An apparatus for anchoring cable to bone includes an anchor configured to be anchored in a bone and a cable fixed to the anchor. The cable is configured to be tensioned to a measurable and adjustable tension to cause a measurable and adjustable compression of the bone by the cable. The apparatus may include a cable housing having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a passage. The distal portion is detachably and co-rotatably engageable with the anchor and the passage is open to and extends from a distal end of the distal portion. The apparatus also includes a cable having a fixed-end portion and a free-end portion. The fixed-end portion of the cable is fixed to the anchor and the free-end portion of the cable is non-fixedly positionable in the passage of the cable housing.

A screw insertion system has a screw having a threaded shaft and a head. The head has a conically tapered outer surface, the taper increasing in distance from a central longitudinal axis of the screw from a free end of the head towards a larger diameter adjacent the connection between the head and the threaded shaft. The conically tapered head outer surface has preferably two helically extending partially rounded threads. The head has a drive element for engaging a driver. A tubular screw holder has an outer surface and internal bore extending between a leading end and a trailing end for receiving the screw. The leading end having a conically tapered inner threaded portion for engaging the conically tapered outer thread of the screw head. The tubular screw holder outer surface having a diameter less than or equal to the maximum diameter of the conically tapered head.

A system and method for forming a hip implant offering minimal invasiveness is described. The system comprises means for positioning the implant under optical and X-ray control, an implant and an applicator for screwing and expanding the implant. The implant includes an insert body and an expansion tube with cut-outs and slits defining legs. The legs expand radially through windows in the insert body when the expansion tube is pushed against the sloped distal portion of the insert body. The expansion process may be ensured by using an anti-rotation device to prevent the insertion tube from rotating within the insert body. Applicator and implant are provided with means preventing cold welding during the implantation process.

A system for fastening soft tissue to bone includes a bone screw having a threaded shaft and a screw head having an underside with malleable protuberances that project toward a distal end of the threaded shaft. A fixation plate is coupled with the threaded shaft. The fixation plate has a proximal face that opposes the underside of the screw head, a distal face that faces away from the underside of the screw head, an outer peripheral edge that extends between the proximal and distal faces, a central opening for receiving the threaded shaft, and protrusions spaced from one another around the outer peripheral edge that extend distally beyond the distal face of the fixation plate. The system includes an insertion tool having a handle and a tubular shaft extending distally from the handle. The tubular shaft has a proximal shaft section having an inner diameter that closely matches an outer diameter of the screw head, and a distal shaft section having an inner surface with a groove that seats the outer peripheral edge of the fixation plate for releasable retaining the fixation plate within the distal shaft section. A cartridge contains the bone screw and the fixation plate coupled with the bone screw. The cartridge includes a proximal end that seats the screw head and a distal end that seats the fixation plate of the bone screw.

The present invention relates to an osseous pin (1) for bone fracture fixation. The pin comprises a threaded front section (2) and an unthreaded rear section (3). The threaded front section is configured with two or more kerfs (4) to facilitate breaking of the pin at any one of said kerfs. The present invention also relates to a guide sleeve for use in insertion of the osseous pin (1) into bone fragments at a bone fracture and breaking of said pin at the kerf (4) closest to the entrance site of the pin into the bone fragments. The present invention also relates to an extraction member for use in extraction of the osseous pin (1) from bone fragments at a healed bone fracture and a kit, comprising said components.

A bone fastener includes a head, and a screw portion extends from the head. The screw portion includes a shaft and a thread extending along and about the shaft. The thread has a height extending from a root to a tip thereof. The thread also has first and second portions disposed between the root and the tip. The second portion has a porous structure configured to promote bone ingrowth and has a porosity greater than that of the first portion.

The invention relates to an improved-structure instrument (1) for allowing the alignment of fixing screws (2) to be inserted in transverse holes (3, 13) of nails (4) for long bones, in particular medullary nails, of the type comprising an arched arm (15) having a free distal end (6) connectable to a proximal end (16) of a head (7) of the nail (4) in which the transverse holes (3, 13) are formed, and a proximal handle portion (5), as well as a connection portion (20) between the distal end (6) and the proximal handle portion (5). Advantageously, the connection portion (2) comprises at least one through-hole (23, 33) for receiving a guide tube (10) for a drilling bit, the through-hole (22, 33) having an axis coinciding with the axis of one of the transverse holes (3, 13,) and manually operated quick-locking means (25) are associated with the through-hole (23, 33) so as to lock in a stable position the corresponding tube (10) inserted in the instrument (1).

A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae of a patient includes advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the inferior vertebrae. A proximal portion of the stabilization device is positioned such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae by contacting a surface of the superior vertebrae.

A first method, for reducing and stabilizing at least one of a fracture in, a dislocation of, and a subluxation of at least one bone, includes forming a hole in the at least one bone. The first method also includes anchoring a first portion of a cable relative to the at least one bone and positioning a second portion of the cable in the hole in the at least one bone. With the second portion of the cable positioned in the hole in the at least one bone, the method includes both tensioning the cable to a measurable and adjustable tension and, with the cable tensioned to the measurable tension, anchoring a third portion of the cable relative to the at least one bone.

A polyaxial spinal screw including a head and a threaded body. The head is defined by a portion of a first sphere that has a first center and a portion of a second sphere that has a second center, wherein the second center is approximately concentric with the first center. The threaded body extends from the portion of first sphere, wherein the portion of the first sphere is compressible approximately through the first center via compression of the portion of the second sphere.