888results about How to "Prevent exit" patented technology

A graft fixation device combination. The device is useful for affixing a tissue graft to a bone or other body surface. The fixation device has two implantation members connected by a graft retention member. The retention member optionally has at least one lateral wing member extending therefrom. The implantation members have longitudinal passageways therethrough. The graft fixation device also has an insertion member extending from the distal end of each implantation member, the insertion member having a longitudinal passage having a distal blind wall. The passages of the implantation members and the insertion members are in communication with each other, and may be mounted onto insertion members.

Spinal implants are disclosed. One spinal implant includes a support body, an articulating element, a blocking member and a motion limiting member. The support body includes a superior end surface and a lower end surface having teeth. In between the superior end surface and the lower end surface is a recess formed in a sidewall of the support body for receiving the articulating element. The blocking member can be received in the recess to prevent inadvertent back-out of the articulating element from within the recess. The articulating element can articulate in one or more directions, thereby allowing articulation of the spinal implant into a desired position within a disc space.

An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.

This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a frame-reinforced, expandable membrane which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber. The proximal ends of the ribs of the frame have tissue penetrating elements about the periphery thereof which are configured to penetrate tissue lining the heart wall at an angle approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the partitioning device. The partitioning device has a hub with a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall.

This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion which is suitable for treating patients with heart disease, particularly congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a reinforced membrane with outwardly biased members to help seal the periphery of the membrane against the wall of the patient's heart chamber. In one embodiment, the outwardly biased member is an expansive strand that extends between adjacent ribs of an expandable frame which reinforces the membrane. In another embodiment, the outwardly biased member is a hydrophilic body such as foam which swells upon contact with body fluid such as blood in the heart chamber. The reinforced membrane has a central hub with a distally extending support stem with a plurality of feet which extend radially from a centerline axis and preferably have ends that are aligned in a common plane. The ends of the pods which extend radially away from the centerline axis may be interconnected by flexible struts and/or webs.

The present invention teaches an improved spinal fusion implant and method of implanting same. The implant includes a shell and an insert, the insert capable of situating first and second plates of the shell with respect to each other and of preventing unwanted loosening of fasteners placed through the shell and into the adjacent vertebral bodies. The method includes implanting a shell, selecting an insert from a plurality of inserts, and placing an insert between first and second plates of the shell.

An osmotic delivery system for controlled delivery of a beneficial agent includes an implantable capsule containing a beneficial agent and an osmotic engine that swells on contact with water, thereby causing the release of the beneficial agent over time. The osmotic delivery system has a membrane material that allows a controlled amount of fluid to enter from an exterior of the capsule, while preventing the compositions within the capsule from passing out of the capsule. The osmotic delivery system is designed to meet at least the operating pressures of 1000 psi. The membrane material is cast, calendered or extruded followed by machining (i.e., die-cutting, stamping or otherwise cutting to shape) to provide a uniform nonribbed membrane material. The capsule also includes a membrane material-retaining means that is positioned at a fluid uptake end to retain the membrane material within the capsule, even under periods of high pressure.

A fluid infusion device and a method of using the same. The device includes an outer, flexible guide catheter having a distal end for introduction beneath the skull of a patient and a proximal end remaining external of the patient. A flexible infusion fiber is located within the guide catheter and has a distal end extending outwardly from the guide catheter to be located in a target area within the patient's brain. The infusion fiber can be fixed or axially movable within the guide catheter. In the latter embodiment, the proximal end of the infusion fiber extending outwardly from the guide catheter can be manipulated to locate the distal end of the infusion fiber in the target area. An infusion pump is connected to the proximal end of the infusion fiber to infuse a minute quantity of fluid at an extremely low flow rate into the brain of the patient.

An apparatus for reducing the profile of a bone fixation plate while preventing backing out of screws is disclosed. The plate has at least two openings though which two screws can pass through bony tissue. The apparatus includes at least one section of relief and sections of engagement. As the screw is tightened, it will begin to lag the plate to the bone. When the screw head interferes with the plate at the interference point, there is a slight resistance that insertion forces can overcome. When the screw is advanced further, it snaps into the sliding fit area and is allowed to move freely. The forces that cause the screw to back out from the plate are preferably not strong enough to pass the screw head back past the interference section. At least one of the two openings is configured as an elongated slot to allow the screw to translate in the slot. It may be desirable to include a set screw to help prevent backout.

A bone plate is provided for fixation of spaced vertebra. The bone plate has at least one through passage for securing the plate to bone with a bone fixation screw. The threaded shaft of a bone fixation screw is inserted through a bushing located in the through passage of the bone plate and the screw is thereby threadably secured to the underlying bone and the bushing is then compressed inward against the head of the screw with cams that are actuated by rotating the bushing in the through passage whereby the screw is locked relative to the bone plate. The bushing is not only compressed inwardly against the head of the screw but is also compressed downwardly by the cams into a seat to clamp separate elements of the bone plate together.

A bone prosthesis for implantation at a joint is adapted to closely replicate the normal loading of the femur and is suitable for implantation using a single incision anterior approach, a form of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The bone prosthesis comprises a stem adapted for orientation with a medial trabecular stream of the femur.

This invention relates to a spinal fusion system and method for use as a prosthetic implant. The system and method includes a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, such as adjacent vertebrae. The housing cooperates with the spinal bones to define a graft area for receiving graft material, which may be inserted anteriorly into the housing during a surgical operation such as a vertebrectomy or discectomy. A housing may have various features such as migration preventers to prevent the housing from migrating posteriorly towards a spinal column during or after insertion of the housing; a plurality of projections or crossbars may be removably inserted into the housing and can be used with a cover that permits the housing to “float” relative thereto.

The present invention provides a wear assembly (1) including a wear member (10, 100, 110) to be mounted to an implement or apparatus to be protected, a base member (30, 300, 330) to be attached to the implement or apparatus, a lock member (20, 21) to lock said wear member (10, 100, 110) to said base member (30, 300, 330), said wear member (10, 100, 110) including or receiving said lock member (20, 21) and said base (30, 300, 330) including at least one aperture (33) in which is located a releasable retaining means (40) to releasably hold a portion (22) of said lock member (20, 21). The wear member can be: shroud; a tile shroud; a tooth; a replaceable tip. The base member can be: a base for a shroud, a base for a tile shroud; an adaptor for a tooth; an adaptor for a replaceable tip. The implement or apparatus can be: an excavation bucket; a grader blade; a chute; an excavation bucket edge; an excavation bucket surface; dump or haul truck load carrier; an ore or mineral handling apparatus.

The present invention provides a puncture aid comprising a housing in which a lancet holder with a lancet is displaceably mounted, the lancet holder being connected to a spring element. The lancet holder has at least one bearing element and the housing has a support surface arranged such that the bearing element rests on the support surface in a first position of the lancet holder. A trigger unit is provided, actuation of which transfer the lancet holder to a second position by means of a relative rotational movement of the bearing element and the support surface, so that the bearing element falls from the support surface in the second position of the lancet holder, and the tensioned spring element at least partially relaxes and moves the lancet holder such that the tip of the lancet emerges from the opening of the housing. The puncture aid includes a blocking element which is arranged such that it blocks a relative rotational movement of the bearing element and the support surface with respect to one another after the trigger unit has transferred the lancet holder to the second position with the result that reuse of the puncture aid is prevented.