| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080228072 | Foreign Body Identifier - A surgical instrument for the presence and/or location of a foreign body is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving signals. In such embodiments, the surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo measurements to determine characteristics and/or location of the foreign body. In other embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a measurement circuit for detecting the presence and/or location of a foreign body by a change in the characteristics of the measurement circuit. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a foreign body, the orientation of a foreign body with respect to patient anatomy and/or another foreign body, and whether the foreign body has been completely removed. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080234684 | Instruments and techniques for guiding instruments to a spinal column - Systems and methods of shaping surfaces of vertebral bodies include a reference guide instrument that can be positioned relative to a disc space between vertebral bodies and referenced to the caudally located endplate of the disc space. The reference guide instrument can then be employed to guide preparation instruments to the vertebral bodies in an orientation and spacing referenced to the caudal endplate of the subject disc space to shape vertebral surfaces to receive an implant. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080255562 | CUTTING INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF USE FOR PREPARING AN OSTEOCHONDRAL PLUG FOR IMPLANTATION - A cutting instrument and method of use for preparing an osteochondral plug for implantation into a bone defect site. The instrument includes a dual function cutting block, a base holder, a rod mechanism and a trimming mechanism. The cutting block has a bore sized to receive the plug, at least one trimming channel and a transverse paring slot. The cutting block functions to hold the plug within the bore to allow for length and cross-sectional sizing. The base holder is constructed to fix the cutting block in a first orientation that allows the rod mechanism to position the plug within the cutting block for accurate length sizing. The base holder is also constructed to fix the cutting block in a second orientation which aligns the cutting block with the trimming mechanism so that an angled blade may engage the trimming channel and cut at least two sides of the plug. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080255672 | ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT - An orthopedic implant is disclosed and can include a first component and a second component that can be installed in the first component. The orthopedic implant can further include a seal that can be installed between the first component and the second component. The seal can substantially prevent debris from the second component from migrating through the first component. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080262347 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING INTEGRITY OF AN IMPLANTED DEVICE - A system for detecting the integrity of a previously implanted prosthetic device may include a detector including a sensor configured to detect signals from the implant and securing means for securing the sensor in a sensing position relative to the implantable device. The system also may include a power source configured to provide power to the sensor and a computation means for processing data communicated by the detector and for displaying the processed data for diagnosing. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20100198223 | Osteochondral Implant Fixation Method - A surgical procedure and a device used in the procedure according to which one end portion of a guide rod is inserted into the condyle of a damaged area of a human. The rod is used as a guide for a drill bit and a chisel to cut an opening in the condyle. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100198268 | LOW PROFILE BONE SCREW EXTENDER AND ITS APPLICATION IN MINIMUM INVASIVE SPINAL SURGERIES - A tissue extender includes a ring defining a proximal end opening to engage a head of a subcutaneous screw, a first extender portion coupled to the ring at a proximal end of the first extender portion, and a second extender portion coupled to the ring at a proximal end of the second extender portion. The first extender portion includes a first coupling portion disposed at a distal end of the first extender portion, and the second extender portion includes a second coupling portion at a distal end of the second extender portion. The first and second extender portions define two side openings disposed on opposite sides of the tissue extender. The distal ends of the first and second extender portions together define a distal end opening. The first coupling portion engages the second coupling portion when the tissue extender is in an extended state. The distal end opening is larger in the extended state than in an unextended state. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100249858 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF USE FOR FACILITATING POSITIONING OF AN OSTEOCHONDRAL PLUG - A surgical instrument and method are provided for positioning an osteochondral plug within a bone defect site. The instrument includes an elongate shaft, a ribbon, an elongate sleeve and a locking mechanism. The shaft has proximal and distal ends, with the distal end being shaped to contact the osteochondral plug. The ribbon extends along two sides of the shaft and around the distal end, forming a loop that is used to secure the osteochondral plug to the distal end. The sleeve is movably mounted to the shaft for reciprocating relative thereto between retracted and extended positions. The sleeve includes a slot that allows for visualization and cutting of the ribbon. The locking mechanism locks the ribbon in place and thereby controls the size and tension of the loop that surrounds the osteochondral plug, securing it to the distal end of the shaft. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110106165 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC SPINAL STABILIZATION AND CORRECTION OF SPINAL DEFORMITIES - An apparatus for attachment to a vertebral body for correcting spinal deformities. The apparatus has a plate member having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface having at least one receiving member defining a channel for receiving a flexible connection member. The at least one receiving member having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal and distal portions interfacing along a frangible connection such that the at least one receiving member extends axially from the upper surface a first distance when the frangible connection is unbroken and the at least one receiving member extends axially from the upper surface a second distance when the frangible connection is broken. The second distance is less than the first distance. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110137315 | CUTTING INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF USE FOR PREPARING AN OSTEOCHONDRAL PLUG FOR IMPLANTATION - A cutting instrument and method of use for preparing an osteochondral plug for implantation into a bone defect site. The instrument includes a dual function cutting block, a base holder, a rod mechanism and a trimming mechanism. The cutting block has a bore sized to receive the plug, at least one trimming channel and a transverse paring slot. The cutting block functions to hold the plug within the bore to allow for length and cross-sectional sizing. The base holder is constructed to fix the cutting block in a first orientation that allows the rod mechanism to position the plug within the cutting block for accurate length sizing. The base holder is also constructed to fix the cutting block in a second orientation which aligns the cutting block with the trimming mechanism so that an angled blade may engage the trimming channel and cut at least two sides of the plug. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110144648 | OSTEOCHONDRAL PLUG GRAFT TRIMMING DEVICE AND METHOD - A device for trimming an osteochondral plug graft to an implantable configuration, includes a blade assembly terminating in a configured leading cutting blade and a plug graft housing comprising a substantially longitudinal holding sleeve having a bore and oriented complementarily to the longitudinal structure of the blade assembly to receive the longitudinal structure within the sleeve bore with the assembly cutting blade in close tolerance along an inner bore surface of the longitudinal housing structure. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110152936 | DIRECTIONAL VERTEBRAL ROD - A vertebral rod includes a first elongated section having a first thinned portion. A second elongated section has a second thinned portion. An intermediate section has a flat, thin configuration, and is connected with and disposed between the first section and the second section. The flat, thin configuration of the intermediate section is disposed in an orientation transverse to at least one of the first thinned portion and the second thinned portion. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110160587 | VOLUMETRIC MEASUREMENT AND VISUAL FEEDBACK OF TISSUES - Apparatus and methods for assessing tissue characteristics such as the dimensions and volume of an osteolytic lesion are disclosed. The apparatus may utilize ultrasound to provide visual and volumetric feedback related to a lesion or other tissue. Further the apparatus may be utilized to determine whether the lesion has been completely removed and filled with the appropriate amount of graft material. | 06-30-2011 |
