Abstract: A surgical drill guide for positioning, aligning, and of holes to be drilled in bone tissue has retaining means that holds the position and alignment of the drill guide body in a releasable manner with respect to a fastener hole in an orthopedic implant. The retaining means is a key guide that mates with a key way or key ways in or around a threaded locking hole of an orthopedic plate for alignment of a pilot hole and method of using the guide. The key guide has 2 to projections that extend in the direction of the axis of the hole, such as hemi cylindrical projections, and the plate has a corresponding female key way that receives the retaining means. The invention also relates to a method of aligning a locking fastener in a plate at a desired angle relative to a bone by using a surgical guide having a key interface with the plate to position and align a pilot hole.

Abstract: A cross connector assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the cross connector is configured to engage a pair of rods in a spinal implant assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the cross connector assembly includes at least one elongated top member having a pair of hooked-shaped ends and a pair of sliding members configured to slideably engage the at least one elongated top member. The cross connector may further include an upper fastener and a lower fastener engaged with the upper fastener configured to translate upon rotation of the upper fastener and engage the sliding members, biasing them from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of designing an orthopedic implant in which a plurality of samples of the bone are selected and a CT scan of each of the samples of the bone is taken so that the data from the CT scan can be used to generate a 3D graphical solid body model of each of the sample of the bone. The 3D graphical models are placed into a category of one or more of average, small, and large, and the center of mass and an X, Y and Z plane for each model is determined. The 3D graphical models for one category is assembled and aligned at the center of mass to create a categorized composite 3D graphical solid body model of the bone. The categorized composite 3D graphical model is sectioned at a specified interval to create a lofted contoured surface of a selected thickness which is cut to create a categorized implant profile.

Abstract: An orthopedic plate system comprises a plurality of fasteners such as pegs or screws and a plate having two sets of holes for the fasteners. The first set of at least one hole includes internal threads that receive a fastener having a head which includes external threads that mate with the internal threads of the hole to lock the fastener at a fixed angle relative to the plate. The second set of at least one hole is devoid of internal threads and has a concavely rounded internal surface and which receives a convexly rounded external surface of a locking insert, which receives a variable axis fastener. The variable axis fastener causes the locking insert to expand to lock the variable axis fastener at a selected angle relative to the plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a fully contoured calcaneal plate having substantially no planar surfaces except at the origin. The contoured plate includes radiused sections, one extending inferior to superior is curved inferior to superior in a shape which is close to cylindrical and which approximates the shape of the cuboid bone. The second radiused section is curved in the vicinity of the anterior strut, and in particular at the inferior portion of the plate, to accommodate the peroneal tubercle. The plate has a rectangular or modified ovoid body section and a dog boned shaped tail with triangular placed holes for fixation.

Abstract: A distal radius plate having a head with a complex palm shaped profile which flares from the sides of the plate to a leading edge that includes a central oblique linking area that helps to mark the placement of the plate relative to the radius. Further, the plate includes an oblique depression that extends from the rounded pinky side of the head and gradually morphs into the elevated styloid prominence in one diagonal direction, and rises less gradually upward into the lunate prominence on the other side of the head. A proximal plate portion mimics the spiral of the radial bone as it spirals along the longitudinal axis, and includes a tighter radial bend. The head includes holes or bores for pegs which extend into the distal portion of the radius to lock fragments into position. In the first embodiment, the angles of the pegs are fixed. In a second embodiment, one or more of the peg holes are provided with a variable axis locking mechanism assembly and the remaining holes are fixed.

Abstract: An orthopedic plate has a portion with a curved bottom surface that is designed to extend longitudinally along the bone and change the inferior curve as it advances proximally along the bone from a shallower to a sharper radius and further spirals downward as the plate advances. The plate includes a set of tabs, offset from the longitudinal axis of the plate to provide for better pullout values. The ears may be located at the terminal portion of the plate or somewhat more intermediate to the terminus of the plate, depending on the intended application. A point in the center of the central screw hole can be used to define the origin of the plate, and the angles of the screw and/or pegs holes can be referenced with Z, Y, and Z coordinates relative to this central hole.

Abstract: A locking mechanism assembly to allow locking of a fastener in an orthopedic implant having its axis at a variable angle relative to the axis of a concavely rounded through opening in the implant. The assembly includes a convexly rounded ring shaped locking cam insert which mates with the through opening and further which includes an expansion slot. The cam insert includes two cam raceways on the inside that are engaged by cam members on the head of the fastener. The cam members increase radially and expand the insert in the through opening to hold it in position by friction. The cam insert further includes a stop member that inhibits the cam insert from rotating as the fastener is rotated in the cam insert and locks it into the desired position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthopedic screw and a corresponding screw driver wherein the screw has a torque driving head with a rounded side a spherical wall for multiaxial use, a self starting, self tapping insertion tip and a threaded portion including a cancellous thread. The threaded portion has a major diameter defined by a spiraling thread and a minor diameter. The head is joined to the threaded portion by an area of from about 2 to about 6 turns of the thread along the longitudinal axis in which the minor diameter tapers by an angle of from about 4° to about 12° and the major diameter of the screw remaining substantially the same. The screw includes a multilobe torque driving recess joined to a cylindrical recess that corresponds to a cylindrical post on the torque driver so as to form a press fit which acts to self-center the screw, to help avoid stripping of the screw/driver interface and to hold the screw in place on the torque driver prior to implantation.

Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a damaged spinal disc in a spinal column includes a resilient core having a first surface and a second surface. A first retaining device is connected to the first surface of the resilient core. The first retaining device includes an outer surface engageable with a first vertebra of the spinal column and an inner surface facing the first surface of the resilient core. A second retaining device is connected to the second surface of the resilient core. The second retaining device has an outer surface engageable with a second vertebra of the spinal column and an inner surface facing the second surface of the resilient core. The inner surface of the first retaining device is spaced from the core. The core deflects into engagement with the inner surface of the first retaining device upon relative movement between the first and second retaining devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthopedic plate and screw system and instruments for surgical fixation of a small bone or bones including specifically the small bones of the spine. The plate facilitates three dimensional contouring to provide for a variety of applications and to accommodate individual variation in bone shape. The plate has a modified x shape including a central trunk portion including one or more screw holes along a longitudinal axis and a set of divergent upper and an oppositely extending set of divergent lower arms, each arm including screw holes which are placed at a radially equal distance but which diverging asymmetrically from the longitudinal axis relative to its paired upper or lower mate. The screws of the system are self-starting, self-tapping screws including the option of partial or full cannulation. In a further embodiment, the plate is intended for use through the length of the spine.

Abstract: An orthopedic screw having a torque driving head with a rounded side a spherical wall for multiaxial use, a self starting, self tapping insertion tip and a threaded portion including a cancellous thread. The threaded portion has a major diameter defined by a spiraling thread and a minor diameter. The head is joined to the threaded portion by an area of from about 2 to about 6 turns of the thread along the longitudinal axis in which the minor diameter tapers by an angle of from about 4 to about 12° and the major diameter of the screw remaining substantially the same meaning that the major diameter is constant to about +/?0.05 mm along the length of the threaded portion. The screw includes a multilobe torque driving recess joined to a cylindrical recess. In a further embodiment, the screw has an insertion tip which is forms a portion of a sphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cannulated orthopedic screw having a torque driving head with a spherical wall for multiaxial use, a rounded fluted insertion tip and a threaded portion including a cancellous thread contiguous with a non-threaded portion. The threaded portion has a major diameter defined by a spiraling cancellous type thread and a minor diameter. The screw includes a multilobe torque driving recess.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthopedic plate and screw system and instruments for surgical fixation of a small bone or bones. The plate facilitates three dimensional contouring to provide for a variety of applications and to accommodate individual variation in bone shape. The plate has a modified x shape including a central trunk portion including one or more screw holes along a longitudinal axis and a set of divergent upper and an oppositely extending set of divergent lower arms, each arm including screw holes which are placed at a radially equal distance but which diverging asymmetrically from the longitudinal axis relative to its paired upper or lower mate. The screws of the system are self-starting, self-tapping screws including the option of partial or full cannulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthopedic screw having a torque driving head with spherical surface for multiaxial use, a self starting, self tapping insertion tip and a threaded portion including a modified cancellous thread. The threaded portion has a major diameter defined by a spiraling thread and a minor diameter. The head is joined to the threaded portion by an area of from about 2 to about 6 turns of the thread along the longitudinal axis in which the minor diameter tapers by an angle of from about 4 to about 12° and the major diameter of the screw remaining substantially the same meaning that the major diameter is constant to about +/?0.05 mm along the length of the threaded portion.

Abstract: A method for replacing a spinal disc between first and second vertebrae of a spinal column includes determining a reference point on the spinal column. A marker is connected to a vertebra of the spinal column at the reference point. The marker is engaged with a guide assembly for guiding insertion of a surgical instrument between the first and second vertebrae to prepare the space between the first and second vertebrae for receiving an apparatus between the first and second vertebrae. The apparatus is inserted between the first and second vertebrae. The apparatus has a first end, a second opposite end, and first and second lateral sides extending between the first and second ends. An outer surface is engageable with the first vertebra of the spinal column. A rail extending from the outer surface is engageable with the first vertebra to connect the apparatus to the first vertebra. The rail extends a first distance from the outer surface adjacent the first end.