Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical tool and method for forming a pilot bore by inserting a guide wire into bone. The surgical tool is also constructed to insert a bone screw that is preloaded onto the surgical tool with a guide wire extending along the longitudinal axis of the bone screw. This construction allows the guide wire and the bone screw to be located and placed without removing the tool from the surgical site. More particularly, the device includes a cannulated hand grip and driving tool used for the rotation of a pedicle screw into bone. The rear portion of the hand grip includes a slide assembly that is suited to grip a guide wire. The slide assembly includes a T-handle to control the sliding movement of the guide wire. The rear surface of the slide is constructed to be impacted with a hammer or similar device.

Abstract: Briefly, the invention relates to a surgical tool and method for forming a pilot bore by inserting a guide wire into bone. The surgical tool is constructed and arranged for use in conjunction with X-ray or ultrasound machines. More particularly, the device includes a cannulated hand grip and driving tool used for the rotation of a bone or pedicle screw into bone. The rear portion of the hand grip includes a slide assembly that is suited to grip a guide wire. The slide assembly includes a user adjustable stop to control the sliding movement of the guide wire. The rear surface of the slide is constructed to be impacted with a hammer or similar device, whereby the stop prevents the guide wire from penetrating the bone further than desired. Should it be desired that the wire be retracted, a jack member is included to allow the wire to be precisely retracted.

Abstract: A system including anchors, anchor components, and anchor assemblies and subassemblies that are adapted for attachment to a bony structure of a clinical subject. For example, two or more such anchors in the form of screws may be affixed to bones, for example, vertebral structures such as the pedicle, and each anchor is connected to a stabilizer such as a surgical rod that is inserted between the anchors. The anchors and assemblies are novel in many respects owing to their modular nature and height adjustability, which in contrast to conventional systems, allows the anchors to be provided to a surgeon in modular, sub assembled and fully assembled form to enable a broad array of choices in devising the optimal plane for surgical bone fixation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trajectory guidance instrument that is securable to a surgical tool for use in conjunction with X-ray machines. More particularly, the device includes a radiolucent outrigger having radiodense indicia disposed on the outrigger so that the radiodense indicia is visible via an X-ray machine to provide an angular trajectory for the instrument. The outrigger is securable to various surgical tools for the purpose of providing real time trajectory guidance to surgeons during a procedure. In general, the precision trajectory guidance instrument comprises a substantially rigid outrigger device which it securable to a portion of the surgical tool for trajectory guidance. The trajectory guidance instrument may be attached with clips, fasteners, adhesives, hook and loop or the like.

Abstract: A length adjustable modular screw includes a head portion that includes an expander assembly comprising a collet. The expander assembly has proximal and distal ends and includes first and second components that are slidably engagable by insertion of the first component in a through channel of the second component along a common axis. The length adjustable modular screw also includes a threaded portion suitable for insertion and retention within bone, the threaded portion including at a socket adapted to coaxially receive at least a portion of the distal end of the expander assembly. The length adjustable modular screw has a length that is selected by splaying at least a portion of the distal end of the engaged first and second elongate components of the expander assembly within the socket of the threaded component.

Abstract: A phone device monitors an accelerometer while traveling in a vehicle to detect unusually large excursions or sudden changes in acceleration magnitude. When such an excursion is detected, the phone device then compares the excursion with the output of other components in the vehicle that can confirm or dispel a finding that the vehicle has experienced a collision. Once a likely collision has been detected, the phone device goes into an automated assistance mode where the use can be voice prompted as to their condition. If no response is received, the phone device can automatically call emergency services for assistance, providing the present location of the phone device. In less severe incidents, the phone device can automatically offer immediate access to other services, include a towing service, an attorney, an automobile service, among others. The service providers are based on a geo-fenced region in which the phone device is located.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering bone graft material, which utilize a graft material cartridge. The bone graft delivery system comprises an outer delivery unit and a graft material cartridge. The bone graft delivery system is configured to provide a mechanism that loads graft material through a delivery tube and not at the end or outside of it.

Abstract: Briefly, the invention relates to a surgical tool and method for forming a pilot bore by inserting a guide wire into bone. More particularly, the device includes a cannulated hand grip and driving tool used for the rotation of a pedicle screw into bone. The rear portion of the hand grip includes a slide assembly that is suited to grip a guide wire. The slide assembly includes a user adjustable stop to control the sliding movement of the guide wire. The rear surface of the slide assembly is constructed to be impacted with a hammer or similar device, whereby the stop prevents the guide wire from penetrating the bone further than desired. Should it be desired that the guide wire be retracted, a screw jack is included to allow the guide wire to be precisely retracted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trajectory guidance instrument that is securable to a surgical tool for use in conjunction with X-ray machines. More particularly, the device includes a radiolucent outrigger having radiodense indicia disposed on the outrigger so that the radiodense indicia is visible via an X-ray machine to provide an angular trajectory for the instrument. The outrigger is securable to various surgical tools for the purpose of providing real time trajectory guidance to surgeons during a procedure. In general, the precision trajectory guidance instrument comprises a substantially rigid outrigger device which it securable to a portion of the surgical tool for trajectory guidance. The trajectory guidance instrument may be attached with clips, fasteners, adhesives, hook and loop or the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and instrumentation for performing surgery on the spine along its lateral aspect (side) and generally by a lateral, anterior or an anterolateral surgical approach, such that the instruments enter the body from an approach that is other than posterior and make contact with the spine along its lateral aspect. The present invention provides for the entire surgical procedure to be performed through a relatively small incision and may be performed in either the thoracic or lumbar spine.

Abstract: The invention is directed in various aspects to a system including anchors, anchor components, and anchor assemblies and subassemblies that are adapted for attachment to a bony structure of a clinical subject. For example, two or more such anchors in the form of screws may be affixed to bones, for example, vertebral structures such as the pedicle, and each anchor is connected to a stabilizer such as a surgical rod that is inserted between the anchors. The anchors and assemblies are novel in many respects owing to their modular nature, which in contrast to conventional systems, allows the anchors to be provided to a surgeon in modular, subassembly and fully assembled form to enable a broad array of choices in devising the optimal plane for surgical bone fixation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a Jamshidi assembly which can be used for surgical procedures, such as inserting a pedicle screw within a patient. The Jamshidi assembly comprises an inner cannulated member sized and shaped to receive a sharp pointed medical device and slidably disposed within an outer sleeve member. When engaged with the inner cannulated member, the outer sleeve member is constructed to rotate and move about a longitudinal axis of the Jamshidi assembly. Coupled to the outer sleeve member is a working end adapted to contact and be driven into an anatomical structure, such as a vertebral body. Depending on the working end, configurations, such as threading may be formed within the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A phone device monitors an accelerometer while traveling in a vehicle to detect unusually large excursions or sudden changes in acceleration magnitude. When such an excursion is detected, the phone device then compares the excursion with the output of other components in the vehicle that can confirm or dispel a finding that the vehicle has experienced a collision. Once a likely collision has been detected, the phone device goes into an automated assistance mode where the use can be voice prompted as to their condition. If no response is received, the phone device can automatically call emergency services for assistance, providing the present location of the phone device. In less severe incidents, the phone device can automatically offer immediate access to other services, include a towing service, an attorney, an automobile service, among others. The service providers are based on a geo-fenced region in which the phone device is located.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a distance traveled by a vehicle for the purpose of assessing and settling a road usage charge allows a mobile device to determine distance traveled with a vehicle while paired with a PAN transceiver of the vehicle by using GPS location information. The mobile device can also capture odometer images that are reported to a system that processes the images to obtain the odometer values and find the difference between the odometer values. Once the actual distance traveled by the vehicle is determined by the system, a road usage charge can be determined. Fuel excise taxes paid by the vehicle operator for fuel used by the vehicle can be subtracted from the road usage charge to determine a road usage settlement amount that can be paid from, or refunded to a financial account associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an RFID tag device that uses dynamic identifiers for transactions rather than a fixed identifier. An associated device communicates with the RFID tag device and obtains dynamic identifiers for transactions and provides the dynamic identifiers to the RFID tag device. The RFID tag device is protocol-agile and can be configured to operate using different protocols to complete transactions.

Abstract: An RFID tag device with an RFID antenna assembly that increases transmission range of the RFID tag device when adhesively coupled to a mobile device. The RFID tag device includes a RF interface that operates at a first RF frequency, a controller coupled to the RF interfaces, and the RFID antenna assembly. The RFID antenna assembly includes a first and a second dipole elements, each shaped as a half rectangle with an additional segment joining the respective element to a tuning element. The RFID antenna also includes a tuning element, which is a loop antenna, connecting the RF interface to the controller and a ferrite dielectric on the back of one of the dipole elements. A structure of the RF antennal assembly, when the RFID tag device is coupled to a mobile device, causes the mobile device to function as a reflector to increase gain of the RFID antenna assembly thereby improving transmission range.

Abstract: A system and method for dividing toll charges among vehicle occupants includes, at a mobile device, receiving identifying information for each vehicle occupant that can be used to verify the identity of the occupant. The identifying information can be biometric in nature, including images or voice prints. The information is provided to tolling service with which each of the occupants has an account. Toll charges that accrue as the vehicle travels are then divided or split among the vehicle occupants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a distance traveled by a vehicle for the purpose of assessing and settling a road usage charge allows a mobile device to determine distance traveled with a vehicle while paired with a PAN transceiver of the vehicle by using GPS location information. The mobile device can also capture odometer images that are reported to a system that processes the images to obtain the odometer values and find the difference between the odometer values. Once the actual distance traveled by the vehicle is determined by the system, a road usage charge can be determined. Fuel excise taxes paid by the vehicle operator for fuel used by the vehicle can be subtracted from the road usage charge to determine a road usage settlement amount that can be paid from, or refunded to a financial account associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A surgical guide wire or K-wire and method of use are provided. The K-wire, or guide wire, has opposite end portions and a shank portion in between. One end portion has a deformable end portion that, once outside of a confining guide passage, can be deformed to present a projected forward facing area that is larger than the transverse cross section of the K-wire, or guide wire, while in the passage. The increased area will provide increased resistance to additional forward axial movement into the surgical site.

Abstract: A surgical guide wire or K-wire and method of use are provided. The K-wire or guide wire has opposite end portions and a shank portion in between. One end portion has a deformable end portion that, once outside of a confining guide passage, can be deformed to present a projected forward facing area that is larger than the transverse cross section of the K-wire or guide wire while in the passage. The increased area will provide increased resistance to additional forward axial movement into the surgical site.