Abstract: Orthopedic fixation devices, assemblies, and methods for securing a spinal rod. The orthopedic fixation device may include a tulip head, a bone fastener, a rotatable saddle, and a threaded locking cap. The saddle may be insertable into the tulip head in an unlocked position with a rod seat offset relative to a rod slot of the tulip head. The saddle may be rotated into a locked position with the rod seat aligned with the rod slot such that a rod is positionable through the rod slot and into the rod seat. The threaded locking cap may secure the rod and bone fastener.

Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods for advancing a set screw in an object. The methods comprise: disposing a shank tip of a set screw reducer in a socket of the set screw; causing a sleeve integrated with the set screw reducer to slidingly engage a shank of the set screw reducer and move in a direction towards the shank tip; transferring torque from the set screw reducer to the set screw such that the set screw is advanced in a threaded hole of the object; and using the sleeve of the set screw reducer to substantially prevent splaying of at least one sidewall of the object while the torque is being transferred from the set screw reducer to the set screw.

Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting a vertebral body may include an optional access cannula, introducer device, and a stylet having a stylet shaft. The access cannula includes a hub portion and a cannula shaft extending from the cannula hub. The cannula shaft includes a distal end positionable within the vertebral body that defines a lumen along a longitudinal axis. The introducer device may be a telescoping or pivoting introducer device that is removably coupled to the hub portion of the access cannula. The introducer device controls the movement of the flexible distal portion of the stylet shaft and the flexible sheath from within the introducer device through the access cannula to within a target site in the vertebral body, wherein the flexible distal portion is moved from the constrained to the unconstrained state to displace cancellous bone within the target site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and system for fixation of intra-articular and extra-articular fractures and non-unions of small bones and other small bone fragments, and more particularly to a threaded nail with a robust length and a trailing end with a cutting tip and longitudinal cutting flutes and a stepped diameter with cutting flutes at the transition point, and an optional cannulation along the central longitudinal axis of the nail.

Abstract: An orthognathic bone joining or positioning implant method for performing an osteotomy and subsequent rejoining of one or more separated bone sections to the bone in a desired repositioning, wherein the implant is manufactured such that it provides a separating tool guidance contour for separating the bone sections after attaching a first attachment area to the bone, and provides a second or third attachment area for attaching the separated bone sections to the bone in the desire repositioning without detaching said first attachment area. The method utilizes tomographic imaging to produce a target 3D model of the bone showing the repositioned bone sections based on the original 3D model of the bone.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an implantable split sternum prosthesis to facilitate closure of the chest cavity and relieve pain after sternotomy operations. The split sternum prosthesis which after a surgical procedure is placed along the inline incision made in the sternum bone will also facilitate access to the chest cavity for patients in need of repeated surgical operations inside the chest cavity. The split sternum prosthesis comprises two elongated bone attachment plates, a first bone attachment plate and a second bone attachment plate. The first and he second bone attachment plates each have a bone attachment surface and a coupling surface. The first and second bone attachment plates are adapted be coupled together in a very close fit along their coupling surfaces.

Abstract: A method of changing a bone angle includes creating an osteotomy between a first portion and a second portion of a tibia of a patient; creating a cavity in the tibia by removing bone material along an axis extending in a substantially longitudinal direction from a first point at the tibial plateau to a second point; placing a non-invasively adjustable implant into the cavity, the non-invasively adjustable implant comprising an adjustable actuator having an outer housing and an inner shaft, telescopically disposed in the outer housing, and a driving element configured to be remotely operable to telescopically displace the inner shaft in relation to the outer housing; coupling one of the outer housing or the inner shaft to the first portion of the tibia; coupling the other of the outer housing or the inner shaft to the second portion of the tibia; and remotely operating the driving element to telescopically displace the inner shaft in relation to the outer housing, thus changing an angle between the first porti

Abstract: The present application relates to an implantation set including a tool or an aid, and at least one bone contact member adapted thereto, therefore a device designed for direct contact with a bone, the bone contact member having a greater hardness in a region intended for contact by the tool or aid than the tool or aid in a region intended for contact with the bone contact member.

Abstract: Longitudinally-adjustable bone anchors and related methods are disclosed herein. The ability to adjust a bone anchor longitudinally can allow the surgeon to bring an implanted bone anchor up to the rod instead of or in addition to bringing the rod down to the bone anchor, which can simplify or eliminate the rod contouring step and reduce or eliminate reduction forces. For example, the surgeon can use a pre-bent rod or put “ideal contours” into a rod, lay the rod across a series of bone anchors, and adjust each bone anchor longitudinally to meet the rod. As another example, coarse adjustment of the fixation system can be achieved by contouring the rod and then fine adjustments can be made by bringing each bone anchor up or down to the rod. Various adjustment mechanisms are disclosed, including bone anchors with telescoping portions and bone anchors with risers or spacers.

Abstract: A bone screw includes a shaft including at least one thread having an external thread form and defining at least one cavity. The shaft includes at least one tissue gathering member disposed to direct tissue into the at least one cavity. In some embodiments, systems, spinal constructs, surgical instruments and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a bone anchor including a shank having a first end, a second end, a channel extending through the shank with a channel axis, and an internal advancement structure having at least a portion being closer axially to the second end than to the first end, and an elongate instrument configured to extend through the channel, with a tip portion and an external advancement structure configured to cooperate with the internal advancement structure. Engagement between the advancement structures facilitates holding of the tip portion at a first axial position relative to the bone anchor and movement of the tip portion from the first axial position towards both the first and second ends of the shank. The tip portion and the external advancement structure of the elongate instrument are insertable into and removable from the channel via the first end of the shank.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electrosurgical generator including a resonant inverter having an H-bridge and a tank. A sensor array measures at least one property of the tank. A pulse width modulation (PWM) controller outputs a first PWM timing signal and a second PWM timing signal to the H-bridge. The PWM controller controls a dead-time between the first PWM timing signal and the second PWM timing signal based on the at least one property measured by the sensor array.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus performs a cut or incision on epithelial tissue of the body of a human or animal patient. The apparatus includes a generator system configured to generate a radio-frequency electric signal, and a hand piece held by an operator and having an end provided with a single active electrode electrically connected to the generator system. The electric signal generates a cut or an incision when the active electrode comes into contact with epithelial tissue of the body. The electric signal has a power ranging from 0.5 W-20 W and a frequency ranging from 40 kHz-90 kHz. The energy emitted by the signal is transferred from the active electrode to the tissue of the body through capacitive coupling. The tissue is cut at a peripheral temperature ranging from 45° C.-60° C. The electric circuit is closed to ground through a capacitive effect, as the apparatus does not use a return plate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of electrosurgical devices. In one embodiment a removable tip for use with an electrosurgical tool comprises a first tip member and a second tip member, each having a proximal end and a distal end; an actuator for moving the first and second tip members between a closed position where the distal ends of the first and second tip members are proximate one another, and an open position where the distal ends of the first and second tip members are separated by a distance from one another, wherein the actuator includes a first actuating member comprising a portion of the first tip member and a second actuating member comprising a portion of the second tip member; and an insertion member coupled with the proximal ends of the tip members for inserting the removable tip within an opening in the electrosurgical tool.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an end effector assembly includes forming an insulative spacer of a non-conductive material, creating a rib on a surface of the insulative spacer, and metalizing the rib with a conductive material to integrally form a conductive strip on a surface of the rib.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Abstract: A shaft assembly for a microwave ablation applicator which includes a shaft assembly and an antenna assembly located within the shaft assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly comprises an elongate shaft which extends from a first end to a second end thereof, and which defines therein a hollow inner volume and a longitudinal axis of the antenna assembly, and an applicator tip mounted on the second end of the elongate shaft. The shaft assembly further includes a coolant delivery tube having a side wall which defines an elongate hollow interior.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a method, device, and apparatus for positioning an apparatus on a location of a tissue. For example, a substantially rigid film over an area of tissue to be treated can be provided. The film can include a positioning arrangement that facilitates a particular spatial engagement with the apparatus. The exemplary method can further include applying a portion of the film to a portion of a surface of the tissue and positioning the apparatus at the location by the engagement of the film to the apparatus using the feature of the film.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the light source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; a light sensor that is coupled to the optical waveguide away from the first end, wherein the light sensor is for measuring the light level in the optical waveguide and for providing an output signal representing the measured light level; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, and coupled to the light sensor to receive the output signal, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a measure of the amount of input light transmitted across the optical waveguide from the measured light level and an input li

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods generally aimed at monitoring the angular orientation between two locations within a fluoroscopic image and especially for monitoring the angular orientation between two locations within a fluoroscopic image and a predetermined target angle.

Abstract: A triggering device includes an optical fiber (126) configured for optical shape sensing. A supporting element (104) is configured to support a portion of the optical fiber. An interface element (106) is configured to interact with the optical fiber associated with the supporting element to cause a change in a property of the fiber. A sensing module (115) is configured to interpret an optical signal to determine changes in the property of the fiber and accordingly generate a corresponding trigger signal.

Abstract: A navigation system is disclosed comprising a first and a second tracker support separately affixed to the same rigid object by a distance. A first and a second plurality of trackable elements are secured to the first and second tracker supports, respectively. The navigation system defines a tracking arrangement to be tracked based on a combination of the first and second plurality of trackable elements. A geometry of the tracking arrangement relative to the rigid object is registered. The navigation system has a localizer configured to track the rigid object by detecting the registered geometry of the tracking arrangement. The navigation system identifies a condition wherein at least one trackable element has been displaced relative to the registered geometry, and in response, generates a response to address the condition.

Abstract: A method for updating a patient registration during a medical procedure is disclosed. The medical procedure uses an optical navigation system for optically tracking a patient reference object in a real-world space. The method includes: acquiring a first set of image data depicting a region of interest on the patient while a first patient registration is intact; detecting that the first patient registration has been lost; obtaining a second set of image data depicting the region of interest; and applying a transform to data points of the first region to obtain data points for an updated patient registration, the transform obtained based on the first and second sets of image data.

Abstract: A foot controller includes a stationary portion and a cradle member that can receive a foot of a user. The cradle member is moveable to of different positions along paths, such as a left position, a right position, a front position, or a back position. One or more paths have a left-right direction of the controller and at least one of the paths has a forward-back direction of the controller. Sensors sense the cradle member at a particular position and output sensor signals indicative of that position. A function provided by a system is activated based on the sensed position.

Abstract: A robotic medical assistant vehicle and interface (R-MAVI) is disclosed. The robotic medical assistant vehicle and interface helps contain viruses by reducing human interaction. The robotic medical assistant vehicle and interface combines robotics with medicine to achieve the safest and most efficient reception, transportation and initial assessment of a patient.

Abstract: A medical robot system, including a robot coupled to an effectuator element with the robot configured for controlled movement and positioning. The system may include a transmitter configured to emit one or more signals, and the transmitter is coupled to an instrument coupled to the effectuator element. The system may further include a motor assembly coupled to the robot and a plurality of receivers configured to receive the one or more signals emitted by the transmitter. A control unit is coupled to the motor assembly and the plurality of receivers, and the control unit is configured to supply one or more instruction signals to the motor assembly. The instruction signals can be configured to cause the motor assembly to selectively move the effectuator element.

Abstract: A flexible surgical tool system comprising a multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical arm, the flexible surgical tool, the remote control device and a controlling computer is provided. A method for controlling the same with motion constraints is also provided. The method can comprise: obtaining a target posture of the surgical actuator, a current posture of the surgical actuator and bending angle values of the sections of the flexible surgical tool. A desired velocity of the surgical actuator and a motion limitation condition can be obtained. Joint velocity of the multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical arm and bending velocity of the sections of the flexible surgical tool can be obtained. A target joint position value of the multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical arm, a target bending angular value of the sections of the flexible surgical tool, and transmitting them to a corresponding controller to drive each section can be obtained. The above operations can be repeated.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a robotic surgical assembly. The robotic surgical assembly defines an instrument opening and includes a floating plate and a drive assembly. The floating plate is movable between an extended position and a compressed position. The surgical instrument is laterally receivable in the instrument opening of the robotic surgical assembly while the floating plate is disposed in the compressed position. The floating plate is movable to the extended position to couple the surgical instrument to the robotic surgical assembly while the surgical instrument is received in the instrument opening of the robotic surgical assembly.

Abstract: A method of replacing cables in a cable-driven surgical tool includes accessing a cable system of the cable-driven surgical tool, the cable-driven surgical tool including a shaft and an end effector operatively coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The cable system comprises distal and proximal cable portions extending within the shaft and adjoined by a releasable interconnect, the distal cable portion being operatively coupled to the end effector. The distal and proximal cable portions are disconnectable at the releasable interconnect, wherein the distal cable portion exhibits a first diameter and the proximal cable portion exhibits a second diameter greater than the distal cable portion. The distal cable portion is then removed and replaced with a replacement distal cable portion mated to the proximal cable portion.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a surgical instrument support assembly which includes an enclosure defining an opening; a light transmissive pane located at least partially across the opening and defining a support surface; and, a light source located inside the enclosure for generating light to be transmitted through the light transmissive pane. A sterilizable light transmissive surgical instrument support may be also provided to be disposed over at least a portion of the light transmissive pane. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an assembly is provided which includes a sterilized surface for supporting surgical instruments which is backlit. With this arrangement, surgical instruments may be supported and illuminated from beneath to aid a medical practitioner in identifying the surgical instruments.

Abstract: The surgical tool support system comprises a central tube, a left base, and a right base. The surgical tool support system may be an organizer for a plurality of surgical instruments. The central tube may be corrugated and expandable. When expanded, the central tube may expose a plurality of troughs disposed longitudinally along the central tube. Each of the plurality of troughs may support one or more surgical instruments. An individual surgical instrument may be placed on the surgical tool support system with a point of the individual surgical instrument down against a stand and a handle of the individual surgical instrument resting in one of the plurality of troughs. The surgical tool support system may replace a surgical instrument roll made from a towel, thus eliminating the time and complexity of forming the surgical instrument roll.

Abstract: A surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft. The fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft towards a distal fastener deployment position. The surgical instrument may include a removable preload lock-out attached to the elongated shaft to prevent the follower from applying a preload to the fasteners.

Abstract: An ingress-egress apparatus for protection of a surgical work site during removal of a surgical implant therefrom includes an inverted frustum surface having a sidewall defining: a bottom open area at a base portion of the frustum surface sidewall, and an opposing top open area at a top portion of the frustum surface sidewall. The top open area has a larger area than the bottom open area. The apparatus includes an ingress port located at the base portion of the frustum surface sidewall and an egress port located at the base portion of the frustum surface sidewall. During surgical removal of the surgical implant using a surgical burr, the apparatus can be used to irrigate the work site, thereby cooling it and protecting it from damage, and further removing metal implant particles generated during burring.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an illuminating endoprobe system includes one or more light sources, a housing, a vitreous visualization fiber, and a general illumination fiber. The light sources generate a visualization light and an illumination light. The housing receives the visualization and illumination light, and has a probe tip with a probe axis. The vitreous visualization fiber transmits the visualization light through the probe tip. The visualization light has a visualization axis and a visualization beam angle at the probe tip. The general illumination fiber transmits the illumination light through the probe tip. The illumination light has an illumination axis and an illumination beam angle at the probe tip. The illumination beam angle is greater than the visualization beam angle, and the illumination axis is at an offset angle relative to the visualization axis, where the offset angle greater than 5 degrees.

Abstract: A flexible operating room lighting system may be coupled to a wall, ceiling, or fixture of a facility. The lighting system can modularly accommodate multiple illumination arms and incorporate one or more microphone thereon, permitting the vocal control using a processor for hands free operations. The lighting system may include a speaker and a camera to facilitate two-way communications with a user to facilitate demonstrations for individuals undergoing tutelage in the particular facility's profession. The lighting system may employ a stand with wheels to facilitate modularity. Further, a cover with a transparent front end may be provided to be slipped over the lighting system and securing through a cover fastener. By providing each illumination arm with a jack, the illumination arm may be modularly assigned, replaced, sanitized. Thus, the present invention provides reliable sanitary measures while further facilitating a flexible operable device through the illumination arms.

Abstract: A support arm for supporting a surgical device in an operating room. The support arm is comprised of an elongated, tubular extrusion having an inverted, generally tear-drop shaped outer surface that has an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape is symmetrical about an axis extending from a leading end of the airfoil to a trailing end of the airfoil shape.

Abstract: Use of augmented reality to provide a real-time two-dimensional representation of medical imaging data to a user in a three-dimensional space. An augmented reality system is discussed that may provide a single stage processing for video data ingestion directly from a video data output of a medical imaging device. In turn, latency in the resulting video data presented to the user via an augmented reality display may be reduced. The augmented reality system may also allow for a high degree of control over the virtual position, rotation, size, and/or opacity of the two-dimensional representation of the video data in the three-dimensional space associated with the augmented reality system.

Abstract: A marker delivery device including a delivery catheter, a marker, and a push rod. The delivery catheter is adapted to be inserted into a biopsy site and having a discharge opening. The marker having a coating layer disposed on the surface of a core. The coating layer includes an adhesive with a plurality of microbubbles. The microbubbles are configured to enhance visibility of the marker under ultrasound imaging. The marker is positioned inside the delivery catheter near the discharge opening. The push rod is positioned within the delivery catheter and is adapted to deploy the marker from the delivery catheter into the biopsy site.

Abstract: Marking device (100) for implantation into a tissue (260), having a support structure (102) which is formed by at least one elastic metal wire, is compressible and is self-expanding and which, in an expanded state, encompasses an interior space (104), characterized in that the marking device (100) is designed to transform itself on its own from a compressed state into an expanded state, even against a tissue pressure prevailing at a tissue site to be marked, and the marking device (100) in the expanded state has a hollow, approximately spherical shape.

Abstract: An implantable magnetic marker comprising at least one piece of a large Barkhausen jump material (LBJ) containing at least one loop. The coiled marker is deployed to mark a tissue site in the body for subsequent surgery, and a magnetic detection system with a handheld probe excites the marker above or below the switching field required for bistable switching of the marker causing a harmonic response to be generated in a bistable or sub-bistable mode that allows the marker to be detected and localised.

Abstract: Provided among other things is a sampling system for determining an amount or type of contamination a narrow, elongated passageway in a medical device, said sampling system comprising: (a) a fluid supply system that supplies to said passageway a sampling liquid for flowing through said passageway and a gas for flowing through said passageway; and (b) a receiving container that receives liquid from said passageway, wherein said sampling liquid is sterile, wherein said sampling liquid is configured to allow recovery of viable pathogens from the passageway, and wherein said sampling liquid comprises an amount and selection of surfactant effective to enhance the dislodgement of Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from the narrow passageways.

Abstract: A processing machine and a method of using the processing machine to process a block to form a dental prosthesis is provided. The processing machine includes a polishing jig. The polishing jig is for machining tools which makes it possible for a deteriorating machining tool to be used again without detaching the machining tool, with which the processing machine is equipped, from the processing machine. The polishing jig for machining tools comprises an attachment part to be attached to the processing machine; and a polishing face that is at least part of a surface of the polishing jig, the polishing face adapted to polish a processing part of a machining tool.

Abstract: A set of drill bits and/or burrs for attaching to a hand piece and fitting into an access guide during endodontic access cavity preparation is provided. The drill bits are optionally grouped into two types: a high speed, friction grip attachment type drill bit and a slow speed, latch attachment type drill bit. Each of the drill bits has a different longitudinal length for performing different functions during operation procedures. A method of performing an endodontic access cavity preparation with the set of drill bits is also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a set of predetermined views to determine if a patient is a candidate for an orthopedic procedure.

Abstract: A method and a system for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance are provided. The method comprises: receiving a 3D mesh including a plurality of inner vertices representative of an inner surface of the appliance; generating a reference plane positioned relative to the arch form 3D mesh according to a predetermined position; determining, based on the 3D mesh, for each one of the plurality of inner vertices, a respective distance to the reference plane, the respective distance being indicative of a thickness of the appliance after forming; generating, based on the respective distance, a plurality of outer vertices representative of an outer surface of the appliance; generating, based on the plurality of inner vertices and the plurality of outer vertices, an appliance 3D representation of the appliance including data indicative of the thickness of the appliance; causing the manufacturing of the appliance based on the appliance 3D representation.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining occlusal contacts between lower teeth and upper teeth of a subject are provided. The method comprises: receiving a 3D model including a first portion and a second portion including points respectively representative of the lower teeth and the upper teeth; determining an occlusal plane associated with the second portion of the 3D model; determining, from each point of the first portion, respective distance values to the occlusal plane; and identifying, within the points of the first portion, based on the respective distance values, using a voxel grid, a set of occlusal points representative of at least some of the occlusal contacts between the lower teeth and the upper teeth.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating an augmented 3D digital model of an intraoral anatomical structure a subject. The method comprises: obtaining a 3D digital model of the intraoral anatomical structure including a plurality of mesh elements representative of a surface of the intraoral anatomical structure; generating, based on the 3D digital model, a 2D grid comprising an unfolded surface of the 3D digital model; the 2D grid including a plurality of 2D cells; assigning, to each one of the plurality of 2D cells, a respective value of at least one textural parameter, thereby generating a texture reference map; and based on the texture reference map, causing application of the at least one textural parameter to the 3D digital model to generate the augmented 3D digital model of the intraoral anatomical structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant and, more specifically, has a fixture having a circular ball shape and a socket structure of an abutment body coupled to the fixture, and thus enables improvement of the matching between the fixture and an abutment which are an implant structure during an implant procedure.

Abstract: A method of placing a dental implant without the use of traditional tools such as a mallet or an electric drill to create the opening in the patient's jaw bone that will receive the dental implant is provided. This method may include the steps of creating an implant opening, incising the opening, refining the opening and inserting the dental implant in the opening. A piercing instrument may be used to create the opening, a first cutting tool may be used to incise the opening, a second cutting tool may be used to refine the opening and a hand operated driver may be used to insert the dental implant into the opening. In at least one embodiment, only a hand force is applied to the instruments used to carry out the method without the use additional instruments to create or augment the force being applied to the instruments being used.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for treating periodontal disease and/or other oral wounds using particularized oral appliances and associated negative pressure systems. The various oral appliances include one or a plurality of surfaces for engagement with various anatomical structures within the oral cavity, where the engagement can include sealing engagement with soft tissue (gingival) surfaces of the upper and/or lower dental arches. Additional features disclosed can further promote healing of regions affected by periodontal pocket formation.