Other

Olecranail LLC

Scott G Edwards

Ronald A Yapp

Jerry Deane Crane

Donald J Bowman

Kathryn M Edwards

Sven R Englund

Ronald Arthur Yapp

A tension member installation and tensioning device and method for stabilizing a bone are provided. The device includes a barrel that houses a tension member with a leading element attached to the leading end of the tension member. The barrel of the device is inserted into a hole drilled through a bone until the barrel is beyond the distal cortex of the bone. The leading element is then engaged with the distal cortex. The leading element may be released from within the barrel or otherwise expanded to engage the distal cortex. The barrel is then retracted from the hole, and tension is applied to the tension member via a tensioning mechanism to attach a terminal element to a trailing portion of the tension member when a predetermined tension is achieved. The device may include a trigger for actuating the tensioning mechanism and a cutter for severing the tension member.

System and method of bone compression and fixation

An assembly and method for performing a bone shortening osteotomy are provided. An assembly for performing a shortening osteotomy on a bone may include a main guide configured to be coupled to the bone and to guide at least one cut into the bone. The assembly also may include at least a first interchangeable bone resection guide configured to engage the main guide and guide at least one cut into the bone wherein the cuts formed using the main guide and the first interchangeable bone resection guide cooperate to define two bone segments. The two bone segments may then be compressed together and affixed to promote healing of the bone.

System and method for bone shortening

An intramedullary device for repairing defects of a bone is provided. The intramedullary device is configured to be inserted into the medullary canal of a bone and includes a stud protruding from the end. The stud includes a portion that is tapered from a first cross-sectional area to a second cross-sectional where the second cross-sectional area is smaller than that of the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area defines a region of concentrated stress. The stud also includes a portion configured to engage the internal threads of a fastener retained within an intramedullary device assembly, such as a guide member adapter. The external threads of the stud engage the internal threads of the fastener to secure the intramedullary device to the intramedullary assembly when a first torque is applied to the fastener. Upon completion of insertion, compression, and securing of the intramedullary device in the medullary canal of a bone, the intramedullary device can be separated from the intramedullary device assembly by applying a second, greater torque to the internally-threaded fastener, whereby the stud breaks at the region of concentrated stress.

Intramedullary device assembly and associated method

An intramedullary device assembly is provided for repairing defects of a bone. The intramedullary device assembly includes a device that is configured to be inserted into the medullary canal of the bone. The assembly also includes a guide adapter that attaches to the end of the device and includes a movable and adjustable bone engagement member. Also a compression member may be attached to the guide adapter that pushes the bone engagement member into engagement with the bone. The bone engagement member defines at least two bone engagement points and wherein at least one bone engagement point is movable relative to at least one other bone engagement point in the direction of the bone. The compression member forces the bone engagement member in the direction of the bone along the bone engagement member guide and the at least one bone engagement point is permitted to move relative to the other at least one bone engagement point so that both bone engagement points can engage the end of the bone as compression is applied to the bone. The guide adapter and compression member may then be detached from the intramedullary device. A breakaway stud may also be included to connect the guide adapter to the intramedullary device such that the application of force on the assembly may break the breakaway stud and detach the guide adapter and compression member from the installed intramedullary device.

A distributed digital telephone system is provided wherein a plurality of telephone consoles have instant access to a plurality of telephone lines wherein in all of the connections within such a system are non-blocking. The system architecture is that of a reverse ratio PBX in which the number of lines exceed the number of consoles and each handset has a reserved time slot on time division multiplex (TDM) highways for internal node or group connections. Accordingly, each handset is guaranteed access to idle lines within any given switching node. The distributed architecture is distinguished from central processing where all call processing is directed through a centralized point. In this decentralized system, all signal conditioning, protection, sensing and control are provided by the resource interface with the TDM highways. Resource data reporting is continually provided to all the resources connected to the system that require it. Redundancy of critical resources is provided in such a manner that only the portion of the system where a fault occurs is disabled while the remainder of the system continues to operate.

Growing community of inventors

McLean, VA, United States of America

Scott G Edwards