Abstract: A bone distraction device and a method for installing and using the bone distraction device are disclosed. Separated portions of a bone may be coupled to two or more mounts of the bone distraction device. Each portion of the bone may be coupled to at least one mount. The mounts may be contoured in arcs of at least ?/3 radians to accommodate the circumference of the bone. The bone distraction device may include three or more guide rods coupled to the mounts. A distractor may be used to move one mount relative to one or more other mounts to distract the bone portions. In one embodiment, one mount may be coupled to a transport segment of bone for transport distraction between two bone segments. In some embodiments, a hydraulic bone distractor may be used to distract the bone portions.

Abstract: A bone distraction device and a method for installing and using the bone distraction device are disclosed. Separated portions of a bone may be coupled to two or more mounts of the bone distraction device. Each portion of the bone may be coupled to at least one mount. The mounts may be contoured in arcs of at least ?/3 radians to accommodate the circumference of the bone. The bone distraction device may include three or more guide rods coupled to the mounts. A distractor may be used to move one mount relative to one or more other mounts to distract the bone portions. In one embodiment, one mount may be coupled to a transport segment of bone for transport distraction between two bone segments. In some embodiments, a hydraulic bone distractor may be used to distract the bone portions.

Abstract: The invention may be characterized as a method, apparatus and bone-fixation system. The system includes a plurality of drivers, each of the drivers including a handle coupled to a shaft, the shaft including a distal tip opposite the handle that is configured to couple with a head of a surgical fixation element, each of the drivers including indicia of a particular length and a particular diameter; and a plurality of surgical fixation elements, each of the plurality of surgical fixation elements being detachably coupled to the distal tip of a corresponding one of the drivers that has indicia of the length and diameter of the fixation element coupled to the driver.

Abstract: A bone distraction device and a method for installing and using the bone distraction device are disclosed. Separated portions of a bone may be coupled to two or more mounts of the bone distraction device. Each portion of the bone may be coupled to at least one mount. The mounts may be contoured in arcs of at least &pgr;/3 radians to accommodate the circumference of the bone. The bone distraction device may include three or more guide rods coupled to the mounts. A distractor may be used to move one mount relative to one or more other mounts to distract the bone portions. In one embodiment, one mount may be coupled to a transport segment of bone for transport distraction between two bone segments. In some embodiments, a hydraulic bone distractor may be used to distract the bone portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an internal mandibular distractor comprising a substantially cylindrical main body, a base, and a shaft. The device is used to gradually separate osteotomized bone sections to promote new bone growth in an area of bone loss. The device is then left in the jaw to also serve as a permanent dental implant for restoring dentition.

Abstract: An implantable bone distraction device and method of using the device are disclosed. The device includes spaced first and second low profile blocks for subcutaneous implantation and attachment to osteotomically separated bone sections. The first block defines a drive chamber bore while the second block defines a threaded bore. A rotatable drive rod having a first end is received in the drive chamber bore of the first block. The rotatable drive rod's other end is threadably received in the threaded bore of the second block. The device further includes drive rod actuator located in the drive chamber bore for cooperating with the first end of the drive rod to rotate the drive rod so that one can adjust the depth to which the rod's threaded end is received in the threaded bore of the second block. This enables one to adjust the spacing between the first and second blocks, thereby enabling one to controllably distract the separated bone sections to enhance bone growth therebetween.