Abstract: A medical implant (1) designed to enable bony fusion between a first bone (20) and a second bone (21), said implant being in the form of an elongate part comprising, extending along the longitudinal axis of the part, a head (2) and a body (3) spaced apart from each other by a connection zone (4) connecting the head (2) to the body (3), said head (2) being suitable for being inserted into the first bone (20), said body (3) being suitable for being inserted into the second bone (21), said body (3) being a hollow body that is slotted longitudinally along at least a portion of its length in order to define at least three elastically deformable longitudinal tabs (5) by means of which said body (3) is suitable for being inserted into the second bone (21). Each longitudinal tab (5) of the body (3) is an arcuate tab (5) that presents an outer face (6), i.e.

Abstract: A method of providing support for an organ in the body of a patient comprises providing a support element with a first portion coupled to a first anchor and a second portion coupled to a second anchor through an aperture. The support element has a central portion between the first and second portions comprising a ribbon-like filamentary element. The first anchor is attached to a first tissue portion at a first location lateral to the organ. The second anchor is attached to a second tissue portion at a second location lateral to the organ. Tension of the central portion between the first and second anchors is adjusted by moving the second portion through the aperture in the second anchor so that the central portion of the support element provides a sling-like support for the organ.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The elongate member defines a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion of the elongate member defines a notch having a face defining an axis. The axis of the face and the longitudinal axis define an acute angle with respect to a first direction along the longitudinal axis. The notch is configured to retain a loop of a suture when the elongate member is moved through a tissue of a patient in the first direction along the longitudinal axis. The notch is configured to release the loop of the suture when the elongate member is moved through the tissue of the patient in a second direction different than the first direction. The suture has at least one tissue anchor configured to be disposed within the tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A tissue fixation device includes a tack having at least two flexible arms on a first end of said anchor. A deployment device for deploying a tissue fixation device, wherein the deployment device is a deployment gun.

Abstract: A multi-shank nail has a first shank, a second shank and a washer; wherein both of the first shank and the second shank have an enlarged head at their top ends and a point at their lower ends. The first shank has a flat contact surface along its longitudinal length at an upper portion, and the second shank has a shape of a longitudinally cut nail such that the second shank is capable of corresponding to the contact surface on the first shank. The first shank has an inclined face and an extended portion in sequence below the contact surface. At least one of the first shank or second shank comprises a plurality of notches opposite the contact surface, and the notches make the first shank or second shank easier to bend.

Abstract: There is provided a fastener which can be brought into firm engagement with a mounting hole without being affected by a change in thickness of a member in which the mounting hole is provided or a larger or smaller inside diameter of the mounting hole. This fastener 1 includes a pin 10, a metal plate spring member 30 and a grommet 50. The plate spring member 30 has a base portion 31 and a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 which are opened in their free state and which are closed when pressed against their elastic restoring force. The elastic engagement pieces 35 have engagement shoulder portions 37 which are brought into engagement with the mounting hole, and distal ends thereof are folded to constitute folded portions 40. The folded portions 40 are offset widthwise from each other, and engagement projecting pieces 43 are formed on inner sides thereof.

Abstract: An aligner and a method for its use in staking a fastener. More specifically, the aligner guides a tip of a staking tool in some portion of a staking operation properly into alignment with a clinch portion of a staked fastener. As a result, the clinch portion is shaped into a head of a generally higher quality than would otherwise occur.

Abstract: A blind rivet assembly is provided. In another aspect, a blind rivet has ends that are received within countersinks in one or more workpieces and a mandrel head is completely pulled through the rivet without being severed from a mandrel stem. A further aspect includes a mandrel with an outwardly tapering shoulder.

Abstract: In a fastening element (1) comprised of a holding part (2) configured with a support plate (4) and expanding cheeks (5) and of a locking part (3) that is guided displaceably in said holding part (2), formed adjacent the support plate (4) are cantilevered walls (16) that are offset radially outwardly with respect to a guide wall (13), which, in order to guide the locking part (3), bears flush against the shaft portion (6). As a result, the locking part (3) can be pushed along substantially without force until it reaches inwardly protruding ramp projections (14) formed on the expanding cheeks (5), even when said expanding cheeks (5) are flexed inward, and with the advantage of a better lever ratio for spreading the expanding cheeks (5).

Abstract: A fastener used to secure a surface layer to a base and a two-stage fastener driver used the drive the fastener into the base. The fastener comprising a non-magnetic fastener body retaining a ferro-magnetic nail. The fastener driver for driving the fastener into the base. The fastener driver having a housing for magnetically retaining the fastener.

Abstract: Devices for affixing sutures, grafts and tissues to bone, and soft tissue such as periosteum. In a first embodiment, the invention comprises a piton member implantable within bone having a post or eyelet formed thereon to which the suture or tissue may be attached. The piton member is designed to become more firmly secured within the bone when pressure is applied to a first axis pushing the piton member into the bone, but may be easily removed when such force is applied in a generally opposed direction. In a second embodiment, the invention comprises affixation devices that are designed to detachably ensnare with periosteum. Such devices are provided with attachment structures, such as one post, eyelet or other means for securing sutures, grafts, synthetic materials or tissues.

Abstract: An invisible decking connector for wood decking structures fastens elongate decking boards to each other in side-to-side adjacency and fastens the decking boards to underlying perpendicularly oriented joists for positional maintenance thereon. The connector provides a medial disk having axially aligned ribbed nails extending perpendicularly from the medial portions of each of its sides. The periphery of the disk defines a slot to receive the head of a fastening screw extending in angulated orientation through an adjacent decking board and into a joist therebeneath. A tool with a body defining a medial hole to receive one of the ribbed nails to aid installation of the fastener by use of a hammer is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features an improved flush installation multi-part interlocking nail fastening system which eliminates loosening of flooring members, rubbing, or relative movement, thereby eliminating squeaks and noises. A master nail with modified head and shank portions accepts insertion of two smaller nails of soft composition which, when driven into a pair of internal longitudinal bores, these small nails exit the master nail to form opposing arcs, pulling abutting floor members into tight abutting engagement.

Abstract: A sleeve (1) for guiding, deflecting and holding nail (2), having a sleeve body (3), a deflection opening (4) in sleeve body (3) and a guide (5) which extends into the deflection opening (4), and a process for producing such a sleeve (1). To simplify the production process and to reduce production costs of sleeve (1), it is provided, according to preferred embodiments of the invention, that the sleeve body (3) is formed of a rolled section of a flat material, preferably, a rolled sheet-metal strip.

Abstract: A nail with spreadable legs has legs that can be spread apart by a constant angle irrespective of the hardness of the ALC material into which the nail is driven. The nail has two leg members bound together by a washer with their flat sides abutting each other. One of the leg members has a protrusion on its respective flat surface near its tip. A projection and a recess are formed on the flat surfaces of the respective leg members. With the leg members bound by the washer, the projection engages in the recess near the washer. When the nail is driven in to a predetermined depth, the projection disengages from the recess, so that the legs begin to spread apart. It is thus possible to control the spread angle of the leg members.

Abstract: An attachment assembly formed of an anchor bolt (1) and an expansion wedge (2) with the anchor bolt having an outside surface (4) at its leading end in the setting direction and widening in a wedge-like manner. The expansion wedge (2) can be displaced axially along the wedge-like outside surface (4) for effecting expansion of the attachment assembly. At its trailing end (6), the anchor bolt (1) has a flange-like engagement part (5) for applying a load to a receiving material into which the attachment assembly is expanded. The engagement part (5) has a throughbore (3) through which the expansion wedge (2) extends and is secured in a preassembled state. The expansion wedge (2) has a trailing end section (14) extending rearwardly from the engagement part (5) in the preassembled state so that in the expanded state the expansion wedge is held in a press fit in the throughbore (3).

Abstract: Long and short legs have heads and pointed tips, respectively. They are joined together near their tips by welding. An upper portion above the welded portion of the long leg is formed with a cut extending obliquely upwards toward the short leg so that a thin breakable portion is formed in the long leg between the end of the cut and the contact surface with the short leg. A washer for clamping the legs above the cut is provided. When the nail is driven, the legs will not spread until the head of the short leg abuts the washer. When the head abuts the washer, the long leg slides outwards and spreads apart from the short leg near the cut. The breakable portion will thus get broken and the nail will spread.

Abstract: A twist type locking pin formed from a single piece of wirelike stock having a U-shaped bend forming two sides, one side being bent to form an arcuate loop which terminates short of the other side and is bent at an angle to cross over the other side, the other side being bent to form an arcuate loop which lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the first arcuate loop, the end of the second arcuate loop overlying the one side, the second arcuate loop forming a bearing surface at the end of the other side, the second loop forcing the other side outwardly from the one side on insertion of the one side into a post, the other side producing a bias force which rotates the one side through 90.degree. when the end of the other side clears the post to pivot the locking pin to a locking position.

Abstract: A fastener for use in porous granular or other easily penetratable material includes as a first element a guide element in the form of a flat plate having opposite faces and at least one guide slot which is open along the opposite faces of the plate and which has an open end at an edge of the plate, the slot being at least partially curved along its length. The fastener also includes a material-gripping element in the form of a blade which has a width greater than the thickness of the plate and which is insertable into the slot, the blade having opposite sides which are engaged by and guided by opposite edges of the slot along the entire length of the blade when the blade is inserted into the slot. The blade is deformed by the edges of the slot so as to correspond to the shape of the slot.

Abstract: A positionally bistable domed annular disc includes a projection which engages a transverse through hole or a recess in a shaft to be retained. The disc fits concentrically about the shaft and is concave in different directions when in its two stable positions, respectively. In a cotter pin embodiment the projection extends from the outer rim of the disc and is bent to fit solidly in a transverse hole in the shaft. The projection is inserted when the disc is convex toward the hole and not surrounding the shaft. When switched to be concave toward the hole the disc surrounds the shaft to preclude longitudinal and rotative movement of the projection. In a retainer ring embodiment the projection is a plurality of fingers extending from one or both rims and arranged to engage the shaft or the bore in which the shaft is retained in its closed position. In a shaft coupling embodiment the projecting fingers engage two or more shafts in a manner which tolerates axial, radial and angular shaft misalignment.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus is adapted to be inserted and removed from one side of a work piece having an opposite side which is substantially inaccessible to a worker. A first, externally threaded member is threadingly engaged with a receiving structure, and a second member is inserted within corresponding seats or grooves for interlocking the two members. In the preferred embodiment diverting seats are provided for forming the second member into locking engagement between the receiving structure and the first member. In one embodiment, seat structures are provided for engaging frangible panels or the like for high temperature applications.

Abstract: The phenomenon of pop-back of the nail insert for anchor nail fasteners is prevented by providing a dimple-like indentation in the wall of the tube sufficient to grip the insert nail after it has been driven down the tube. For longer length anchor nails, two such dimple-like indentations may be provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a ring spring cotter in which the ring portion lies partially over and partially under the straight run of the cotter which extends through the hole in the pin to be secured, and in which a free tail has a ramp which may either overlie or underlie the straight run that extends through the hole to exert tension either to secure the ring or to free it. It is easy to use, secure, and damps vibration of the parts secured by spring pressure on them.

Abstract: The end of the nail guide and deflector tube of an anchor nail fastener is flattened to form a chisel point. The chisel point is oriented with respect to the nail exit side aperture of the tube to provide the most effective relationship between the laterally projecting anchor nail and the hole in the workpiece made by the tube.