Other

Orthopedic Systems, Inc.

Alan A Halpern

Steve R Lamb

Steven R Lamb

A method for repairing a defect in cartilage, comprising the provision of apertures in the cartilage by drilling holes at the base of the cartilage defect, which holes may enter the mesenchymal depot, introducing a porous scaffold material containing a plurality of magnetic particles into the apertures, and subsequently and sequentially injecting magnetically-tagged cartilage growth promoting materials such as various growth factors or chondrocytes into the area of the defect. The magnetically tagged growth promoting material is then drawn into the apertures by magnetic attraction of the magnetic particles contained in the porous scaffold material, either by virtue of the particles being permanently magnetic, or by the imposition of an external magnetic field. The present application claims the biodegradable porous scaffold material containing the plurality of magnetic particles.

Means for cartilage repair

A severed or otherwise interrupted spinal cord or peripheral nerve is provided with magnetic nanoparticles which are absorbed or actively incorporated into the neurons and their axons. The severed or otherwise interrupted nerve or cord is then exposed to an external magnetic field which is moved longitudinally of the severed or otherwise interrupted nerve or spinal cord, thereby stretching the magnetic particle-loaded neurons and their axons along the desired axis for bridging the gap or gaps and repairing the injured spinal cord or nerve. The procedure may be repeated to extend the area of repair. The severed or otherwise interrupted spinal cord or peripheral nerve is advantageously provided, either internally or alongside, with an insert comprising multiple strands of biodegradable material having magnetic particles oriented along the axis thereof, for focusing and concentrating the external magnetic field in the desired axis. Magnetic particles tagged with substances which are biologically incorporated into neurons and their axons may be employed to increase the absorption of the magnetic particles into the cells and/or to stimulate the growth activities of the cell.

Magnetic stretching of magnetized neurons for spinal cord or peripheral

Method for cartilage repair

A reaming device for use in creating a cavity or excavation in a femoral neck which is adapted to receive an intramedullary insert, and especially an upper flange or offset of an intramedullary insert, is disclosed, as well as a method for producing such a cavity or excavation in the femoral neck, preferably in a flattened and elongated superior neck of a previously-resected femoral head. The apparatus provides a camming surface in contact with a corresponding cam follower for longitudinal manipulation of the rotatory reamer into and within the upper portion of the femoral head to create the desired cavity or excavation therein as the rotary reamer is moved back and forth generally laterally.

Femoral superior neck remodelling means and method

An improved femoral hip joint replacement and method are disclosed, as well as a drilling fixture to assist with carrying out the method. The method involves the provision of an elongated excavation or aperture by drilling of overlapping boreholes in the top of the femoral head, and then securing therein a similarly-contoured femoral insert adapted to be located within the femoral shaft and within the boreholes in the remaining upstanding portions of the remodeled femoral head. A metal cap, of approximately the normal femoral head size, or an arcuate portion thereof, is secured to or integral with the insert and projects in usual manner from the superior portion of the remodeled femoral head and is adapted to fit into an acetabulum of the hipbone. According to the method of the invention and with the employment of the femoral hip joint replacement provided thereby, there is substantially no chance of axial or rotational movement of the femoral hip joint replacement or any portion thereof within the femoral shaft or with respect to the remoldeled femoral head, and the remodeled femoral head produced according to the invention and employing the femoral hip joint prosthesis of the invention is accordingly characterized by superior load-bearing characteristics and stability in operation.

Femoral head remodeling and femoral insert and drilling aid therefor

Apparatus for determining the distance between points on first and second skeletal bodies. The apparatus may continually achieve such distance determination during relative movement between the skeletal bodies. The apparatus includes first and second clamps or aimers each including a tip and base. Aimers are attached to the first and second skeletal bodies and are connected to an articulated linkage. The angular motion of the articulated linkages determines and correlates the movement between first and second aimers attached to the skeletal bodies. The signal produced by the articulated linkage is translated into a measurement of distance between the tips of the first and second skeletal bodies.

Apparatus for determining interskeletal distances

An exercise device is provided together with a method for using the device which, when used either independently or in combination with a conventional exercise apparatus, generates a series of pulse forces in the same direction as the resistance force applied by the conventional apparatus in combination with which the present device is utilized, and in a direction opposite to that applied by the subject utilizing the exercise device, and with force sufficient to move the body member of the subject a short distance and thereby to stretch the muscles of the body member with each pulse force. The stretching of the muscles by the application of the pulse forces results over a period of time in the strengthening of the body member muscles to a greater degree than would occur as a result of exercising with the conventional apparatus alone.

Pulse force generating and loading exercise device and method

An apparatus utilizing a clamp mechanism for holding a rotating body limp. A mechanical arm is linked to the clamp mechanism and rotatably connects to a pivot member. The angular rotation of the mechanical arm about the pivot member is measured simultaneously with force exerted by the rotating body limb on the clamp mechanism. A strain gage is linked to the clamp mechanism to provide such force measurement.

Apparatus for obtaining a body limb torque signal

A method for the prevention or alleviation of a condition of osteoporosis which includes the step of placing a patient in a standing position upon a platform at a first level and repeatedly raising the platform to a second level and causing it to drop to said first level, thereby imparting force to the bones of the subject standing upon the platform for strengthening of and growth-promotion in the same, and means for carrying out the said method, are disclosed.

Antiosteoporosis device and method

Antiosteoporosis device having drop platform with powered drop

A femoral hip joint replacement comprises a hollow metal cap, approximating the normal femoral head size, secured to a tri-flanged insert adapted to be located within the femoral shaft and between remaining upstanding portions of the remodeled femoral head. The cap is secured to or integral with the upper surface of the insert head and rests upon the superior portion of the remodeled femoral head which has been cut downwardly at an angle of approximately 23 degrees in relation to a plane normal to the vertical axis of the femoral shaft. The sides and end of the femoral head are also resected to provide flat faces, and the upper surface of the remodeled femoral head also preferably angles upwardly front-to-back at an angle of approximately seven degrees, these angles imparting superior load-bearing characteristics to the structure in operation. The insert neck is seated on the inner surface of the cortex of the medial portion of the remodeled femur at the calcar or inferior femoral neck, and the metal shell has inner mating faces corresponding to the faces of the remodeled femoral head to facilitate close engagement therewith and securement thereto. The inner portion of the metal shell and the insert are preferably porous-coated to allow direct ingrowth of bone. Following placement of the prosthetic insert within the femoral shaft, the surgeon has the option of further securing or not securing the insert with cement.

Growing community of inventors

Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

Alan A Halpern