A composite comprising: a barrier, said barrier being configured to selectively pass water, and said barrier being degradable in the presence of water; a matrix material for disposition within said barrier, wherein said matrix material has a flowable state and a set state, and wherein said matrix material is degradable in the presence of water; and at least one reinforcing element for disposition within said barrier and integration with said matrix material, wherein said at least one reinforcing element is degradable in the presence of water, and further wherein, upon the degradation of said at least one reinforcing element in the presence of water, provides an agent for modulating the degradation rate of said matrix material in the presence of water.

A composite comprising: a barrier, said barrier being configured to selectively pass water, and said barrier being degradable in the presence of water; a matrix material for disposition within said barrier, wherein said matrix material has a flowable state and a set state, and wherein said matrix material is degradable in the presence of water; and at least one reinforcing element for disposition within said barrier and integration with said matrix material, wherein said at least one reinforcing element is degradable in the presence of water, and further wherein, upon the degradation of said at least one reinforcing element in the presence of water, provides an agent for modulating the degradation rate of said matrix material in the presence of water.

A bone fixation assembly may include an elongate fixation member and a flexible tensioning element. The elongate fixation member may include a central longitudinal axis, a distal portion couplable to a first bone fragment of a bone, and a proximal portion couplable to a second bone fragment of the bone to provide fixation of the second bone fragment relative to the first bone fragment. The flexible tensioning element may be couplable to the proximal and distal portions of the elongate fixation member to secure the elongate fixation member to the bone. The flexible tensioning element may be configured to span a bone fracture intermediate the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment to preload the bone fracture in compression to resist tensile force imparted across the bone fracture, thereby maintaining fixation of the first bone fragment relative to the second bone fragment.

A bone stimulator (30,40,50,610,810,910), a bone stimulation system (200,600,800, 900) and method for bone fracture healing of a broken bone (930,830,630,55) in a body, which can speed up the healing rate. Accordingly, ultrasound (214) is used by the present system to power up the implanted bone stimulator (30,40,50,610,810, 910) for generating a stimulating electric current passing through a broken area (931, 831,631,56) in the broken bone (930,830,630,55) for bone fracture healing.

A bone stimulator (30,40,50,610,810,910), a bone stimulation system (200,600,800, 900) and method for bone fracture healing of a broken bone (930,830,630,55) in a body, which can speed up the healing rate. Accordingly, ultrasound (214) is used by the present system to power up the implanted bone stimulator (30,40,50,610,810, 910) for generating a stimulating electric current passing through a broken area (931, 831,631,56) in the broken bone (930,830,630,55) for bone fracture healing.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw movable relative to the second jaw. The shaft extends proximally from the end effector. The shaft includes a proximal coupler, a tube, and a distal coupler. The proximal coupler includes a distal coupling feature adjacent a distal end. The tube includes proximal and distal coupling features that are adjacent the respective proximal and distal ends of the tube. The proximal coupling feature is configured to engage the distal coupling feature of the proximal coupler to securably lock the tube and the proximal coupler together. The distal coupler includes a proximal coupling feature adjacent the proximal end of the distal coupler. The proximal coupling feature of the distal coupler is configured to engage the distal coupling feature of the tube to securably lock the distal coupler and the tube together.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of arthrodesis or osteosyntheses of a first bone part and a second bone part, including the steps of positioning a first fixation zone of an implant in the first bone part and a second fixation zone of the implant in the second bone part, both the first and second zones made of shape-memory material and, prior to positioning the bone parts, are in an inner position; and while the first fixation zone is within the first bone part and the second fixation zone is within the second bone part, fixating the respective first and second fixation zones within the respective bone parts through shape-memory action at body temperature.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of arthrodesis or osteosyntheses of a first bone part and a second bone part, including the steps of positioning a first fixation zone of an implant in the first bone part and a second fixation zone of the implant in the second bone part, both the first and second zones made of shape-memory material and, prior to positioning the bone parts, are in an inner position; and while the first fixation zone is within the first bone part and the second fixation zone is within the second bone part, fixating the respective first and second fixation zones within the respective bone parts through shape-memory action at body temperature.

An interfragmentary guide and plate system is described.

A system is provided for aligning an intramedullary nail for implantation when the intramedullary nail has an intramedullary nail body having a first end having a first interlocking profile and the intramedullary nail body has a first through hole extending therethrough about a first axis. The system comprises an alignment device adapted and configured to be separable from the intramedullary nail. The system also comprises a holding fixture comprising a channel and a projection adapted and configured to cooperatively receive the intramedullary nail in the channel such that the projection extends within the first through hole and the first axis aligns with a through hole of the alignment device when the first interlocking profile is engaged with an interlocking profile of the alignment device.