Other

Izex Technologies, Inc.

Ilion Medical, Inc.

Llion Medical, Inc.

Izek Technologies, Inc.

Izex Technology, Inc.

John G Stark

Duane P Oyen

Steven Backes

Timothy J B Hanson

Cecil H Nelson

Richard G Lund

Shawn B Dempster

James B Martinson

Thomas Bybee

Arthur M Lohmann

Joel L Boyd

Brynn D Rogers

Blair P Mowery

Gary Manninen

Timothy Tracey

Duane Pm Oyen

Duane P M Oyen

Procedures for the fusion of the sacroiliac joint advantageously make use of an implant selected to distract the joint upon insertion and to maintain or increase tension upon insertion. The implant can have a varying structure along its length. In some method described herein for fusing the sacroiliac joint using an implant, an implant is screwed into the sacroiliac joint between the sacrum bone and the iliac bone. The implant comprises a shaft, a tool engagement flange at top end of the shaft, a pointed tip comprising no more than about 20 percent of the length of the screw, and threads spiraling around the shaft. For screws of particular interest, the volume displacement perpendicular to the shaft increases at least about 5 percent from a point adjacent the tip to a point near the top of the shaft. Some of the desirable screw designs can be used in other orthopedic application, especially situations involving varying bone hardness. Useful filler material can be formed from a blend of bone powder and bioactive agents.

Methods for delivery of screws for joint fusion

A tool set for preparing a joint, inserting an implant or removing an implant from a joint in an open or less invasive procedure generally comprises a set of nested tools, pin guides, jigs, and/or immobilization elements. The nested tool set comprises at least one pin and at least one cannulated tool. The cannula can comprise tangs that project from the distal end of the cannula. The tangs can be offset such that drilling removes different amounts of bone relative to drilling through a centered drill guide. The cannulated tool kit can comprise at least one tool guide/cannula, drill bits/reamer, syringe, and/or inserter. At least one cannula is positioned over and around the pin position into the joint. The channel of the cannula guides the other tools into the joint.

Tools for performing less invasive orthopedic joint procedures

An adjustable hat has a first attachment member and a strap connection member that cooperate to allow a strap to be easily connected and removed from the adjustable hat. The two elements may also be reversed with regard to construction and attachment to parts of the hat. The two members can be disengaged from one another without having to access them in the space formed by the hat and the band.

Adjustable hat with removable adjustment straps

Improved tools and procedures relate to the immobilization of the sacroiliac joint for the treatment of pain associated with the joint. Kits comprise, for example, a guide element and an immobilization element of a biocompatible material with a size and shape suitable for placement within the sacroiliac joint. Suitable immobilization elements include, for example, pins, nails, screws, darts, wedges, shims and hardening material. A bioactive agent can be delivered into the joint to compliment the immobilization and promote healing. Suitable procedures can be done in a less invasive procedure through a cannula or the like.

Sacroiliac joint immobilization

Implants and procedures for joint fusion make use of implants comprising cortical bone. The implants have lamellae that are generally aligned. In some embodiments, the implants can have indicia that indicate the alignment of the lamellae within the joint. In some embodiments, the implants comprise a plurality of implant elements, with the implant elements oriented so that the lamellae of the elements are aligned with each other. The implants can be inserted into a joint with the lamellae aligned across the joint to resist compression or deforming forces of the joint and to provide for improved implant strength. In some embodiments, the implants can be inserted into a joint over a pin and/or through a cannula to help guide the implant to the implant site within the joint. In some embodiments, the implants can be desirably formed from bone plugs harvested from long bones.

Bone implants for orthopedic procedures and corresponding methods

Orthoses with microprocessor control placed around the joint of a patient are used to perform and to monitor isometric, range-of-motion, proprioception and isotonic exercises of the joint. A variety of improved hardware elements result in an orthosis that is easier to use and interacts more efficiently with the controller to allow the monitoring of a greater range of motions while holding down cost and provide suitable accurate evaluation of the exercises. Efficient ways of programming the exercises, monitoring the exercises and evaluating the exercise provide a comprehensive program for the rehabilitation of an injured or weakened joint.

Remote monitoring of a patient

Methods for facilitating joint immobilization or fusion using selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) such as raloxifene are disclosed. The SERM may be administered systemically or locally. In conjunction with SERM, other therapeutic agents such as calcium, vitamin D, bone morphogenetic protein may be administered simultaneously. The method can similarly be applied to facilitate bone repair, bone healing, and connective tissue healing processes in a patient.

Use of selective estrogen receptor modulator for joint fusion and other repair or healing of connective tissue

Instrumented orthoses with more sophisticated structures provide for coordinated support and rehabilitation of complex joints and multiple injured joints. Improved instrumented orthoses can include hinges that can rotate in multiple different planes. Particularly preferred embodiments include a shoulder brace with a hand hold and a lower extremities brace. Preferably, a control unit monitors the output Of transducers used to instrument the brace. A patient can be prompted by the control unit for the performance of a variety of different monitored exercises.

Remote psychological evaluation

Several different smart stent structures are described for placement in vessel of a mammal. The stents can be advantageously used to perform measurements of the conditions in the vessel and transmit the measurements wireless out from the patient. In some embodiments, the stent performs therapy within the vessel and may be controlled with a microprocessor, which may or may not communicate wirelessly. Some implantable devices comprise a drug delivery system based, for example, on either a microelectromechanical structure or a cover that opens upon application of an electrical current. Smart devices can be used, for example, the detect deposits in a vessel, aneurysms in the vessel or other modifications of flow in the vessel.

Instrumented implantable stents, vascular grafts and other medical devices

Medical implants can comprise various instrumentation to impart desirable functionality to the implant. In some embodiments, the implants comprise functional structures, such as sensors, energy propagating transducers, drug delivery systems and the like. Additional instrumentation to facilitate the functionality of these devices can include, for example, microprocessors, communication systems, power sources or the like. Drug delivery systems can comprise, for example, an isolated reservoir with a control system to control the delivery of a biological agent from the reservoir. The implants can be orthopedic implants that are designed to interface with a patient's skeletal system wherein the orthopedic implant may itself embody sensors, processors, power supplies, memory and/or communication capability.

Instrumented orthopedic and other medical implants

A tool set for preparing a joint, inserting an implant or removing an implant from a joint in an open or less invasive procedure generally comprises a set of nested tools, pin guides, jigs, and/or immobilization elements. The nested tool set comprises at least one pin and at least one cannulated tool. In some embodiments, the cannula can comprise tangs that project from the distal end of the cannula. The tangs can be offset such that drilling would remove different amounts of bone relative to drilling through a centered drill guide. The cannulated tool kit generally can comprise at least one tool guide/cannula, drill bits/reamer, syringe, and/or inserter. With the pin positioned into the joint, at least one cannula is positioned over and around the pin. The channel of the cannula guides the other tools into the joint. A plurality of cannulae in a nested arrangement can be used to afford selectively sized channels for tools and/or implants based on selected cannulae configuration. Jigs can be used to facilitate the procedure. Multiple implants can be placed to immobilize the joint.

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Deephaven, MN, United States of America

John G Stark