Abstract:
A minimally invasive fixation system and method for providing access to a surgical site. The fixation system may include a holding assembly, the holding assembling preferably including a lateral implant holder which may be attached to a pedicle screw and a sleeve positioned in connection with the lateral implant holder to prevent the lateral implant holder from separating from the pedicle screw. The sleeve may further include a tissue protection portion to keep the tissue out of the surgical site. A holding sleeve may be operably connected to the holding assembly and pedicle screw and may be used to insert the pedicle screw into the body. Multiple constructs may be inserted into the body so that a portion of the holding assembly extends from the body and provides access to and visualization of the surgical site. A rod holder may also be used to insert a rod into the head of the screw. The rod may be held by the rod holder so that the rod may be angulated as the rod is inserted into the screw heads. Once the rod is positioned in the screw heads, locking caps and/or set screws may be positioned over the rod and engage the screw heads so that the position of the rod may be fixed with respect to the screws. In some embodiments, a movement mechanism may be used to move the screws relative to each other to compress and/or distract the vertebrae.
Abstract:
Apparatus for clamping filter means to a frame, particularly for filtering particles from drilling fluid recovered from oil wells. The apparatus has means to clamp the filter to a frame, and tensioning means such as a hose which expands to press the filter or a portion thereof into a groove adapted to receive the hose.
Abstract:
An expandable interbody spacer (10) is provided that includes a pair of oppositely facing endplate components (20, 40) and an interior component that includes one or more vertically extending stacks of arranged C-clip members (70) radially surrounding one or more bosses (30) protruding interiorly from one of the endplates, wherein the size and configuration of the bosses and the c-clip members are designed to allow the incremental expansion of expandable interbody spacer.
Abstract:
An expandable intervertebral implant (10) includes a first member (20), a second member (40), and a collar operatively associated with the first and second members, wherein the collar includes a threaded mechanism so that rotation of the collar causes the second member to axially move with respect to the first member. The implant includes a ratchet mechanism (50, 80) so that when at least a predetermined amount of force is applied, the second member moves with respect to the first member in an axial, ratchet-type manner. The collar preferably includes a drive ring (50) rotatably attached to the first member and a ratchet ring (50) operatively associated with the drive ring. The ratchet ring includes an inner bore having at least one corresponding ratchet thread tooth form formed thereon for engaging a ratchet thread tooth form formed on the second member.
Abstract:
Apparatus for filtering cuttings from drilling fluid comprises a filter disposed in an endless recirculating loop (10), an inlet (30) for receiving drilling fluid and cuttings from a drilling well and disposed to direct the drilling fluid and cuttings onto the filter (10), and an outlet (50) disposed to receive filtered drilling fluid from the filter (10), for supply of the filtered drilling fluid to a drilling well.
Abstract:
An adjustable intervertebral implant (100) for implantation into a patient's sρine in-between first and second adjacent or neighboring vertebrae. The implant may include one or more of the following features : (i) inner (110) and outer (115) members coupled by a radiographically imageable expansion ring (130), (ii) detachable endplates (120,125) coupled to the implant via a polygonal press-fit coupling interface that accommodate a range of lordotic endplates to be applied to the implant using any surgical approach, (iii) an interference pre-loaded set screw (160) for selectively locking the height of the construct, (iv) a radiographically imageable marker (180) for determining the expansion of the implant, and (v) an asymmetric thread coupling (133,190) between the expansion ring and the inner member.
Abstract:
A spinal implant configured to facilitate focused treatment of spinal tumors includes a plurality of irradiated implant seeds configured to concentrate the dosage and duration of radiation treatment of tumors.
Abstract:
A minimally invasive fixation system and method for providing access to a surgical site. The fixation system may include a holding assembly, the holding assembling preferably including a lateral implant holder which may be attached to a pedicle screw and a sleeve positioned in connection with the lateral implant holder to prevent the lateral implant holder from separating from the pedicle screw. The sleeve may further include a tissue protection portion to keep the tissue out of the surgical site. A holding sleeve may be operably connected to the holding assembly and pedicle screw and may be used to insert the pedicle screw into the body. Multiple constructs may be inserted into the body so that a portion of the holding assembly extends from the body and provides access to and visualization of the surgical site. A rod holder may also be used to insert a rod into the head of the screw. The rod may be held by the rod holder so that the rod may be angulated as the rod is inserted into the screw heads. Once the rod is positioned in the screw heads, locking caps and/or set screws may be positioned over the rod and engage the screw heads so that the position of the rod may be fixed with respect to the screws. In some embodiments, a movement mechanism may be used to move the screws relative to each other to compress and/or distract the vertebrae.
Abstract:
The expandable access device may have an access portion (3) and an expandable portion (5) connected by a mobility member (7) such that the access portion may be translated and/or rotated relative to the expandable portion using a surgical or diagnostic device and/or a finger. The access portion may have a fixed cross-section or be expandable. Tools inserted through a passageway (9) through the device may expand the expandable portion. The device may be inserted towards a surgical site with the expandable portion in the unexpanded condition, and the expandable portion then expanded.