Abstract: An interchangeable orthopedic blade including an internal portion and an external portion. The internal portion more accurately places the interchangeable orthopedic blade in, without excessive damage to, a bone when repairing a fracture in the bone and ultimately provide absolute stable fixation by the interchangeable orthopedic blade holding the fracture in its anatomic position and resisting applied forces while healing, to thereby provide a stable anatomic restoration and eliminate a need for revision surgery due to failure of fixation or malunion. The internal portion is received in the external portion and rotates relative to the external portion, but has the external portion move non-rotatably axially with the internal portion into the bone as the internal portion threads. In a first preferred embodiment, the internal portion is a screw with an externally threaded head. In a second preferred embodiment, the internal portion is an externally threaded set screw.

Abstract: A method for repairing an injury of cartilage in a patient by local administration of a zinc or manganese agent or use of an implantable device for delivery of an a zinc or manganese agent. Implantable devices containing a zinc or manganese agent and methods of making these implantable devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for repairing an injury of cartilage in a patient by local administration of an organovanadium agent or use of an implantable device for delivery of an organovanadium agent. Implantable devices containing an organovanadium agent and methods of making these implantable devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guide assembly for facilitating placement of a fixation member within a medullary canal of a radius is provided. According to one embodiment, a guide assembly includes a guide fastener configured to attach to a fixation member and a guide member configured to receive the guide fastener such that the guide member is secured to the fixation member. The guide assembly also includes an interchangeable distal guide member configured to engage and be disengaged from the guide member. The distal guide member defines a plurality of fastener guide openings for guiding respective fasteners through a plurality of fastener openings defined in the fixation member.

Abstract: An interchangeable orthopedic blade including an internal portion and an external portion. The internal portion more accurately places the interchangeable orthopedic blade in, without excessive damage to, a bone when repairing a fracture in the bone and ultimately provide absolute stable fixation by the interchangeable orthopedic blade holding the fracture in its anatomic position and resisting applied forces while healing, to thereby provide a stable anatomic restoration and eliminate a need for revision surgery due to failure of fixation or malunion. The internal portion is received in the external portion and rotates relative to the external portion, but has the external portion move non-rotatably axially with the internal portion into the bone as the internal portion threads. In a first preferred embodiment, the internal portion is a screw with an externally threaded head. In a second preferred embodiment, the internal portion is an externally threaded set screw.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation assembly usable with different long bone types and a guide assembly for guiding deployment of the intramedullary fixation assembly. The intramedullary fixation assembly includes a fixation member that has ends and a curved body extending between the ends. The curved body of the fixation member has a radius of curvature configured to extend through the medullary canal regardless of the long bone anatomy. Fasteners fix the fixation member to the bone fragments and are guided by a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a guide body defining openings configured to guide the fasteners through openings defined in the fixation member and into the bone fragments. A fixation end of the guide body includes a pair of opposing, converging surfaces that are configured to engage in a positive fit with an exposed end of the fixation member accessible through the side aperture in the first fragment.

Abstract: An orthopedic external fixation system may include a distal bar having a curvature that varies along its length, an uncurved proximal bar, a plurality of proximal embedding members, and a plurality of distal embedding members. The proximal and the distal embedding members, sized and shaped for embedding in bone, may attach directly or indirectly to the proximal bar and the distal bar, respectively.

Abstract: An orthopedic apparatus is provided for bridging a first bone unit to a second bone unit. The apparatus is demonstrated on a finger joint, wherein one of the bones and/or ligaments and/or tendons of the joint is/are injured. A method for implanting and using the apparatus also is presented. The apparatus includes a reformably deformable span portion which is generally circular and preferably rhombic. By deforming or reforming the span portion, it can be repositioned laterally, and/or it can be rotated to allow range of rotary motion so as to promote healing.

Abstract: An interchangeable orthopedic blade that includes an internal portion and an external portion. The internal portion threads onto either a pre-installed K-wire or a pre-installed screw so as to more accurately place the interchangeable orthopedic blade in, without excessive damage to, the bone when repairing a fracture in the bone, and ultimately providing absolute stable fixation by the interchangeable orthopedic blade holding the fracture in its anatomic position and resisting applied forces while healing, to thereby provide a stable anatomic restoration and eliminate a need for revision surgery due to failure of fixation or malunion. The internal portion is received in the external portion, and rotates relative to the external portion, but has the external portion move non-rotatably axially with the internal portion into the bone as the internal portion threads onto either the pre-installed K-wire or the pre-installed screw.

Abstract: A method for repairing an injury of cartilage in a patient by local administration of an organovanadium agent or use of an implantable device for delivery of an organovanadium agent. Implantable devices containing an organovanadium agent and methods of making these implantable devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guide assembly for facilitating placement of a fixation member within a medullary canal of a radius is provided. According to one embodiment, a guide assembly includes a guide fastener configured to attach to a fixation member and a guide member configured to receive the guide fastener such that the guide member is secured to the fixation member. The guide assembly also includes an interchangeable distal guide member configured to engage and be disengaged from the guide member. The distal guide member defines a plurality of fastener guide openings for guiding respective fasteners through a plurality of fastener openings defined in the fixation member.

Abstract: A guide assembly for facilitating placement of a fixation member within a medullary canal of a radius is provided. According to one embodiment, a guide assembly includes a guide fastener configured to attach to a fixation member and a guide member configured to receive the guide fastener such that the guide member is secured to the fixation member. The guide assembly also includes an interchangeable distal guide member configured to engage and be disengaged from the guide member. The distal guide member defines a plurality of fastener guide openings for guiding respective fasteners through a plurality of fastener openings defined in the fixation member.

Abstract: An interchangeable orthopedic blade that includes an internal portion and an external portion. The internal portion threads onto either a pre-installed K-wire or a pre-installed screw so as to more accurately place the interchangeable orthopedic blade in, without excessive damage to, the bone when repairing a fracture in the bone, and ultimately providing absolute stable fixation by the interchangeable orthopedic blade holding the fracture in its anatomic position and resisting applied forces while healing, to thereby provide a stable anatomic restoration and eliminate a need for revision surgery due to failure of fixation or malunion. The internal portion is received in the external portion, and rotates relative to the external portion, but has the external portion move non-rotatably axially with the internal portion into the bone as the internal portion threads onto either the pre-installed K-wire or the pre-installed screw.

Abstract: An orthopedic external fixation system may include a distal bar having a curvature that varies along its length, an uncurved proximal bar, a plurality of proximal embedding members, and a plurality of distal embedding members. The proximal and the distal embedding members, sized and shaped for embedding in bone, may attach directly or indirectly to the proximal bar and the distal bar, respectively.

Abstract: An orthopedic apparatus is provided for bridging a first bone unit to a second bone unit. The apparatus is demonstrated on a finger joint, wherein one of the bones and/or ligaments and/or tendons of the joint is/are injured. A method for implanting and using the apparatus also is presented. The apparatus includes a reformably deformable span portion which is generally circular and preferably rhombic. By deforming or reforming the span portion, it can be repositioned laterally, and/or it can be rotated to allow range of rotary motion so as to promote healing.

Abstract: An orthopedic apparatus is provided for bridging a first bone unit to a second bone unit. The apparatus is demonstrated on a finger joint, wherein one of the bones and/or ligaments and/or tendons of the joint is/are injured. A method for implanting and using the apparatus also is presented. The apparatus includes a reformably deformable span portion which is generally circular and preferably rhombic. By deforming or reforming the span portion, it can be repositioned laterally, and/or it can be rotated to allow range of rotary motion so as to promote healing.

Abstract: An orthopedic external fixation system may include a distal bar having a curvature that varies along its length, an uncurved proximal bar, a plurality of proximal embedding members, and a plurality of distal embedding members. The proximal and the distal embedding members, sized and shaped for embedding in bone, may attach directly or indirectly to the proximal bar and the distal bar, respectively.

Abstract: An orthopedic apparatus is provided for bridging a first bone unit to a second bone unit. The apparatus is demonstrated on a finger joint, wherein one of the bones and/or ligaments and/or tendons of the joint is/are injured. A method for implanting and using the apparatus also is presented. The apparatus includes a reformably deformable span portion which is generally circular and preferably rhombic. By deforming or reforming the span portion, it can be repositioned laterally, and/or it can be rotated to allow range of rotary motion so as to promote healing.

Abstract: An orthopedic apparatus is provided for bridging a first bone unit to a second bone unit. The apparatus is demonstrated on a finger joint, wherein one of the bones and/or ligaments and/or tendons of the joint is/are injured. A method for implanting and using the apparatus also is presented. The apparatus includes a reformably deformable span portion which is generally circular and preferably rhombic. By deforming or reforming the span portion, it can be repositioned laterally, and/or it can be rotated to allow range of rotary motion so as to promote healing.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation assembly usable with different long bone types and a guide assembly for guiding deployment of the intramedullary fixation assembly. The intramedullary fixation assembly includes a fixation member that has ends and a curved body extending between the ends. The curved body of the fixation member has a radius of curvature configured to extend through the medullary canal regardless of the long bone anatomy. Fasteners fix the fixation member to the bone fragments and are guided by a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a guide body defining openings configured to guide the fasteners through openings defined in the fixation member and into the bone fragments. A fixation end of the guide body includes a pair of opposing, converging surfaces that are configured to engage in a positive fit with an exposed end of the fixation member accessible through the side aperture in the first fragment.