Abstract: A back treatment assembly for providing a surface for treating a user's back, such as by facilitating scrubbing, scratching, massaging, or heat treating the back. includes a frame comprising a rear wall, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall. The rear wall is coupled to and extends between the first and second lateral walls, and each of the first and second lateral walls extends forwardly from the rear wall. A back engagement member is mounted to the frame and extends between the first and second lateral walls. The back engagement member is configured to abut a back of a user.

Abstract: An oral retraction device comprises a tongue depressor blade, an articulation assembly constructed and arranged to articulate the tongue depressor blade with at least three degrees of freedom, and a support element constructed and arranged to provide a stabilizing force to the articulation assembly during articulation of the tongue depressor blade.

Abstract: An oral retraction device comprises a tongue depressor blade, an articulation assembly constructed and arranged to articulate the tongue depressor blade with at least three degrees of freedom, and a support element constructed and arranged to provide a stabilizing force to the articulation assembly during articulation of the tongue depressor blade.

Abstract: An oral retraction device comprises a tongue depressor blade, an articulation assembly constructed and arranged to articulate the tongue depressor blade with at least three degrees of freedom, and a support element constructed and arranged to provide a stabilizing force to the articulation assembly during articulation of the tongue depressor blade.

Abstract: Medical instruments suitable for use in minimally invasive medical procedures have a first, highly flexible, state which allows the instruments to be easily passed into a body cavity through a trocar, cannula, catheter, or other access device positioned to give access into the body cavity. The instruments can then be arranged into a chosen shape, and rigidized in the chosen shape, allowing the user to use the instruments in a shape most suitable for the surrounding anatomy.

Abstract: An articulating grasper includes an elongate shaft having an articulating distal section and a pair of jaw members on the articulating distal section. A first actuation member is coupled to the articulating distal section and is longitudinally moveable to pivot the articulating distal section. A second actuation member is coupled to at least one of the jaw members and is longitudinally moveable to pivot at least one of the jaw member between open and closed positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and kit for placing and securing an implant to vertebral bodies of a spine. The apparatus may have an implant engaging base having implant engaging limbs coupled to a handle and an aligning member pivotally coupled to the handle by a spring loaded collar where the aligning member may be rotated and locked into fixed positions. The aligning member may receive a cannula for guiding instruments and tools into the surgical field. A method is presented which includes turning locking screws to frictionally engage rounded screws to secure the implant to the vertebral bodies. Flats on the head of the locking screws may be turned by a screwdriver having corresponding flats dispositioned to align in a coaxial manner to the flats on the heads of the locking screws. A kit is presented including the apparatus, the screws, and the screwdriver.

Abstract: A surgical driver includes an elongated drive shaft engageable with a surgical bone anchor in torque transmitting relationship, a locking sleeve, and a sleeve locking member. The locking sleeve is mounted to the drive shaft and is engageable with the head of surgical bone anchor. The sleeve locking member is mounted for relative motion between a first position in which it is simultaneously engaged with both the drive shaft and the locking sleeve in rotationally fixed relationship and a second position in which it is disengaged from the rotationally fixed relationship with at least one of the drive shaft and locking sleeve.

Abstract: A reduction device and a method for using such a device are provided. In one example, the reduction device includes a sleeve, a coupling member configured to couple to a surgical device, and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly may include multiple links pivotally coupled to the sleeve and coupling member, and a threaded member pivotally coupled to the links. A rotational position of the threaded member may define a position of the sleeve relative to the coupling member.

Abstract: A method for facilitating fusion of bone structures includes providing an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a first end and a second end, and a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances. The outer wall has at least one groove which extends substantially continuously about the outer wall to define a plurality of discrete ring-like segments. Each ring-like segment includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The vertebral space defined between adjacent vertebral bodies is accessed, and the desired implant member length for insertion into the space between adjacent vertebral bodies is determined. The implant member is cut to the desired length and advanced within the vertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high gloss, non-feathering topical composition comprising at least one water-insoluble, fatty alcohol-soluble polysaccharide polymer and a liquid polymeric polyol ester.

Abstract: A method for facilitating fusion of bone structures includes providing an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures, the implant member having a first end and a second end, and a segmentable portion having an outer wall defining an internal cavity for reception of bone growth inducing substances. The outer wall has at least one groove which extends substantially continuously about the outer wall to define a plurality of discrete ring-like segments. Each ring-like segment includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The vertebral space defined between adjacent vertebral bodies is accessed, and the desired implant member length for insertion into the space between adjacent vertebral bodies is determined. The implant member is cut to the desired length and advanced within the vertebral space between the adjacent vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures includes an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures having a first ring-like segment and a second ring-like segment which engage one another in an end-to-end manner. Each ring-like segment includes an outer wall which defines an internal cavity for the reception of bone growth inducing substances. Each ring-like segment also includes a plurality of apertures which extend through the outer wall of the ring-like segments in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The first ring-like segment includes first and second mechanical interfaces. The first mechanical interface is dimensioned to engage a corresponding mechanical interface disposed on the second ring-like segment and the second mechanical interface is dimensioned to mechanically engage an end cap.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebral portions includes an implant member dimensioned for positioning between adjacent vertebral portions and defining a longitudinal axis. The implant member includes an outer member having an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and a clip receiving opening subtending a peripheral portion of the exterior wall, an inner member telescopically received within the internal cavity of the outer member to permit relative movement of the outer and inner members and a locking clip dimensioned for at least partial reception within the clip receiving opening of the outer member. The inner member includes an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and having a plurality of locking slots spaced along the longitudinal axis. The locking clip includes a clip base and locking clip legs depending from opposed ends of the clip base.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebral portions includes an implant member dimensioned for positioning between adjacent vertebral portions and defining a longitudinal axis. The implant member includes an outer member having an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and a clip receiving opening subtending a peripheral portion of the exterior wall, an inner member telescopically received within the internal cavity of the outer member to permit relative movement of the outer and inner members and a locking clip dimensioned for at least partial reception within the clip receiving opening of the outer member. The inner member includes an exterior wall defining an internal cavity and having a plurality of locking slots spaced along the longitudinal axis. The locking clip includes a clip base and locking clip legs depending from opposed ends of the clip base.

Abstract: A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of bone structures includes an implant member for positioning between opposed bone structures having a first ring-like segment and a second ring-like segment which engage one another in an end-to-end manner. Each ring-like segment includes an outer wall which defines an internal cavity for the reception of bone growth inducing substances. Each ring-like segment also includes a plurality of apertures which extend through the outer wall of the ring-like segments in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The first ring-like segment includes first and second mechanical interfaces. The first mechanical interface is dimensioned to engage a corresponding mechanical interface disposed on the second ring-like segment and the second mechanical interface is dimensioned to mechanically engage an end cap.

Abstract: The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing and removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Instrumentation includes tissue spreaders and cutting instruments. In particular, the tissue spreading instruments include instruments for spreading pre-sacral tissue such as fascia and for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc. Endoscopic cutting instruments deliver a cutting blade in a sheathed position to the site of the disc nucleus followed by deployment to remove portions of the disc nucleus.

Abstract: The contract generation system of the present invention automates the generation of various legal documents related to a negotiated agreement. The contract generation system provides various standard documents that can be customized for each deal. The contract generation system also provides a database for containing general contract data, which is linked to the contract documents containing the textual provisions of the contract. The contract generation system also includes alternate provisions that can replace provisions in the standard documents, as well as supplemental and additional provisions that can be added to the standard documents. The contract generation system also allows for the contract documents to be manually edited to further customize the documents for a specific deal.

Abstract: The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing and removing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Instrumentation includes tissue spreaders and cutting instruments. In particular, the tissue spreading instruments include instruments for spreading pre-sacral tissue such as fascia and for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc. Endoscopic cutting instruments deliver a cutting blade in a sheathed position to the site of the disc nucleus followed by deployment to remove portions of the disc nucleus.

Abstract: An everting forceps comprising first and second outer resilient legs rigidly interconnected at one end thereof, and a third leg intermediate the pair of legs. Each of the outer legs terminating at a tip provided with an arcuate jaw. A moving device positions the intermediate leg with respect to one of the first and second legs. A locking mechanism for locking the intermediate leg and at least one of the outer legs is also provided.