Abstract: An apparatus includes: a member configured to be received within an intramedullary canal, the member having an opening therethrough; a flexible elongate element sized to extend through the opening; a section having a first bone-engaging surface and a coupling structure for fixedly securing the section to the elongate element; and a further section having a bone-engaging surface and a coupling structure for fixedly securing the further section to the elongate element. In another form, an apparatus includes a first section having spaced first and second surface portions to engage a bone and a second section configured to extend into a bone. The first surface portion exerts a first force in a direction that is at an angle with respect to a force exerted by the second surface portion. Yet another form involves methods of using each apparatus.

Abstract: A system for characterizing a device under test includes an input subsystem configured to inject a signal into the device under test and to measure the response of the device under test. The system also includes a routine for automatically determining the frequency domain impedance of the device under test by constructing an s-parameter matrix and calculating the real and imaginary portions of the impedance based on the s-parameter matrix, and a routine for converting the frequency domain impedance to a time domain impedance by performing an inverse Fourier transform on the complex impedance.

Abstract: A femoral intramedullary rod system capable of treating a variety of femoral bone fractures using a uniform intramedullary rod design. The system generally comprising an intramedullary rod defining an opening having an upper surface and a transverse member including a bone engaging portion and a connection portion defining a thru-hole with the nail sized to pass therethrough. A pin is selectively coupled to the transverse member to rigidly assemble the transverse member to the nail when the nail is passed through the thru-hole and the pin is received within the opening. In an alternative design, an epiphyseal stabilizer is joined to the nail by a locking member.

Abstract: A system and method of characterizing a device under test wherein a signal is injected into the device under test, the response to the injected signal is measured to determine the impedance of the device under test in the frequency domain, the impedance is converted to the time domain, and the voltage noise of the device under test is calculated based on the impedance of the device under test in the time domain.

Abstract: A tissue anchoring system includes a tissue anchor affixed to an end of a cable and supported for insertion on a delivery device, the manipulation of which permits placement of the anchor on a far side of the tissue. A tensioning, crimping and cutting tool designed for use along the cable's longitudinal axis, thus reducing the number of incisions required. A suture anchoring system is also described for introducing a loop of suture into a surgical site and anchoring it, for instance, across a tear in soft tissue.