Abstract: A magnetic tracking system for determining position and orientation of an object in three-dimensional space, the system including an electromagnet assembly including first and second electromagnets that are coaxial, non-coincident, and spaced from each other by a fixed distance, at least one magnetometer positioned at a movable location relative to the electromagnet assembly and configured to measure three orthogonal components of a magnetic field vector, and a microcontroller unit operably connected to the at least one magnetometer. The microcontroller unit is configured to control measurement of magnetic fields by the at least one magnetometer and compute a relative position and orientation of the electromagnet assembly and the at least one magnetometer in five degrees of freedom using at least two equations with two unknowns and coordinate transformation equations relating the coordinate frames of the electromagnet assembly and the at least one magnetometer.

Abstract: An instrument for locating a femoral mechanical axis and identifying the locations of at least three points in space in relation to the center of a femoral head, the instrument including a base member, an extension arm clamp translationally and pivotally attached to the base member, an extension arm translationally and pivotally attached to the extension arm clamp, a swiveling arm pivotally attached to a distal end of the extension arm, the swiveling arm including a lateral locator member at a proximal end and a medial locator member at a distal end, a bracket pivotally attached to the swiveling arm, and a locating arm removably attached to the bracket, the locating arm including a middle locator member.

Abstract: A method of performing a total knee arthroplasty including the steps of inserting a first pin into the distal femur and through the knee center, locating the femoral mechanical axis, inserting at least one additional pin into the distal femur, locating the tibial mechanical axis, sizing the femur and applying a femoral cutting block having at least one cutting guide to an end of the femur, positioning a tibial cutting block having a least one cutting guide in a cutting position relative to the tibia, aligning the femoral cutting block relative to the tibial cutting block, aligning the femur relative to the tibia, cutting the femur using the at least one femoral cutting guide, cutting the tibia using the at least one tibial cutting guide, removing the femoral and tibial cutting blocks, and positioning permanent femoral and tibial components on the cut portions of the femur and tibia, respectively.

Abstract: A device suitable for use in inserting a pin into an object comprises an elongated pin driver and an elongated pin which are engaged by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism moves the device to a first locking position when the pin is inserted into the pin driver such that each of first and third abutment surfaces associated with a first abutting member of the pin driver and with a stud portion of the pin, respectively, abuts against one another, and such that each of second and fourth abutment surfaces associated with the first abutting member of the pin driver and with a second abutting member of the pin, respectively, abuts against one another in order to prevent the pin driver and the pin from rotating relative to each other in a first direction.

Abstract: A tibial prosthesis including a tibial component including a tray having first and second opposing surfaces and a stem extending from the second surface of the tibial component, a tibial conversion module including a receiver portion defining a stem-receiving cavity for slideable engagement with the stem of the tibial component, wherein the stem of the tibial component is positioned within the stem-receiving cavity at a first end of the receiver portion, and an extension peg engaged with the stem-receiving cavity at a second end of the receiver portion that is opposite the first end of the receiver portion.

Abstract: A bone compacting device for compacting cancellous bone within a bone cavity, the bone compacting device including a body having a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is adjacent to at least one adjacent segment between a first end and a second end of the body, and wherein each of the plurality of segments is independently expandable to contact the cancellous bone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool in combination with a set screw for use in spinal implant systems, and more particularly to a tool for the deployment of set screws with a break-off neck portion comprising a handle portion, a stem portion extending from the handle portion, a set screw retaining means, and a driving means extending from the stem portion and disposed opposite the handle portion. The driving means is adapted to allow the installation of the set screw to the bone and applying torque for the shearing of the neck portion thereof, and at the same time is adapted to remove the installed screw portion of the said set screw when needed.

Abstract: A bone screw assembly including a bone screw that has a head portion with a base, a pair of arms extending upwardly from the base, and an internally threaded slot defined by the pair of arms, and a screw portion extending downwardly from the base of the head portion. The assembly further includes a set screw having a body with a threaded outer surface and a distal tip, wherein the distal tip comprises a truncated taper portion extending from a base to generally flat distal end. The threaded outer surface of the set screw is engageable within the internally threaded slot of the head portion of the bone screw.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool in combination with a set screw for use in spinal implant systems, and more particularly to a tool for the deployment of set screws with a break-off neck portion comprising a handle portion, a stem portion extending from the handle portion, a set screw retaining means, and a driving means extending from the stem portion and disposed opposite the handle portion. The driving means is adapted to allow the installation of the set screw to the bone and applying torque for the shearing of the neck portion thereof, and at the same time is adapted to remove the installed screw portion of the said set screw when needed.

Abstract: The present invention provides surgical drilling devices and methods. An exemplary surgical drilling device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, a retractable guide tube assembly, and a flexible cable drill. The retractable guide tube assembly includes an arcuate guide tube having a first portion that is slidingly positioned in an arcuate portion of the housing. A second portion comprising an actuating tube is slidingly positioned in a linear portion of the housing. The arcuate guide tube is controllably advancable from the housing and retractable into the housing. The flexible cable drill comprises a first portion slidingly positioned in the arcuate guide tube and a second portion slidingly positioned in the actuating tube.

Abstract: A connector assembly for attaching multiple spinal rods to each other, the connector assembly including a connector body having a top surface, first and second ends, a first opening extending along a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end, a second opening offset from the first opening and extending along a longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end, and a threaded opening extending along a longitudinal axis from the top surface and into the connector body; and a set screw assembly having a threaded portion that is engageable with the threaded opening of the connector body.

Abstract: A method of performing a total knee arthroplasty including the steps of inserting a first pin into the distal femur and through the knee center, locating the femoral mechanical axis, inserting at least one additional pin into the distal femur, locating the tibial mechanical axis, sizing the femur and applying a femoral cutting block having at least one cutting guide to an end of the femur, positioning a tibial cutting block having a least one cutting guide in a cutting position relative to the tibia, aligning the femoral cutting block relative to the tibial cutting block, aligning the femur relative to the tibia, cutting the femur using the at least one femoral cutting guide, cutting the tibia using the at least one tibial cutting guide, removing the femoral and tibial cutting blocks, and positioning permanent femoral and tibial components on the cut portions of the femur and tibia, respectively.

Abstract: An instrument for locating a femoral mechanical axis and identifying the locations of at least three points in space in relation to the center of a femoral head, the instrument including a base member, an extension arm clamp translationally and pivotally attached to the base member, an extension arm translationally and pivotally attached to the extension arm clamp, a swiveling arm pivotally attached to a distal end of the extension arm, the swiveling arm including a lateral locator member at a proximal end and a medial locator member at a distal end, a bracket pivotally attached to the swiveling arm, and a locating arm removably attached to the bracket, the locating arm including a middle locator member.

Abstract: A distal targeting device for locating at least one distal screw hole in an intramedullary nail that is positioned within a medullary canal of a bone, the device including an elongated and reconfigurable probe that is positionable inside a lumen of the nail.

Abstract: The present invention provides surgical drilling devices and methods. An exemplary surgical drilling device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, a retractable guide tube assembly, and a flexible cable drill. The retractable guide tube assembly comprises an arcuate guide tube slidingly positioned in a first arcuate channel of the housing. The arcuate guide tube is operatively connected to an actuating rod slidingly positioned in a second channel of the housing wherein the actuating rod controllably advances and retracts the arcuate guide tube. The flexible cable drill comprises a first portion slidingly positioned in the arcuate guide tube and a second portion slidingly positioned in a third channel of the housing.

Abstract: A bone compacting device for compacting cancellous bone within a bone cavity, the bone compacting device including a body having a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is adjacent to at least one adjacent segment between a first end and a second end of the body, and wherein each of the plurality of segments is independently expandable to contact the cancellous bone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intramedullary nail distal targeting device (20) adapted to be installed to an external jig system (A) having a proximal attachment (B) to support an intramedullary nail (C) thereon and an extension arm (D) secured to the proximal attachment (B), the nail distal targeting device including a drill guide (21) being defined by an abbreviated cylindrical body (23) having at least a pair of guide slots (24, 24?) each of the guide slots (24, 24?) having a scalloped inner surface (25), an attaching mechanism (22) being provided at the upper portion of the drill guide (21), the attaching mechanism (22) secured in a rotating and sliding manner to a distal end of the extension arm (D) and at least a pair of guide sleeves (10, 10?) being telescopically fitted correspondingly into the slots (24, 24?) of the drill guide (21), each of the guide sleeves (10, 10?) having a scalloped outer surface to correspondingly fit into the guide slots (24, 24?), each of the guide sleeves (10, 10?) bei

Abstract: A cervical plate system which includes a cervical plate having a thickness between a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, and at least one slot extending through the thickness of the plate. The system further includes a first rotating element positionable within a first slot of the cervical plate, the first rotating element including at least one threaded hole, and at least one bone screw insertable into the at least one threaded hole of the first rotating element.

Abstract: A cervical plate system which includes a cervical plate having a thickness between a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, and at least one slot extending through the thickness of the plate. The system further includes a first rotating element positionable within a first slot of the cervical plate, the first rotating element including at least one threaded hole, and at least one bone screw insertable into the at least one threaded hole of the first rotating element.

Abstract: A spinal implant system is provided for correcting spinal abnormalities. The system involves connectors configured to fit over spinal implant rods, a transverse rod, and a locking member for fixing each connector to the spinal implant rod and transverse rod. The connector is configured such that when the locking member is in a first position, the transverse rod is temporarily fixed to the connector, and when the locking member is in a second position, both the transverse rod and spinal implant rod are fixed to the connector.