Abstract: A bone setting apparatus is disclosed including an elongate shaft with a distal working arm and an intermediate working arm attached thereto so as to extend generally perpendicular to the shaft. The working arms are of sufficient length and thickness to act as leveraging bars to reduce a compound fracture. Preferably, the working arms have a concave contact surface for engaging the limb on which the apparatus will be used. Disposed at an end of the shaft opposite the distal and intermediate working arms is a torque control mechanism which extends outwardly from the shaft and can be used to accurately control rotation of the shaft as it is pivoted in such a manner that the distal and intermediate arms align fractured portions of a bone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for submergible self-retaining distraction osteogenesis is provided. Distraction osteogenesis devices are submerged below a layer of tissue and/or skin layers and are activated based upon maximum pressures, rather than constant activation rates. Distraction osteogenesis devices are also self-retaining in that the force in displacing bone segments is transferred substantially through metal plates, rather than screws or fixation points. In particular, zygomatic, alveolar and mandibular distraction osteogenesis devices are provided. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices include a submergible first and second metal plate along with a threaded rod. The zygomatic and alveolar distraction osteogenesis devices are activated using a cannula, torque wrench adapter and torque wrench. The mandibular distraction osteogenesis device includes a palate expander having a plurality of rods used in coupling first and second self-retaining U-shaped plates.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in surgical hip replacement procedures for ensuring that the replacement hip joint components are properly sized. The acetabulum and femur are exposed, one end of a flexible measuring cable is attached to the superior eminence of the acetabulum and the cable is extended inferiorly so that it is aligned with a specific point on the femur, preferably the lesser trochanter. The selected point on the femur is marked and the scaling or marking indicator carried by the flexible cable is positioned in relation thereto. After this reference distance between the fixed points is determined, the flexible cable is moved out of the way while its end remains fixed to the acetabulum. The installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis and the femur is prepared to receive the femoral implant. After the femur is prepared, trial femoral implants are installed to determine the proper fit with the femoral canal.

Abstract: An articulation element for the relative positioning of fixation bars or bone pins of an external fixator includes a plurality of pairs of jaws. The jaws have on their adjacent faces grooves which form a passage intended to receive a bar or a pin. A spring is interposed between the pairs of jaws. The grooves which form the passage are positioned and arranged so as to have an external opening allowing the bar or bone pin to be snapped in by pressure on it, from the opening of the jaw into the passage, against the spring force which presses the adjacent faces of the jaws against one another. This force holds the articulation element on the bars or pins before locking of the articulation by the tightening of a clamping shaft.

Abstract: An external fixator system comprises a clamp adapted to couple a fixator pin to a connecting rod. The clamp includes a slot for transversely receiving the body of the connecting rod. The slot preferably includes a region of reduced width, providing interference between the clamp and the connecting rod as it is inserted. This causes the clamp to snap onto the rod. A bolt is inserted through a hole passing through both sides of the slot. The bolt includes a head at one end formed in the shape of a hook adapted to hook the shaft of a fixator pin, and a thread at the opposite end. The bolt is rotatably mountable in the hole such that the fixator pin can be retained at a range of angles relative to the connecting rod. The clamp is attachable to a fixator pin and a connecting bar between two previously-installed clamps without disassembly of the system.

Abstract: The present invention is a surgical bone brush which provides a means to remove soft tissue from harvested autogenous and allografts bone prior to implantation of the bone into the human body. The invention is a surgical instrument with multiple fibers of surgical grade stainless steel or implantable material, wherein the fibers are held in place around a retaining ring, by a cap assembly, and extend outward forming a brush. The bone brush head, provided in a plurality of sizes and shapes, is attached at one end of a shaft, of a length and diameter providing for the insertion of the shaft into surgical grade rotary hand pieces. The bone brush provides a means to remove soft tissue from bone, decorticate, and contour bone. This is achieved when the shaft of the bone brush is inserted into a surgical rotary hand piece and the hand piece is activated thereby causing the brush head to rotate.

Abstract: An anterior cruciate ligament or soft tissue tensioning and knee displacement measuring device and method for its use to apply a tensile stress into a repaired or replaced graft and to maintain tension on that graft while an interference screw, or like fastener, is turned into a tunnel section end, containing the graft or sutures connected to the graft, wedging it against the tunnel wall, and, during application of the tensile stress, for determining the distance that the knee is displaced. The invention includes a tensioning device having, as a body, a pair of straight rails with a cross member secured across the rails rear or distal ends with forward or proximal rail ends connected to mounting tubes that are for fitting into pins as have been mounted into to extend from a bone cortex, alongside the tunnel section end, and including a trolley maintained to travel between the body rails.

Abstract: A positionable clip is provided that is engageable on a spinal rod to capture a rod-borne component in a variable position on the rod. In one embodiment, the positionable clip includes a pair of clamping members, each including a pair of opposed arms configured for engaging the rod therebetween. A biasing hinge biases the arms together to grip the rod with sufficient force to maintain the position of the clip on the rod during manipulation of the rod. A bar connects the two clamping members to define a receiving space to receive a component that is disposed on the spinal rod. In one aspect, the bar includes a pressure surface such that a force applied to the pressure surface will cause the arms of the clamping members to displace apart to disengage from the spinal rod. The clip is configured so that this force can be applied by the component captured by the positional clip as the component is itself tightened onto the spinal rod.

Abstract: A cast brace for use for the treatment of children having femoral shaft fractures. The brace includes a main support bracket adapted to extend from a support cast. A tension assembly extending from the brace to a support yolk applying tension to a K-wire extending transversely through the leg specifically the tibia adjacent the tip of the medial malleolus secured to a traction bow. Adjustability of the traction tension to facilitate proper bone alignment and to expedite the time required to maintain the limb in traction.

Abstract: An auxiliary device for use in the external setting of fractures is particularly adapted for use in association with an external axial fixator or splint having bolt-holding clamps with spherical joints for fixing bone bolts or screws which can be implanted in fractured pieces of bone. The auxiliary device comprises a central body which can be elongated axially and has end portions which can be releasably coupled to corresponding bolt-holding clamps on an external axial fixator or splint associated therewith; the said end portions are attached to the central body by means of corresponding hinges having hinge axes (20, 20') which are retained in parallel relation to each other and perpendicular to the axis of the body, and securing means is provided for selecting the orientation of the axes of these hinges, without changing their retained parallel-axis relation, so as to allow the bolt-holding clamps to rotate in a single plane at a time of predetermined position.

Abstract: This implant comprises a substantially U-shaped body having an elastic flexibility in the area of its central portion, and two pairs of brackets projecting from the outer face of the two branches of the body, these brackets defining stirrups for receiving the spinous processes of the vertebrae and comprising means permitting them to be fixed to the processes.

Abstract: An implantable bone lengthening apparatus may utilize an entirely self-contained lengthening mechanism which includes a shape memory material-powered hydraulic pump, a shape memory material-powered ratchet mechanism, a permeable head piston mechanism, and a bellows extension mechanism. The bone lengthening nails are more compact, simpler, eliminate unnecessary shifting or torsional movement, and maintain alignment of the bone during its natural healing process.

Abstract: A set of interlaminar clamps of specific and improved shapes provides a better fit to clamp together any two adjacent cervical laminae in the range from C1 to C7. These clamps are called Moskovich clamps, and their distinctive shapes are called Moskovich Curves. A method is also presented to manufacture similar cervical clamps for improved fit to clamp together any two adjacent cervical laminae throughout the entire back. This method is called the Moskovich Method. Morphometric data was taken for a large number of C1 through C7 laminae. Average shapes were then computed from this data for the C1 through C7 laminae. A small number of clamp shapes were then calculated that would fit these average cervical shapes. It was found that only a small number of clamp shapes were needed for clamps for the C1 through C7 range, and that these clamp shapes were different from what was available on the market in the prior art clamps.

Abstract: An external fixator for securing two or more bone elements. The external fixator includes an elongated bar; a first carriage for mounting on the bar and for securement to a first bone element; a second carriage for mounting on the bar and for securement to a second bone element; and a drive mechanism for driving the first and second carriages along the length of the bar independent of one another.

Abstract: A guide tool for directing a surgical device into attachment with a bone segment includes a tubular portion having an axial bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof for guiding the surgical device therethrough. A transversely extending pressure plate is affixed to the tubular portion at its distal end for applying finger pressure thereon to stabilize the bone segment while the surgical device is guided through the axial bore into attachment with the bone segment. The guide tool protects a surgeon's fingers from the surgical device and from the jagged surface of the bone segment.

Abstract: A biocompatible osteosynthesis plate operable for being enhanced in a substantially secured relation to a plurality of adjacent bone portions is provided. The biocompatible osteosynthesis plate includes an elongated section having a top face and a bottom face, at least one fastener opening disposed between the top face and the bottom face, and means disposed upon elongated section to permit the formation of additional fastener openings therethrough during a surgical procedure. The osteosynthesis plate is in a first configuration at a first thermochemical state and is operable to be converted to a second thermochemical state so that it may be deformed prior to fixation. The osteosynthesis plate may further include means disposed upon the elongated section for enhancing structural rigidity, which may be provided as one or more raised surfaces, or rails, disposed upon the top face of the osteosynthesis plate.

Abstract: A surgical pin protector placed on the tip of a patient's finger or toe for shielding the end of a surgical pin which protrudes from the tip of a patient's finger or toe, from external blows, including a protective cavity where the protruding end of the surgical pin is shielded.

Abstract: An implant comprising a specially adapted bone screw having a threaded shank portion and a sleeve which mates with and operates in cooperation with the threaded shank portion is provided. Also provided is a driver specially adapted for inserting and removing the implant of the invention. A method of compressing a fracture in a bone is also provided. The implant generates bone compression by itself and can be used either alone or with plates and washers. It is easily inserted into a fracture and also is easily removed from the fracture. The driver which is specially adapted to be used in combination with the implant of the invention aids in the ease of insertion and removal of the implant.

Abstract: An implantable spine fixation apparatus and method, the apparatus including a pair of longitudinal rods placed on each side of the spinous process. Several side arm clamps are attached to the longitudinal rods with their lateral arms extending outwardly from the longitudinal rods. Clamps are mounted to the lateral arms and both affixed to the bone of the spine and clamped to the lateral arms by bone screws inserted into the bone of the spine. Cross link plates are mounted to paired side arm clamps to secure the relative positions of the longitudinal rods. The method includes providing the bone screw with the optimal angular orientation for fixation of the bone screw to the bone. The method also includes adjustably affixing the implantable fixation apparatus relative to the spine for improving bone grafting.

Abstract: A spinal fixation device and method for the stabilization of the spine after surgical procedures such as those related to degenerative disc diseases are described. The device comprises a spacer, which is placed between adjacent vertebrae when installed and a locking mechanism attached to the spacer. The locking mechanism attaches the device to the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae of the spine in a manner which is non-invasive with respect to the vertebrae to which it is attached.

Abstract: A screw for fixation of a tendon/bone graft during an arthroscopic surgical procedure includes a smooth conical forward end having a rounded tip and a spiral thread running from a position behind the smooth rounded forward end to a rearward end of the screw. The depth of the thread is shallower than a conventional screw and the exterior edge of the thread is rounded to decrease cutting and fragmentation of the tendon and bone. The screw includes an internal bore with left- and right-handed threaded portions for engagement with insertion and extraction instruments. In the method, the bone graft is harvested and sized as desired. A graft socket is drilled in the bone and then serially sized with increasingly larger sizing instruments to compact the bone and size the graft socket to the graft. A smooth bore screw socket is created by serially dilating a space between the graft and graft socket with increasingly larger dilating instruments, thereby also compacting the graft.

Abstract: Improved polymeric orthopaedic compositions are disclosed wherein sized, functional fibers are incorporated into a physiologically acceptable matrix. The compositions of the invention can be fabricated in the form of particulate powders adapted for reinforcment of bone cements, continuous media for such cements, and orthopaedic implant coatings. A complete implant attachment system is also provided, made up of a fiber reinforced implant coating, and a compatible fiber-reinforced cement. In preferred forms, the fibers have a layer of sizing thereover which is chemically joined both to the surface of the fibers and to the surrounding matrix, and the fibers are present at a level of at least about 6 volume percent. If desired, sized radiopaque particles may be incorporated into the compositions of the invention. The fibers are advantageously polymeric in nature and of intermediate stiffness, whereas the matrix fraction is preferably polymethylmethacrylate.

Abstract: A set of surgical instruments which comprises a saw guide and a drill guide respectively for guiding a saw blade cutting a bone and for guiding a drill bit for thereafter forming a passage in the bone. The saw guide has a seat formation for seating against the bone, and a guide formation for guiding the saw. The drill guide comprises a bit guide and an anchor to align the bit guide relative to the cut. Also provided are a saw guide and a drill guide; and a method of carrying out an osteotomy procedure by making an oblique cut through a long bone at a position where bone portions which are misaligned intersect each other to provide two bone fragments, whereafter they are loosely bolted together and then rotated about the axis provided by the bolting until the misalignment is reduced, after which they are bolted tightly together.

Abstract: The invention concerns a unilateral, extensible external tensioning device for treating bone disease and for the purpose of axially and externally affixing bones or parts of fractured bones. At least one piston is mounted on both sides in telescoping manner to a central portion with various linking mechanisms being rotatably attachable to the outer ends of the pistons for receiving bone screw clamping mechanisms.

Abstract: A flexible external fixation dressing product contains a clear hydrogel material in a gel-like phase. The fixation dressing product is comprised of several layers including a thin-film top layer, optional backing layer, optional support layer, hydrogel layer, and optional release liner, and is adapted for use around the retaining pins of an external fixation device. The thin-film top layer may define a center portion and a perimeter portion. The backing layer, support layer and hydrogel material are positioned in the center portion of the thin-film top layer. The porous backing layer is formed of a porous material having sufficient porosity that the backing layer can be secured to the hydrogel material without the use of an adhesive. During manufacture, the dressing product is assembled and a substantially centered opening and a slit are cut. The opening and slit extend through all layers of the dressing and may also extend through the release liner, if included.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing accurate measurement, in the course of an A method andprocedure, of the length dimension of a bone joint movable between an extended and flexed position.

Abstract: Precontoured plating, screws, instruments and methods for osteosynthesis. Plates according to the present invention take advantage of the fact that human adult craniofacial structure and shape is highly similar among the population. The plates are thus preformed, pretempered, precontoured, and preconfigured during manufacture to fit a large proportion of the human adult population. The plates consequently require less time during surgery to twist and bend to conform to the skeletal structure and their crystalline and other structural characteristics need not be adversely affected by extensive bending, twisting and shaping in the operating room. The plates may be packaged and presented for use on forms which simulate portions of the skull so that their intended craniofacial location is easily recognized by members of the surgical team.

Abstract: A percutaneous tissue removal apparatus including a flexible drill shaft, a cutting tip mounted on the shaft for placement adjacent a tissue mass for cutting the tissue, means for transmitting motion to the shaft to move the cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue, and means for removing the tissue fragments along the shaft by suction to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting. The apparatus may include means for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments preferably into the body of the patient from whom they were removed. Where the tissue to be cut is bone, a cutting tip is preferably made of a polymeric material which is softer than the cortical portion of the bone, although the cutting tip may be made of a ceramic or a composite, material. A second flexible shaft may be provided either within or about the flexible drill shaft.

Abstract: A bone milling guide apparatus and method for preparing the proximal end of a femur to receive a hip stem prosthesis in snug-fitting relationship. The ball portion of the femur is removed using conventional surgical techniques to expose the underlying cancellous bone. An axial bore is drilled in the intramedullary canal to receive the distal portion of the hip stem prosthesis. The proximal end of the axial bore is reamed to form a tapered recess which is dimensionally configured to receive a portion of the external surface of the proximal end of the hip stem prosthesis. A tapered, hollow body is inserted into the tapered recess and supports a U-shaped template extending outwardly therefrom. Each arm of the U-shaped template is affixed to the tapered, hollow body on each side of a longitudinal slot in the side of the tapered, hollow body.

Abstract: A method of performing knee surgery and retractors and a femoral distractor for use in performing such method are provided, said retractors including a PCL tibial retractor, lateral patellar retractor, collateral ligament retractor, posterior cruciate ligament retractor and unicompartmental retractor designed to cooperate with one another in performing such method.

Abstract: A disposable wire driver for inserting wires into or through bones to provide support and fixation for the bone while the bone structure is mending. As unused, the wire driver is enclosed in a sterility-preserving wrapper that protects the wire driver until it is ready for use. The wire driver is disposable after a single use and is constructed largely of plastic. The wire driver includes an elongated, plastic casing having a front opening at a front end of the casing, and a back opening at a back end of the casing. A wire passageway extends through the casing from the back opening to the front opening to allow a wire to be inserted into the back opening and through the wire driver. The casing encloses a motor and a battery coupled to the motor. The battery-powered motor drives a pinion-and-gear assembly which is connected to a wire holding tube. The collet extends through the front opening of the casing and selectively grips a wire inserted into the wire driver.

Abstract: A lateral patellar retractor for use in performing knee surgery includes a handle, an integral flat support extending downwardly from said handle and joined to said handle by an arcuate section and a pair of integral prongs extending from said integral support in spaced apart relationship, each terminating in a pointed free, said integral prongs including a curve which is reverse of the curved path followed by said arcuate section, said support and said prongs being sized to permit the prongs to engaged the shelf of the lateral tibial condyle while said support is engaging soft tissue. Means may be provided for anchoring the support and detaching the handle.

Abstract: Bone fixation device comprising a profiled bar (1) on which at least two supporting members (2) have been movably and lockably mounted. The supporting members (2) comprise a sliding portion (3) having an opening (4) therein for passing the bar (1) and a supporting plate (5) extending from the sliding part (3), with a convex and concave surface (12, 13). Against the convex surface lies a ring (15) and against the concave surface lies a convex surface (21) of a receiving element (20, 27) in which screws (23) have been clamped, which can be secured in a bone part (24). Through the ring (15) extends a bolt (7) that has been screwed into one of a number of threaded bores (19) in the receiving element (20, 27) and which bolt extends through a relatively large opening in the supporting plate (5).

Abstract: An implantable bone distraction device and method of using the device are disclosed. The device includes spaced first and second low profile blocks for subcutaneous implantation and attachment to osteotomically separated bone sections. The first block defines a drive chamber bore while the second block defines a threaded bore. A rotatable drive rod having a first end is received in the drive chamber bore of the first block. The rotatable drive rod's other end is threadably received in the threaded bore of the second block. The device further includes drive rod actuator located in the drive chamber bore for cooperating with the first end of the drive rod to rotate the drive rod so that one can adjust the depth to which the rod's threaded end is received in the threaded bore of the second block. This enables one to adjust the spacing between the first and second blocks, thereby enabling one to controllably distract the separated bone sections to enhance bone growth therebetween.

Abstract: A process of orthopedic implantation of prosthetic devices such as hip and knee joints. The prepared bed of the bone cavity is lined with a pre-coating mixture of bone cement and resorbable particles, followed by filling of the bed with substantially pure bone cement and thereafter the prosthesis is positioned into the fully prepared bed. In this manner, resorbable particles along the lined prepared bed wall are resorbed by the patients body and replaced with new bone tissue ingrowth. As a result bonding of the bone cement to the bone is substantially improved, without weakening the bonding of the implant to the bone cement.

Abstract: A bone-screw or the like clamping coupling comprises two articulated half shells which must be bolted to each other for assembly to bone screws or the like. Articulation is via loosely pivoted interconnection of the half shells at one longitudinal end of the coupling, and one of the half shells carries ball-joint connection structure that is adapted for selectively detachable connection to an external fixator that has a coacting ball-joint connecting formation.

Abstract: A method of performing knee surgery and retractors and a femoral distractor for use in performing such method are provided, said retractors including a PCL tibial retractor, lateral patellar retractor, collateral ligament retractor, posterior cruciate ligament retractor and unicompartmental retractor designed to cooperate with one another in performing such method.

Abstract: A system and method to form a medical construct using surgical rods and connectors. A pair of surgical rods such as those used in fusing vertebrae of the spine are attached to each other with connectors to form a medical construct. The connector includes a plate with a pair of double hook bolts which are attached to the rods. The double hook bolts and rods may be used to provide a rigid or semi-rigid medical construct depending upon the attachment of the double hook bolts with the plate. The connector is assembled prior to the surgical procedure and eliminates any need for manipulating small washers, screws and bolts during installation of the medical apparatus within a patient.

Abstract: A device for applying a tensional force between two vertebrae of the human vertebral column, having at least two retaining members adapted to be brought into engagement with associated vertebrae, said members having a throughgoing opening for the accommodation of a threaded rod, and pairs of nuts adapted to be threaded onto said threaded rod in order to fix said retaining members in a desired position on said threaded rod, characterized in that said retaining members are configured as clamping members (10) having two legs (14, 16) which are bendable relative to each other in the plane extending through said threaded rod (26) to embrace a transverse process (22) of a vertebra.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in surgical hip replacement procedures for ensuring that the replacement hip joint components are properly sized so that the resulting length of the patient's leg is correct. In the procedure, when the acetabulum and femur are exposed, one end of a flexible measuring cable is attached to the superior eminence of the acetabulum and the cable is extended inferiorly so that it is aligned with a specific point on the femur, preferably the lesser trochanter. The selected point on the femur is marked and the scaling or marking indicator carried by the flexible cable is positioned in relation thereto. After this reference distance between the fixed points on the acetabulum and the femur is determined, the flexible cable is moved out of the way while its end remains fixed to the acetabulum. Thereafter, the total hip arthroplasty procedure continues in the usual fashion with the installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis and the femur is prepared to receive the femoral implant.

Abstract: A pair of pivotally attached handles are normally displaced away from each other via a spring biasing arrangement, and are displaced toward each other as by squeezing the handles against the spring bias. A wire or pin is introduced into a fixed fracture or osteotomy and an end thereof is received in an angled slot at an operating portion of one of the handles so that when the handles are squeezed against the spring bias the operating portions of both of the handles cooperate to bend the wire or pin to prevent migration or skin puncture, as the case may be.

Abstract: A connective joint comprises the following seven elements:(a) Four quarter spheres arranged in adjacent quadrant relationship to form a substantially spherical element or "ball". The quarter spheres are provided with grooved edges that form two substantially perpendicular grooves extending around the spherical element;(b) Two hinge elements, each having a ring shaped portion that is inserted in an individual one of the two grooves;(c) A device for applying a force between two diametrically opposing ones of the quarter spheres in the spherical element.

Abstract: The connection device (20) for adjustable connection of a first with a second structural element (12, 13), particularly tubes or rods, for a setting device has an external component (21) with a cylindrical hole and two internal components (22) inserted into the hole so that they can be slid axially and rotatably, each of which said internal components (22) has through openings (24, 25) crossways to the axial direction of the components to hold a structural element (12, 13). By means of loading means (23, 29), designed as a nut/screw connection, the internal component (2) is pushed axially to the external component (21) and thereby grips the inserted structural elements (12, 13).

Abstract: A femoral distractor for use in performing knee surgery includes a rod for insertion in the medullary canal of a human femur and a detachable handle assembly. The detachable handle assembly permits the leg of the patient to be moved between positions of extension and flexion without the necessity of removing the rod from the medullary canal by simply removing the handle assembly from such rod.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth a cover for orthopedic splinting rods which in its broadest sense consists of a single sheet of material which is formed into a cylinder having a longitudinal slit up its side and a curved top of the cap to allow for natural resilience of the cap to hold the walls of the cap against the edges of the ends of the splinting rods to insure retention of the cap on the ends of the splinting rods. An embodiment for external use encases the metal cap in a plastic housing having a gripping means to assist in the installation of the cap on the ends of the splinting rod. The external housing has smooth surfaces to avoid and minimize any trauma to surrounding body tissue.

Abstract: A bone-screw or the like clamping coupling comprises two articulated half shells which must be bolted to each other for assembly to bone screws or the like. Articulation is via loosely pivoted interconnection of the half shells at one longitudinal end of the coupling, and one of the half shells carries ball-joint connection structure that is adapted for selectively detachable connection to an external fixator that has a coacting ball-joint connecting formation.

Abstract: Apparatus particularly suited for implantation and/or extraction of osteal prostheses, comprising an ultrasonic power generator, regulator means for regulating the ultrasonic power generator in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, at least one transducer connected to the output line for converting said electrical energy to a linear mechanical motion, an acoustic transformer for increasing or decreasing peak-to-peak motion of the transducer and means for connecting the acoustic transformer to a surgical tool or a prosthetic device. The system suitably comprises a pair of transducers, one operating at each of 20 KHz and 40 KHz frequencies. Novel adapters for the four major types of osteal prosthesis are also provided.

Abstract: An external fixator is provided with an antimicrobial device that greatly reduces the probability of infection around the fixator pins. The antimicrobial device comprises a sleeve that is pressed with an interference fit over each pin after the pin is installed in the patient. A cuff of Dacron felt surrounds the sleeve and is located within the subcutaneous tissue of the patient. The interference fit between the pin and the sleeve prevents entry of bacteria into the subcutaneous tissue between the sleeve and pin. The Dacron felt promotes ingrowth of scar tissue into the cuff interstices, thereby utilizing the body's natural defenses against infection. The external fixator frame is assembled to the pins after the antimicrobial devices are in place.

Abstract: An external fixator includes two elements (20) of at least one pin (21, 22), each element maintaining a bone fragment (11; 12), and a telescopic piece (50 comprising an internal bar (41) and an external bar (42), each pin element being connected to either the internal or the external bar. One of the bars includes first guiding means for cooperation with corresponding second guiding means being at least indirectly dependent on the other bar, the first and second guiding means being separated from each other by roller sliding means intended to reduce the friction during the relative movement of the bars.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for prosthetic knee replacement permit preparation of tibial plateau and femoral condyle surfaces and implant of tibial and femoral protheses components with the use of arthroscopic surgical techniques. The bone surfaces are resected by moving a rotating milling cutter longitudinally across the bone surface and moving the rotating milling cutter substantially laterally across the bone. Cement is supplied between the prostheses and the bone surfaces after positioning of the prostheses on the bone, and cement bonding is enhanced by applying suction to the bone to draw the cement into the bone.