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.

Disclosed herein are an implant with an attachment feature and a method for attaching to the same. The implant may include a cavity with a porous layer disposed within a non-porous layer wherein the non-porous layer defines a chamber. The chamber may receive and confine liquefiable material and direct liquefiable material to permeate through the porous layer. A method of attaching a device to the implant may include liquefying a liquefiable portion of the device and allowing the liquefied material to interdigitate with the second layer and then solidify to prevent pullout.

Disclosed herein are an implant with an attachment feature and a method for attaching to the same. The implant may include a cavity with a porous layer disposed within a non-porous layer wherein the non-porous layer defines a chamber. The chamber may receive and confine liquefiable material and direct liquefiable material to permeate through the porous layer. A method of attaching a device to the implant may include liquefying a liquefiable portion of the device and allowing the liquefied material to interdigitate with the second layer and then solidify to prevent pullout.

A system and method for internal pelvic fixation. Guide wires can be inserted through guides and opposing sides of a pelvic bone, and can indicate a depth for driving bone screws into the pelvic bone. Offset rod tools positioned about each guide can assist in determining an offset distance between an implant rod and the pelvic bone. A template rod may be coupled to the offset rod tools and used to select a length for the implant rod. Clamps can be coupled to the bone screws, the clamps having multiple axes of rotation, the angular positions of the clamps being secured by the tightening of a single nut of each clamp. Joysticks used to tighten the nuts can be coupled to a reduction holder mechanism that can decrease at least an axial distance between the clamps, and thus pelvic bones, before locking of the clamps via tightening of the nuts.

A system and method for internal pelvic fixation. Guide wires can be inserted through guides and opposing sides of a pelvic bone, and can indicate a depth for driving bone screws into the pelvic bone. Offset rod tools positioned about each guide can assist in determining an offset distance between an implant rod and the pelvic bone. A template rod may be coupled to the offset rod tools and used to select a length for the implant rod. Clamps can be coupled to the bone screws, the clamps having multiple axes of rotation, the angular positions of the clamps being secured by the tightening of a single nut of each clamp. Joysticks used to tighten the nuts can be coupled to a reduction holder mechanism that can decrease at least an axial distance between the clamps, and thus pelvic bones, before locking of the clamps via tightening of the nuts.

A medical implant comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising a polymer and a plurality of uni-directionally aligned continuous reinforcement fibers.

A medical implant comprising a plurality of layers, each layer comprising a polymer and a plurality of uni-directionally aligned continuous reinforcement fibers.

A bone fixation system includes a length of suture, a screw, a tensioning tab, and an anchor. The length of suture has a first end and a second end. The screw comprises an elongated shaft having a threaded external surface, wherein the screw has a distal end, a proximal end, and an internal surface defining a passageway within the screw extending between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the passageway is configured to receive the length of suture. The tensioning tab is affixed to a section of the length of suture. The anchor is configured to secure the first end of the length of suture adjacent to the proximal end of the screw.

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.