Certain embodiments of the invention provide plates for treating periarticular fractures or other non-full body weight bearing applications that combine polyaxial fixation with a low profile and enhanced contouring that more closely conforms to bone. Such plates can be designed to achieve buttressing effect and/or to be used in a reinforcement mode. Other features can be combined with these. Such plates can be created for use on bone sites such as on a tibia, fibula, metatarsal, calcaneous, other foot bone, humerus, radius, ulna, spinal, maxillofacial, as well as sites on other bones.

A device for modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation, the device including a shape memory material and being capable of modulating biological tissue and/or bone conformation simultaneously in at least two dimensions, a process for producing the device, a process for modulating biological tissue and/or bone using the device, and uses thereof.

The invention comprises an apparatus for covering an exposed end of a severed sternum, comprising a strip operative to cover the exposed end and pliable portions which are able to be manually deformed over sides of the exposed end so as to retain the strip against the exposed end to stop or at least reduce flow of blood from the exposed end.

Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for fixation of a fractured bone with a bone plate. In various embodiments, the systems and plates provide elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to an osteosynthesis plate. This elastic suspension can promote load distribution between the screws that connect a bone segment to the plate, thereby reducing stress risers and load shielding effect. In addition, stress at the screw holes, and within the construct as a whole, is reduced by incorporation of these elastic elements in the plate. Additionally, in some embodiments where fracture healing by callus formation is desired, elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to the osteosynthesis plate can enable small, controlled amounts of relative motion between bone fragments connected by the plate. This relative motion can promote fracture healing by callus formation.

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

Shapeable porous metal implants and methods for use in various procedures are disclosed. The implants can comprise a shell according to some examples. According to one example, the method can include providing a sheet of highly porous metal material having a porosity of between 55% and 90%, and wrapping the sheet of highly porous metal material around at least a first bone of the patient. Further examples can form the sheet intra-operatively to a desired shape. In an example, the porous metal sheet can be formed of tantalum or tantalum alloys.

Translation screw assemblies that can include a screw, housing, load plate, and collet are described herein. The translation screw assembly advantageously allows for relative translation, angulation or pivoting, and/or rotation between the screw and the housing. Occipital plate assemblies are also described herein. An occipital plate assembly can include a plate body and one or more rod receiving assemblies. The plate assembly can include an occipital protuberance tab that can be bent relative to or sheared off from the plate body. The rod receiving assembly can include a pivot post, housing, clamp plate, and retaining washer. The rod-receiving assemblies advantageously allow for relative medial-lateral translation, medial-lateral angulation, and/or cranial-caudal angulation between the rod-receiving assemblies or portions thereof (e.g., the housings) and plate body.

A system for achieving maxillo-mandibular fixation includes a bone fixation device including a bone fixation body formed from a plurality of links. The links define corresponding crests and valleys so as to impart flexibility into the bone fixation body. Thus, the bone fixation body can be aligned with the dental arch of the mandible and maxilla as necessary, and subsequently fastened to the underlying bone. Each bone fixation device includes at least one securement location on the fixation body that can attach to a securement device, such that the securement device fixes or stabilizes the mandible and the maxilla with respect to each other.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to the field of bone plates for the reduction and fixation of bone fractures. In particular, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a quadrilateral surface bone plate for the fixation of acetabular fractures having at least one securing port therein and methods of making and using same.

The invention relates to a bone plate system with a bone plate, a pressure plate, and a bone screw. The bone plate comprises a through-hole, said through-hole having a seat surface with a variable angle for the bone screw. In the connected state of the system, the bone screw is inserted into the through-hole. The head of the bone screw is enclosed between the bone plate and the pressure plate. The pressure plate is fixed to the bone plate via a screw connection which has two securing screws. The axes of the securing screws spread apart such that the distance between the axes of the securing screws increases in the screw-in direction. The head of the bone screw is thereby reliably fixed between the pressure plate and the bone plate.