Abstract: A graft retention tack is disclosed and can include a post configured to receive a bone growth factor and a head configured to receive a cartilage growth factor.

Abstract: A method of harvesting tissue intraoperatively is disclosed and can include exposing a joint in a patient. Further, the method can include resecting tissue from the joint and identifying healthy tissue. The method can also include placing the healthy resected tissue in a container with a tissue preservation fluid.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: Methods for setting contact height in an electrical connector are disclosed. Each of a plurality of electrical contacts may be seated in a connector housing such that each contact has a respective initial height relative to the housing. At least one of the contacts is pressed on such that, after the pressing, each of the contacts has approximately the same height relative to the connector housing. The pressing may bend the at least one contact at least until it has set. Before the pressing, the initial contact heights have a first tolerance. After the pressing the pressed contact heights have a second tolerance that is smaller than the first tolerance. The pressing operation bends the contacts to a point that exceeds the yielding limit of the contact material, and may deform the contacts such that the several contacts have about the same contact height relative to the connector housing.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a modular electrical connector includes a plug having a printed circuit board, a contact finger positioned on a portion of the printed circuit board, and a housing for supporting and constraining the printed circuit board so that the portion of the printed circuit board extends from the housing. The printed circuit board has a flexible portion that permits the portion of the printed circuit board to translate in relation to the housing. The modular electrical connector also includes a receptacle for mating with the plug and having a first contact for electrically contacting the contact finger when the plug and the receptacle are mated, and a housing having a slot formed therein for receiving the portion of the printed circuit board when the plug and the receptacle are mated.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: A plug comprises a plug housing having a body and a plurality of beams extending therefrom and forming gaps therebetween. A member bridges the gaps between the beams at their distal ends. Ground contacts comprising a body, an elongated contact portion, and armatures are inserted into the plug housing. A recess formed in the distal end of the elongated contact portion engages the member. The ground contacts have projections extending therefrom that are disposed in channels formed through the body and along the beams. Signal contacts having a portion with a first form factor and a portion with a second form factor are also inserted into the plug housing. The portion with a first form factor extends through a conduit in the plug housing body and along a trough formed in the beams. The distal ends of the signal contacts have recesses formed in their distal ends with projections from the beams situated therein. The portion of the signal contact with a second form factor abuts the housing body.

Abstract: Devices and methods for the controlled delivery of therapeutic agents into bone and soft tissue to prevent the unintentional migration of therapeutic agents from the treatment site. The containment device can be made of a fabric or membrane that is porous, semi-porous, non-porous, bio-resorbable, or non-resorbable materials. A containment device is advanced to the interior of the target structure and filled with a therapeutic agent. The containment device may be permanently or temporarily implanted. Where permanent implantation is desired, the containment device may be detached via a severable junction.

Abstract: An electrical connector mountable to a substrate. The electrical connector comprises a housing, a surface mount contact secured to the housing and adapted to surface mount to the substrate, and a non-surface mount hold down secured to the housing and adapted to mount to the substrate. The surface mount contact includes a fusible element, for example, a solder ball, a plurality of which may form a matrix array. The connector may be a ball grid array connector. A method of mounting an electrical connector to a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate, and an electrical connector having a contact and a hold down. The method further comprises securing the contact to the substrate, placing the hold down into the substrate, and securing the hold down to the substrate. A method of preventing the skewing of an electrical connector when being mounted to a substrate.

Abstract: Cannulas are provided for delivering therapeutic material to a treatment site. The cannula includes a cannula body with a plurality of openings at the distal end, including a longitudinal opening and a plurality of transverse openings that are axially spaced from each other. The cannula also includes a plunger that is configured to be slidably disposed within the cannula lumen. When the plunger is proximally displaced in the cannula lumen, the plunger seals the distal end and deflects the therapeutic material out the transverse openings. As the plunger is proximally displaced within the lumen, the therapeutic material is forced to perfuse out transverse openings located proximal of the plunger position. In one embodiment, the plunger includes an additional pliable sealable member. In another embodiment, the distal end of the cannula body may be implanted by separating the distal end from the cannula body.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a first connector having at least one receptacle contact and a second connector having at least one pin mated to the at least one receptacle contact. The pin may have a stem and a tip attached to the stem. The pin tip is designed to prevent misalignment of the pin or “pin side track” when mated to the receptacle contact and the mating forces that result from side tracking. In order to prevent this side tracking, the pin end may have a first flat side, a second flat side, a first side which connects the first flat side to the second flat side; and a second side which connects the first flat side to the second flat side. The pin tip flat sides minimize or reduce the likelihood of side tracking. The pin tip may also have other sides which are designed to prevent side tracking. For instance, the end of the pin tip may also be flat.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a media to an anatomic void within a bone structure and compacting the media within the anatomic void includes a delivery device and a compaction device. The delivery device includes a tubular element, a guidewire, and a removal element. The removal element is capable of forming a void at a target site within the bone structure by cutting and/or deforming target bone tissue. A distal end of the guidewire may be detachable as a safety feature. The compaction device includes an elongate member and a vibration device connected to the proximal end of the elongate member. The vibration device creates vibration at the distal end of the elongate member, so that the media is mixed and/or compacted within the anatomic void.

Abstract: A plug comprises a plug housing having a body and a plurality of beams extending therefrom and forming gaps therebetween. A member bridges the gaps between the beams at their distal ends. Ground contacts comprising a body, an elongated contact portion, and armatures are inserted into the plug housing. A recess formed in the distal end of the elongated contact portion engages the member. The ground contacts have projections extending therefrom that are disposed in channels formed through the body and along the beams. Signal contacts having a portion with a first form factor and a portion with a second form factor are also inserted into the plug housing. The portion with a first form factor extends through a conduit in the plug housing body and along a trough formed in the beams. The distal ends of the signal contacts have recesses formed in their distal ends with projections from the beams situated therein. The portion of the signal contact with a second form factor abuts the housing body.

Abstract: Cannulas are provided for delivering therapeutic material to a treatment site. The cannula includes a cannula body with a plurality of openings at the distal end, including a longitudinal opening and a plurality of transverse openings that are axially spaced from each other. The cannula also includes a plunger that is configured to be slidably disposed within the cannula lumen. When the plunger is proximally displaced in the cannula lumen, the plunger seals the distal end and deflects the therapeutic material out the transverse openings. As the plunger is proximally displaced within the lumen, the therapeutic material is forced to perfuse out transverse openings located proximal of the plunger position. In one embodiment, the plunger includes an additional pliable sealable member. In another embodiment, the distal end of the cannula body may be implanted by separating the distal end from the cannula body.

Abstract: A device for accessing the spinal canal of a patient includes an introducer and a protective sleeve that is attached at one end thereof to a proximal end of the introducer. The protective sleeve has an outer stationary portion and an inner moveable portion. The outer and inner portions of the protective sleeve are separated by a crown region. A catheter is disposed inside the protective sleeve. During operation, the protective sleeve is advanced within the spinal canal to form a protective barrier between the catheter and the spinal cord. The catheter is advanced and retracted within the protective sleeve.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector has a housing. Signal contacts are secured to the housing and ground contacts are secured to the housing. A portion of the housing is metallized to connect the ground contacts electrically and to shield the signal contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a first connector having at least one receptacle contact and a second connector having at least one pin mated to the at least one receptacle contact. The pin may have a stem and a tip attached to the stem. The pin tip is designed to prevent misalignment of the pin or “pin side track” when mated to the receptacle contact and the mating forces that result from side tracking. In order to prevent this side tracking, the pin end may have a first flat side, a second flat side, a first side which connects the first flat side to the second flat side; and a second side which connects the first flat side to the second flat side. The pin tip flat sides minimize or reduce the likelihood of side tracking. The pin tip may also have other sides which are designed to prevent side tracking. For instance, the end of the pin tip may also be flat.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector has a housing. Signal contacts are secured to the housing and ground contacts are secured to the housing. A portion of the housing is metallized to connect the ground contacts electrically and to shield the signal contacts.