An apparatus and methods are provided for a bowed plate for fixating osteotomies and joint arthrodeses. The bowed plate includes a backplate comprising a support portion and an aperture portion that share an intervening central portion. The central portion angles the support portion and the aperture portion toward a midline of the bowed plate. A leg extends from the support portion and includes fixation features that enable the leg to grip an inner wall of a hole drilled in bone. A slanted aperture in the aperture portion is configured to countersink a bone screw. The central portion is configured to be straightened by way of a surgical bending instrument and implanted at a bone fixation or fusion site of a patient. Upon relaxing the surgical bending instrument, the leg and the bone screw compress the fusion site.

A variety of K-wires with imbedded plates are disclosed that allow for the plate in K-wire to be secured to the bone after insertion. Further, a donut shaped washer for capturing and securing the K-wire is disclosed. Also, a screw with a channel is disclosed that has a head shaped to capture and secure the K-wire. Finally, embodiments of a slotted washer are disclosed that captures and secures the K-wire.

An assembly used in osteosynthesis comprising a delivery instrument in combination with an implant wherein the delivery instrument releasably holds the implant in a first configuration prior to attachment of the implant to bone. The delivery instrument allows the implant to be affixed to bone before the implant is released from the instrument. And the instrument may comprise guide means for drills, depth gauges, screws, pins, pegs, blades and or drivers which are used or implanted when the implant is releasably attached to the instrument. After the implant is affixed to bone and released from the delivery instrument, the implant assumes at least a second configuration which provides compression and or distraction and or control of spatial orientation.

A suture threader configured to thread sutures through suture holes in a bone plate, including: a base; a plurality of hooks attached to the base, wherein the plurality of hooks are arranged at positions on the base corresponding the suture holes on the bone plate.

Navigation systems and methods used to track objects moving in space. One navigation system and method employs trackers each having a light emitting diode that emits a colored light when obstruction of line-of-sight between tracking elements on the trackers and sensors or other errors are absent. When obstruction of line-of-sight between tracking elements on the trackers and sensors or other errors are generated, the light emitting diode is deactivated. Another navigation system and method employs trackers each having a light emitting diode that emits a colored light when obstruction of line-of-sight between tracking elements on the trackers and sensors or other errors are generated. When obstruction of line-of-sight between tracking elements on the trackers and sensors or other errors are absent, the light emitting diode is deactivated.

Implant positioning devices and fastener guides for implant positioning devices are disclosed for assisting in positioning orthopaedic fixation devices (such as bone plates, etc.). A fastener guide may include a body with slits in a first end of the body that form a guide arm proximal to the first end of the body. The guide arm is configured to releasably hold a fastener in the fastener guide. The fastener guide may also be coupled to a bone plate to facilitate ease of alignment and insertion of the fastener into a fastener apertures of the bone plate.

Intervertebral spacer assemblies, systems, and methods thereof. A method of insertion includes inserting an intervertebral spacer and plate together using an insertion tool and, upon removal of the insertion tool, the intervertebral spacer and plate are no longer considered connected/coupled and act as separate components.

An orthopedic instrument for manipulating (e.g., compressing or distracting) one or more patient's bone fragments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the orthopedic instrument includes forceps having first and second arms and first and second handles, respectively. Each arm including a coupling mechanism for selectively engaging removable tips or bell housings. Each tip or bell housing including a first end arranged and configured to mate with a fastener hole or opening formed in a bone plate, a second end arranged and configured to receive a head portion of a bone fastener, and an intermediate portion arranged and configured to couple to the coupling mechanism of the first and second arms. In addition, the orthopedic instrument may include a force sensing mechanism or gauge arranged and configured to measure an amount of force being applied across the bone fracture.

An implant for use in orthognathic surgery of a mandible may include a longitudinal plate member and a plurality of pre-configured guides coupled to the plate member. The longitudinal plate member is pre-bent to correspond to the post-operative shape of the mandible; and the guides are pre-configured to align the plate member with the mandible when the implant is positioned against the mandible after the mandible has been separated.

An apparatus for providing structural support to an anatomical structure is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of connection structures and a frame structure. Each of the plurality of connection structures is arranged that, in use, they are connected to at least two points on an anatomical structure. In use, each connection structure is arranged to be orientated in a predetermined orientation and to be separated from each other connection structure by a predetermined separation. The frame structure connects each of the plurality of connection structures. The frame structure is arranged to maintain the predetermined orientations of the plurality of connection structures and the predetermined separations between the plurality of connection structures.