Abstract: An apparatus is provided for fusing bones of the human body. The apparatus comprises a bone plate which generally is a member having one or more fixation apertures, configured to receive fasteners, and an insert aperture. The bone plate comprises a semi-rigid material, such as a biocompatible metal or Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), possessing a tensile strength suitable for immobilizing bones. A convertible insert is configured to be retained within the insert aperture. The convertible insert is configured to optimally direct a fastener towards a chosen point of purchase for fixating or compressing bones. In some embodiments, the insert is configured to direct a fastener at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the fusion plate. In some embodiments, the insert is configured to direct a fastener at a substantially right angle relative to the fusion plate.

Abstract: Provided herein is an injectable composition including, in some embodiments, a soft-tissue augmenting agent and a vehicle for the soft-tissue augmenting agent formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a soft-tissue augmenting kit including, in some embodiments, a syringe and the injectable composition formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a method for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal including, in some embodiments, injecting the injectable composition into the one or more soft tissues of the human or animal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for a sterile staple implant kit that a surgeon may unpack and utilize during a surgery. The staple implant kit comprises a group of complementary surgery-specific instruments that are packaged in a sterile state. An instrument tray is configured to preserve the instruments in the sterile state until the staple implant kit is opened during the surgery. The instrument tray is configured to provide the surgeon with easy access to the instruments during the surgery. The staple implant kit comprises at least a staple inserter and a surgical staple suitable for being implanted in parallel holes drilled across a bone fusion or fixation site of a patient. The surgical staple preferably is loaded in a relaxed configuration into the staple inserter. A staple retention clip retains the surgical staple in the staple inserter until the staple is distracted during the surgery.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for a surgical bending instrument for bending surgical implants. The surgical bending instrument comprises a body including a longitudinally extending threaded hole. A shaft comprising a threaded portion is rotatably engaged within the threaded hole. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, and a distal extension of the shaft comprises a driver. A distal force applicator comprises the driver centered between a first grip and a second grip. In some embodiments, the distal force applicator is configured to retain a surgical staple, such that the surgical staple may be changed to a distracted configuration suitable for implantation at a bone fixation or fusion site of a patient. In some embodiments, the distal force applicator is configured to bend a bone fusion plate so as to tailor the plate to specific anatomy of the patient's bone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a syndesmosis treatment construct configured to be placed into a cinched configuration that presses a first bone against a second bone. The syndesmosis treatment construct comprises a proximal fixator to contact the first bone and a distal fixator to contact the second bone. A first suture and a second suture are parallelly looped through the proximal fixator and oppositely looped through the distal fixator. Distal ends of the first and second sutures are fixated within a washer disposed between the proximal fixator and the first bone. Proximal ends of the first and second sutures are passed through openings in the washer and through the proximal fixator. Pulling of the proximal ends by a practitioner places the syndesmosis treatment construct into a cinched configuration. Any of various suitable suture knots may be formed so as to fixate the cinched configuration.

Abstract: Provided herein is an injectable composition including, in some embodiments, a soft-tissue augmenting agent and a vehicle for the soft-tissue augmenting agent formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a soft-tissue augmenting kit including, in some embodiments, a syringe and the injectable composition formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a method for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal including, in some embodiments, injecting the injectable composition into the one or more soft tissues of the human or animal.

Abstract: An apparatus for a bone fusion assembly is provided for compressing adjacent bones across a bone fusion site to encourage fusion thereof. The bone fusion assembly includes a generally elongate member comprising a plate that has one or more fixation apertures to receive fasteners that are configured to be coupled with the adjacent bones. A threaded fastener comprising a bone screw, including a head portion and a shank, is configured to traverse the bone fusion site. A slanted aperture disposed in the plate is configured to receive the bone screw at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane of the plate. The slanted aperture comprises a smooth countersunk surface and one or more teeth that are configured to cooperate with the head portion of the bone screw to compress the adjacent bones together and encourage bone fusion therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a syndesmosis treatment construct configured to be placed into a cinched configuration that presses a first bone against a second bone. The syndesmosis treatment construct comprises a proximal fixator to contact the first bone and a distal fixator to contact the second bone. A first suture and a second suture are parallelly looped through the distal fixator. A free splice slidably rides on proximal ends and distal ends of both of the first and second sutures. The distal ends are looped through the proximal fixator and bound within a stitch splice. The proximal ends are passed outside of the stitch splice and through the proximal fixator. The free splices compress and seize the proximal ends during pulling of the proximal ends by a practitioner so as to maintain the cinched configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for fusing bones of the human body. The apparatus comprises a bone plate which generally is a member having one or more fixation apertures, configured to receive fasteners, and an insert aperture. The bone plate comprises a semi-rigid material, such as a biocompatible metal or Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), possessing a tensile strength suitable for immobilizing bones. A convertible insert is configured to be retained within the insert aperture. The convertible insert is configured to optimally direct a fastener towards a chosen point of purchase for fixating or compressing bones. In some embodiments, the insert is configured to direct a fastener at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the fusion plate. In some embodiments, the insert is configured to direct a fastener at a substantially right angle relative to the fusion plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for performing cartilage graft implant surgeries. The apparatus comprises a graft plug kit comprising one or more grafts configured to treat osteochondral defects in various bone joint locations in a patient's body. Each of the grafts comprises a cartilage layer coupled with a bone portion. The cartilage layer comprises a thickness selected to closely match the thickness of existing cartilage at an implant location. The bone portion comprises surface features configured to encourage the patient's bone tissue to grow into the bone portion, thereby accelerating incorporation of the graft into the patient's bone. An instrument kit comprises a multiplicity of instruments configured for implantation of the grafts into the patient's body, including at least a graft inserter, a guidewire, a reamer, and a size gauge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a syndesmosis treatment construct configured to be placed into a cinched configuration that presses a first bone against a second bone. The syndesmosis treatment construct comprises a proximal fixator to contact the first bone and a distal fixator to contact the second bone. A first suture and a second suture are parallelly looped through the proximal fixator and oppositely looped through the distal fixator. Distal ends of the first and second sutures are fixated within a washer disposed between the proximal fixator and the first bone. Proximal ends of the first and second sutures are passed through openings in the washer and through the proximal fixator. Pulling of the proximal ends by a practitioner places the syndesmosis treatment construct into a cinched configuration. Any of various suitable suture knots may be formed so as to fixate the cinched configuration.

Abstract: Provided herein is an injectable composition including, in some embodiments, a soft-tissue augmenting agent and a vehicle for the soft-tissue augmenting agent formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a soft-tissue augmenting kit including, in some embodiments, a syringe and the injectable composition formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a method for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal including, in some embodiments, injecting the injectable composition into the one or more soft tissues of the human or animal.

Abstract: An apparatus for a bone fusion assembly is provided for compressing adjacent bones across a bone fusion site to encourage fusion thereof. The bone fusion assembly includes a generally elongate member comprising a plate that has one or more fixation apertures to receive fasteners that are configured to be coupled with the adjacent bones. A threaded fastener comprising a bone screw, including a head portion and a shank, is configured to traverse the bone fusion site. A slanted aperture disposed in the plate is configured to receive the bone screw at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane of the plate. The slanted aperture comprises a smooth countersunk surface and one or more teeth that are configured to cooperate with the head portion of the bone screw to compress the adjacent bones together and encourage bone fusion therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a syndesmosis treatment construct configured to be placed into a cinched configuration that presses a first bone against a second bone. The syndesmosis treatment construct comprises a proximal fixator to contact the first bone and a distal fixator to contact the second bone. A first suture and a second suture are parallelly looped through the distal fixator. A free splice slidably rides on proximal ends and distal ends of both of the first and second sutures. The distal ends are looped through the proximal fixator and bound within a stitch splice. The proximal ends are passed outside of the stitch splice and through the proximal fixator. The free splices compress and seize the proximal ends during pulling of the proximal ends by a practitioner so as to maintain the cinched configuration.

Abstract: A method is provided for sterile packaging of a Kirschner wire (K-wire) and cap for shipping and storage, such that the K-wire and cap may be removed from the sterile packaging and used during a surgery. The method comprises sterile packaging the K-wire into a first container, sterile packaging the cap into a second container, and then bundling the first and second containers into a third container. In some embodiments, the first container may be comprised of a sterile interior environment within a double tube container, and the second container may be comprised of peel pouch configured to be unsealed during the surgery. In some embodiments, the K-wire and the cap may be placed together onto a mounting card that is then sterile packaged into a peel pouch that may be unsealed during the surgery.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for treating radial head fractures. The system includes an implant, a sterile instrument kit for radial head arthroplasty, and a head sizer and assembly tray for sizing and assembling implants. The implant includes a head that is coupled with a stem. The head is adapted to be placed into sliding contact with a capitellum of the radiocapitellar joint. The stem is configured to be inserted into a hole reamed into a medullary canal of the radial head. The sterile instrument kit comprises a multiplicity of instruments including any one or more of trial heads and trial stems, a starter awl, a reamer, a planar, an inserter cap, and an impactor. The instruments are configured for implanting the implant into the radiocapitellar joint such that the implant restores biomechanical properties of the joint.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for performing cartilage graft implant surgeries. The apparatus comprises a graft plug kit comprising one or more grafts configured to treat osteochondral defects in various bone joint locations in a patient's body. Each of the grafts comprises a cartilage layer coupled with a bone portion. The cartilage layer comprises a thickness selected to closely match the thickness of existing cartilage at an implant location. The bone portion comprises surface features configured to encourage the patient's bone tissue to grow into the bone portion, thereby accelerating incorporation of the graft into the patient's bone. An instrument kit comprises a multiplicity of instruments configured for implantation of the grafts into the patient's body, including at least a graft inserter, a guidewire, a reamer, and a size gauge.

Abstract: A plantar bone plate and a method are provided for treating fractures of metatarsal bones. The plantar bone plate comprises a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface. Two or more fixation apertures and a compression slot are disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member. The fixation apertures receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to a metatarsal bone. The compression slot receives a fastener at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion. A curvature along the elongate member is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone. In one embodiment, the curvature is comprised of at least a first bend and a second bend, such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5th metatarsal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for performing cartilage graft implant surgeries. The apparatus comprises a graft plug kit comprising one or more grafts configured to treat osteochondral defects in various bone joint locations in a patient's body. Each of the grafts comprises a cartilage layer coupled with a bone portion. The cartilage layer comprises a thickness selected to closely match the thickness of existing cartilage at an implant location. The bone portion comprises surface features configured to encourage the patient's bone tissue to grow into the bone portion, thereby accelerating incorporation of the graft into the patient's bone. An instrument kit comprises a multiplicity of instruments configured for implantation of the grafts into the patient's body, including at least a graft inserter, a guidewire, a reamer, and a size gauge.

Abstract: A method is provided for sterile packaging of a Kirschner wire (K-wire) and cap for shipping and storage, such that the K-wire and cap may be removed from the sterile packaging and used during a surgery. The method comprises sterile packaging the K-wire into a first container, sterile packaging the cap into a second container, and then bundling the first and second containers into a third container. In some embodiments, the first container may be comprised of a sterile interior environment within a double tube container, and the second container may be comprised of peel pouch configured to be unsealed during the surgery. In some embodiments, the K-wire and the cap may be placed together onto a mounting card that is then sterile packaged into a peel pouch that may be unsealed during the surgery.