Abstract: An infection treatment system includes a first intramedullary rod for placement within an intramedullary canal and including a superior portion having a superior end, an inferior portion having an inferior end, and a shaft extending longitudinally between the superior and inferior portions. The shaft includes longitudinally extending channels. A second intramedullary rod for placement within an intramedullary canal includes a superior portion having a superior end, an inferior portion having an inferior end, and a shaft extending longitudinally between the superior and inferior portions. The shaft includes longitudinally extending channels. A coupler is operatively attached to the rods. The coupler has a superior face, an inferior face, an anterior face, a posterior face, a first lateral face and a second lateral face. At least one of the faces includes at least one opening in fluid communication with at least a portion of the channels of the first and second rods.

Abstract: A deployable infection treatment system includes a cannula device comprising a cannula body having a proximal end, a flared distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The lumen has a longitudinal x-axis extending therethrough. A sponge or drain is provided, the sponge having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein in a non-deployed configuration, the sponge is compressed within the cannula body's lumen and in a deployed configuration the distal end of the sponge expands out of the cannula body's lumen. An integrated pump and vacuum device is provided, wherein when the sponge is in a deployed configuration, the device is in fluid communication with a therapeutic fluid source. The pump controls the delivery of the therapeutic fluid to the proximal end of the sponge. The vacuum controls the extraction of the therapeutic fluid and infectious material from the proximal end of the sponge.

Abstract: An elongate, longitudinally oriented outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve surface and has a sleeve body. A stem-receiving cavity extends from a distal sleeve end into the sleeve body. The distal sleeve end includes a sleeve interference protrusion extending from the distal sleeve end away from the sleeve body. A joint articulating member includes an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem. The joint articulating member includes a joint articulating surface spaced apart from a distal stem end by an angularly extending connector neck. When the stem is inserted into the stem-receiving cavity, the stem and the outer sleeve are configured for selective relative rotation about a shared longitudinal axis, and the connector neck impinges upon the sleeve interference protrusion responsive to a predetermined amount of relative rotation between the stem and the outer sleeve to prevent relative rotation between the stem and the outer sleeve outside a predetermined range of allowable rotation.

Abstract: An infection treatment system includes a first intramedullary rod for placement within an intramedullary canal and including a superior portion having a superior end, an inferior portion having an inferior end, and a shaft extending longitudinally between the superior and inferior portions. The shaft includes longitudinally extending channels. A second intramedullary rod for placement within an intramedullary canal includes a superior portion having a superior end, an inferior portion having an inferior end, and a shaft extending longitudinally between the superior and inferior portions. The shaft includes longitudinally extending channels. A coupler is operatively attached to the rods. The coupler has a superior face, an inferior face, an anterior face, a posterior face, a first lateral face and a second lateral face. At least one of the faces includes at least one opening in fluid communication with at least a portion of the channels of the first and second rods.

Abstract: A deployable infection treatment system includes a cannula device comprising a cannula body having a proximal end, a flared distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The lumen has a longitudinal x-axis extending therethrough. A sponge or drain is provided, the sponge having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein in a non-deployed configuration, the sponge is compressed within the cannula body's lumen and in a deployed configuration the distal end of the sponge expands out of the cannula body's lumen. An integrated pump and vacuum device is provided, wherein when the sponge is in a deployed configuration, the device is in fluid communication with a therapeutic fluid source. The pump controls the delivery of the therapeutic fluid to the proximal end of the sponge. The vacuum controls the extraction of the therapeutic fluid and infectious material from the proximal end of the sponge.

Abstract: An improved fastener apparatus includes an outer sleeve which is moved into a patient's body tissue. A distal end portion of the outer sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. An inner sleeve is moved axially through the outer sleeve and a distal end of the inner sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. The fastener apparatus may be provided with an external thread convolution on either or both of the inner and outer sleeves. During expansion of the distal end portion of either the inner or outer sleeve, a proximal end portion of the outer sleeve may be gripped and pulled to offset forces applied to the distal end portion of one of the sleeves. Although inner and outer sleeves may advantageously be utilized, the fastener apparatus may be constructed with only a single sleeve or three or more sleeves if desired. A secondary fastener assembly may be moved through a main fastener assembly.

Abstract: An elongate, longitudinally oriented outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve surface defining a radially oriented proximal sleeve border, a radially oriented proximal sleeve rim intersecting the outer sleeve surface at the proximal sleeve border, an outer sleeve body enclosed by the outer sleeve surface and the proximal sleeve rim, and an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem-receiving cavity formed in the outer sleeve body and intersecting the proximal sleeve rim to define a stem-receiving aperture. A joint articulating member includes an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem, an articulating surface, and an interface rim. When the stem is at least partially inserted into the stem-receiving cavity, the proximal sleeve rim and the interface rim interact to change a longitudinal relationship between the outer sleeve and the joint articulating member responsive to relative radially-oriented rotation between the stem and the stem-receiving cavity.

Abstract: An elongate, longitudinally oriented outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve surface defining a radially oriented proximal sleeve border, a radially oriented proximal sleeve rim intersecting the outer sleeve surface at the proximal sleeve border, an outer sleeve body enclosed by the outer sleeve surface and the proximal sleeve rim, and an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem-receiving cavity formed in the outer sleeve body and intersecting the proximal sleeve rim to define a stem-receiving aperture. A joint articulating member includes an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem, an articulating surface, and an interface rim. When the stem is at least partially inserted into the stem-receiving cavity, the proximal sleeve rim and the interface rim interact to change a longitudinal relationship between the outer sleeve and the joint articulating member responsive to relative radially-oriented rotation between the stem and the stem-receiving cavity.

Abstract: An elongate, longitudinally oriented outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve surface and has a sleeve body. A stem-receiving cavity extends from a distal sleeve end into the sleeve body. The distal sleeve end includes a sleeve interference protrusion extending from the distal sleeve end away from the sleeve body. A joint articulating member includes an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem. The joint articulating member includes a joint articulating surface spaced apart from a distal stem end by an angularly extending connector neck. When the stem is inserted into the stem-receiving cavity, the stem and the outer sleeve are configured for selective relative rotation about a shared longitudinal axis, and the connector neck impinges upon the sleeve interference protrusion responsive to a predetermined amount of relative rotation between the stem and the outer sleeve to prevent relative rotation between the stem and the outer sleeve outside a predetermined range of allowable rotation.

Abstract: An improved fastener apparatus includes an outer sleeve which is moved into a patient's body tissue. A distal end portion of the outer sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. An inner sleeve is moved axially through the outer sleeve and a distal end of the inner sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. The fastener apparatus may be provided with an external thread convolution on either or both of the inner and outer sleeves. During expansion of the distal end portion of either the inner or outer sleeve, a proximal end portion of the outer sleeve may be gripped and pulled to offset forces applied to the distal end portion of one of the sleeves. Although inner and outer sleeves may advantageously be utilized, the fastener apparatus may be constructed with only a single sleeve if desired.

Abstract: An improved fastener apparatus includes an outer sleeve which is moved into a patient's body tissue. A distal end portion of the outer sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. An inner sleeve is moved axially through the outer sleeve and a distal end of the inner sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. The fastener apparatus may be provided with an external thread convolution on either or both of the inner and outer sleeves. During expansion of the distal end portion of either the inner or outer sleeve, a proximal end portion of the outer sleeve may be gripped and pulled to offset forces applied to the distal end portion of one of the sleeves. Although inner and outer sleeves may advantageously be utilized, the fastener apparatus may be constructed with only a single sleeve or three or more sleeves if desired. A secondary fastener assembly may be moved through a main fastener assembly.

Abstract: An improved fastener apparatus includes an outer sleeve which is moved into a patient's body tissue. A distal end portion of the outer sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. An inner sleeve is moved axially through the outer sleeve and a distal end of the inner sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. The fastener apparatus may be provided with an external thread convolution on either or both of the inner and outer sleeves. During expansion of the distal end portion of either the inner or outer sleeve, a proximal end portion of the outer sleeve may be gripped and pulled to offset forces applied to the distal end portion of one of the sleeves. Although inner and outer sleeves may advantageously be utilized, the fastener apparatus may be constructed with only a single sleeve if desired.