Abstract: A significant improvement over existing devices and methods for lifting highway guardrail and similar bulky and heavy objects, this invention comprises a combination prying and lifting device (20) having a cable component (24) which has at one end a hook device (44) for grasping the guardrail panel (21) and has at the other end a component (30) for grasping the edge of the guardrail. This invention provides workers with significant protection from various types of injuries associated with isolating, lifting, installing and removing guardrail panels.

Abstract: A significant improvement over existing devices and methods for lifting highway guardrail and similar bulky and heavy objects, this invention comprises a combination prying and lifting device (20) having a cable component (24) which has at one end a hook device (44) for grasping the guardrail panel (21) and has at the other end a component (30) for grasping the edge of the guardrail. This invention provides workers with significant protection from various types of injuries associated with isolating, lifting, installing and removing guardrail panels.

Abstract: A support for a fencing pole, the support comprising a body having at least a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture, wherein the second aperture and third aperture are positioned on a first arc with centre at the first aperture. In this way one or more pairs of fence poles can be supported in a plurality of configurations.

Abstract: A method of making an implantable medical device includes extruding a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube, cutting a plurality of slits in the first ePTFE tube, positioning a radially expandable support layer between the first and second ePTFE tubes so that the slits span portions of the support layer, and laminating the first ePTFE tube to the second ePTFE tube through openings in the support layer.

Abstract: A method of making an implantable medical device includes extruding a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube, cutting a plurality of slits in the first ePTFE tube, positioning a radially expandable support layer between the first and second ePTFE tubes so that the slits span portions of the support layer, and laminating the first ePTFE tube to the second ePTFE tube through openings in the support layer.

Abstract: Devices and methods treat bone after high velocity and/or trauma fracture, using various devices, including cavity-forming devices.

Abstract: A percutaneous access path into a vertebral body is established. The vertebral body has an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone. At least portion of the cancellous bone is compacted or otherwise conditioned, resulting in a cavity in the vertebral body. A bone filler material is conveyed into the cavity at a pressure less than approximately 400 pounds per square inch. The bone filler material can have a viscosity that resists extravazation in cancellous bone.

Abstract: A posterior percutaneous path is established into a bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone. An expandable structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the posterior percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable structure is expanded by introducing a filler material into the structure within the cancellous bone. The tool is withdrawn through the posterior percutaneous access path, leaving the structure and filler material inside the cancellous bone.

Abstract: Introduction of a bone filler material into at least a portion of the cancellous bone volume pressurizes the bone filler material and compresses the cancellous bone volume within the bone structure.

Abstract: An elongated shaft is sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The elongated shaft includes a generally closed distal end portion and a side opening spaced from the closed distal end. A first tool is sized and configured to be selectively inserted into the shaft and selectively removed from the shaft. The tool includes a region that, when the first tool is inserted into the shaft, is capable of being aligned with and advanced through the side opening to project outside the side opening and contact cancellous bone. A second tool is sized and configured, upon removal of the first tool from the shaft, to introduce into the shaft a bone filling material for discharge through the side opening into the cancellous bone contacted by the first tool.

Abstract: A vertebral body is selected having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. A tool is manipulated to create a cavity in cancellous bone. A bone filling material is conveyed into the cavity. At least one additional cavity is created in cancellous bone.

Abstract: An elongated shaft is sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The elongated shaft includes a distal end portion having a side opening. A first tool is sized and configured to be carried by the shaft and includes a region that is capable of being controllably advanced by a user through the side opening to project outside the distal end portion and contact cancellous bone. Contact between the region and cancellous bone can modify cancellous bone for introduction of bone filling material, e.g., by creating at least one flow path for the bone filling material.

Abstract: A percutaneous path is created into a bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone, e.g., a vertebral body. An expandable bio-absorbable structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable bio-absorbable structure is expanded and the tool withdrawn, leaving the expandable bio-absorbable structure expanded inside the cancellous bone. Expansion of the expandable bio-absorbable structure within cancellous bone can, e.g., compact cancellous bone, and/or create a cavity in cancellous bone, and/or move fractured cortical bone.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for the fixation of osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic long bones, especially Colles' fractures. A cannula having a circumferential opening is inserted into cancellous bone and directed such that the circumferential opening faces the fracture. The cannula is further adapted to receive an expandable structure, the expandable structure being inserted through the cannula until it is in registration with the circumferential opening. The expandable structure is expanded through the circumferential opening into cancellous bone and toward the fracture. The expansion of the expandable structure through the circumferential opening toward the fracture causes compression of cancellous bone and moves fractured cortical bone, thus creating a cavity proximal to the fracture. The cavity is then filled with a flowable bone filling material and the material allowed to harden.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating or enlarging a cavity in a patient's body are provided. One implementation of the apparatus includes a head, a pushrod and a handle. The head is rotatable about a first axis and is configured to effectuate a medical procedure. The pushrod is attached at a distal end to the head and attached at a proximal end to a handle. The pushrod is configured to translate along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, where translation of the pushrod along the second axis rotates the head about the first axis. The handle includes a lever coupled at one first end to the pushrod and pivoting the lever about the third axis translates the pushrod along the second axis.

Abstract: An apparatus is described including an elongate member having at least one finger positioned at a distal region of the elongate member. The finger, which can be detachable, is arranged and configured for cutting or scraping. In implementations including two or more fingers, distal ends of two or more fingers can be interconnected either directly or by both being connected to a distal tip of the elongate member.

Abstract: A percutaneous path is established into a selected bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone, e.g., a vertebral body. An expandable stent structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable stent structure is expanded within cancellous bone.

Abstract: A percutaneous path is created into a bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone, e.g., a vertebral body. An expandable balloon structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable balloon structure is expanded and the tool withdrawn, leaving the expandable balloon structure expanded inside the cancellous bone. Expansion of the expandable balloon structure within cancellous bone can, e.g., compact cancellous bone, and/or create a cavity in cancellous bone, and/or move fractured cortical bone.

Abstract: A flow path is established into cancellous bone within a vertebral body through a percutaneous path. A bone filling material is conveyed into the flow path in a volume and at a pressure that results in an enlargement of the flow path volume. The enlargement can create a cavity and/or move a fractured cortical plate of the vertebral body toward a desired anatomic position. The bone filling material can comprise, e.g., a bone cement.

Abstract: A percutaneous path is established into a selected bone, e.g., a vertebral body, having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. A first bone filling material is conveyed through the percutaneous path into a region of the cancellous bone. A second bone filling material is conveyed through the percutaneous path into the region. The second bone filling material is different than the first bone filling material.