A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.

A femoral implant for articulation with a patella or a patellar implant includes a body having an articular surface defining a trochlear groove. The trochlear groove is defined by a first trochlear radius at a first location along the trochlear groove and by a second trochlear radius at a second location along the trochlear groove, the first radius being different than the second radius. The configuration of the trochlear groove is such that it narrows as a patella or patellar implant moves from an extension configuration to a flexion configuration. A kit includes the femoral implant along with a patellar implant. A method of trialing involves use of the femoral implant or kit to ensure a smooth transition of the patella or the patellar implant from the femoral component to the adjacent bone.

An osteotome having a shaft assembly that includes a guide extending in a longitudinal direction of the shaft assembly, and a blade adjacent the guide and extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft assembly.

An artificial replacement disc includes a pair of substantially parallel plates formed to occupy a space defined by vertebral endplates, each of the plates including a plurality of spikes on a first surface and a concave trough formed on a second surface opposite of the first surface. A mobile core includes a core rim with opposing convex surfaces extending from opposite sides of the core rim, the mobile core being capable of being disposed between the pair of plates to permit the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. The spikes on each of the plates extend substantially away from the mobile core and the convex surfaces are formed to integrally fit within the concave trough of at least one of the plates. The core rim limits lateral movement of the mobile core relative to the parallel plates. One or more insertion tools for inserting and implanting the replacement disc are also described.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a balloon kyphoplasty surgical device comprising an extrusion tube having internal fluid channels and a support wire, a port arrangement positioned on a proximal end of the extrusion tube and a balloon arrangement positioned on a distal end of the extrusion tube, the balloon arrangement resulting in a cubic shape when inflated by the port arrangement. An exemplary implementation may be configured with multiple inner balloons housed in an outer balloon to create a specific shape. Some designs may be configured with multiple ports designed to individually and independently inflate each inner balloon and outer balloon. The outer balloon may be inflatable. The outer balloon may be sealed off, constraining inflation of the inner balloons to create a cubic-like shape when the inner balloons are inflated within the sealed outer balloon, resulting in improved vertebral structure stabilization by increased surface area lifting the bone.

The present invention provides for improved interbody cage devices using surgical methods for delivering such cage into the disc space. The present invention has at least one advantage of providing practical and advantageous methods for accessing the spinal disc space to insert and deploy interbody cage devices in various manners that overcome the disadvantages of posterior, trans-sacro-iliac, anterior, oblique and lateral approaches thereto and minimize surgical trauma to the patient. Thus, the present invention provides for the unmet need for improved interbody cage devices which may be inserted to a disc space for patients exhibiting a wide range of anatomies.

Implantable orthopedic pain management devices are disclosed, including a body with a top surface having a plurality of regions, each region having a radius of curvature, and a bottom surface having another radius of curvature, the body being configured to be disposed in a joint to prevent contact between one or more bones comprising the joint, the body also not being coupled to the one or more bones, a peripheral protrusion disposed substantially about a perimeter of the body and configured to prevent expulsion of the body from the joint, and a notch disposed substantially about the perimeter of the body and formed with a region of the top surface, the notch having a substantially outward facing vertical surface that is configured to retain the device in position within the joint.

Methods, compositions, and systems are provided for characterization of modified nucleic acids. In certain preferred embodiments, single molecule sequencing methods are provided for identification of modified nucleotides within nucleic acid sequences. Modifications detectable by the methods provided herein include chemically modified bases, enzymatically modified bases, abasic sites, non-natural bases, secondary structures, and agents bound to a template nucleic acid.

Disc prosthesis comprising an insert in the form of a flexible cushion, a first half-shell and a second half shell, the insert in the form of a flexible cushion being positioned between the half-shells, characterized in that a first of the half-shells includes a first base provided with a first surface for hooking on to a first vertebra and a recessed annulus for forming a first cup and in that a second of the half-shells is provided with a first surface for hooking on to a second vertebra and a second surface bearing a rim surrounding a second cup, the cups facing each other each receiving an upper crown and a lower crown of the insert, the annulus and the rim forming walls that slot together with play and making stops for angular and shearing movements between the half-shells.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a balloon kyphoplasty surgical device comprising an extrusion tube having internal fluid channels and a support wire, a port arrangement positioned on a proximal end of the extrusion tube and a balloon arrangement positioned on a distal end of the extrusion tube, the balloon arrangement resulting in a cubic shape when inflated by the port arrangement.