The present disclosure includes systems, methods, kits, and individual tools (e.g., trial sizers and delivery devices) for medical procedures involving a soft-tissue allograft for the correction of skeletal impairments (e.g., misalignments, arthritis, etc.).

In accordance to one aspect of the present disclosure, a driver for a bone screw is provided that includes an inner shaft and a distal drive head of the inner shaft. The drive head is configured to fit in a drive recess of a bone screw to form a mating connection therewith. The driver further includes at least one outer, resilient locking member shiftable along the inner shaft from a proximal, unlocked position to a distal, locked position. The resilient locking member has a locking portion that contacts and is urged outwardly by a proximal ramp surface of the drive head as the locking member shifts distally from the unlocked position to the locked position to secure the bone screw onto the drive head.

A bone material dispensing device is provided. The bone material dispensing device comprises a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The proximal end has a first opening and the distal end has a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a plunger. A tubular member is provided that is pivotably connected to the housing and is configured for lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The tubular member comprises a proximal opening, a distal opening and a channel disposed therebetween. The proximal opening, the distal opening and the channel of the tubular member are configured to receive at least the portion of the plunger. The tubular member is movable in a first position to align the proximal opening of the tubular member with the second opening of the housing to allow the tubular member to receive at least the portion of the plunger to dispense the bone material. A method of implanting bone material with the bone material dispensing device is also provided.

A sleeve for use with a percutaneous, external fixation device is disclosed, wherein the sleeve includes a sleeve body with an interior space in which the percutaneous device can be disposed, a flange that extends at a substantially perpendicular angle to the sleeve body, and a cutting edge extending from the sleeve body below the flange. The cutting edge is designed for placement in contact with the skin adjacent to the percutaneous device so as to define a leading edge thereof in a primary anticipated direction of migration of the percutaneous device. Kits and assemblies that include sleeves and percutaneous devices are also disclosed. Further disclosed are methods of reducing tension in a patient's skin following placement of the percutaneous device via use of the sleeve, as well as methods of adjusting and readjusting the assembly upon placement.

A method for controlling generation of biologically desirable voids in a composition placed in proximity to bone or other tissue in a patient by selecting at least one water-soluble inorganic material having a desired particle size and solubility, and mixing the water-soluble inorganic material with at least one poorly-water-soluble or biodegradable matrix material. The matrix material, after it is mixed with the water-soluble inorganic material, is placed into the patient in proximity to tissue so that the water-soluble inorganic material dissolves at a predetermined rate to generate biologically desirable voids in the matrix material into which bone or other tissue can then grow.

A system and method for improving upon an ability of a surgeon to repair traumatic bone injury using new materials, components, and structures. A structure may be used as an implant or a component of an external fixator for a fractured long bone with that structure having anisotropic and viscoelastic properties, such as through additive manufacturing techniques.

A system and method for improving upon an ability of a surgeon to repair traumatic bone injury using new materials, components, and structures. A structure may be used as an implant or a component of an external fixator for a fractured long bone with that structure having anisotropic and viscoelastic properties, such as through additive manufacturing techniques.

An electronically assisted artificial vertebral disc having an upper disc plate and a lower disc plate is disclosed. An actuator imparts movement to at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. A control device controls the actuator and the amount of movement between the disc plates. The actuator includes a plurality of either linear actuators or rotary actuators that are driven by electric motors in response to the control device. The control device includes at least a first sensor for detecting the position of the actuator and at least a second sensor for detecting the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. The control device also preferably includes a microprocessor that calculates the desired positions of the upper and lower disc plates and provides a control signal to the actuator to drive the upper and lower disc plates to their desired positions.

An electronically assisted artificial vertebral disc having an upper disc plate and a lower disc plate is disclosed. An actuator imparts movement to at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. A control device controls the actuator and the amount of movement between the disc plates. The actuator includes a plurality of either linear actuators or rotary actuators that are driven by electric motors in response to the control device. The control device includes at least a first sensor for detecting the position of the actuator and at least a second sensor for detecting the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. The control device also preferably includes a microprocessor that calculates the desired positions of the upper and lower disc plates and provides a control signal to the actuator to drive the upper and lower disc plates to their desired positions.

Kits and systems are disclosed that include one or more segments of elastically deformable membrane in combination with one or more external fixation members and optionally in combination with one or more tension protector pads. Also disclosed are methods of use of the kits and systems in methods that involve stretching the elastically deformable membrane and applying the stretched membrane to the skin of a patient, and releasing the tension on the membrane, thus causing compression of the skin to which the membrane is applied. The method may further include the optional steps of inserting one or more external fixation members through the membrane/skin combination and into a bone segment, applying a distraction force to the one or more external fixation members, and adjusting one or more segments of membrane to affect skin tension at a rate that is similar to a rate at which the distraction force is applied.