, and a hemispherical covering surrounding the insulated column portion and non-planar receive coil. The non-planar receive coil has a smaller diameter than the non-planar tapered transmit coil. The maximum outside diameter of the hemispherical covering is less than or equal to the minimum inside diameter of the non-planar tapered transmit coil.