Circle Biologics, Inc.

Millennium Medical Technologies, Inc.

Orthopediatrics Corporation

Spinesmith Holdings, LLC

Millenium Medical Technologies, Inc.

Thomas Coull

Lon S Weiner

Matthew R Kyle

Louis S Kidder

Matthew Kyle

The present invention provides devices and methods for concentrating a fluid and for treating a patient with the concentrated fluid. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing () defining a separation chamber (), a filter housing () containing a filter () comprising a filter element, a piping () for moving concentrated fluid from the separation chamber to the filter, and ports () for pressurizing the concentrated fluid past the filter element of the filter. The present invention also provides a variety of uses of concentrated body fluids, including autologous concentrated body fluid. The concentrated fluids can be used for example in surgical applications, including graft applications such as allograft, xenograft and autograft applications.

Fluid concentrator, autologous concentrated body fluids, and uses thereof

A concentrator is used for concentrating a fluid, particularly a plasma component out of blood, for treatment of a patient. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing defining a centrifuge chamber, that also holds the filter. The concentrator allows viewing of the fluid after centrifuging, with an outlet port positionable at a height corresponding to the level of the fraction of the fluid to be further concentrated. Once the fluid is centrifuged, a portion of the fluid is drawn through the outlet, and then pressured past the filter to further concentrate the fluid using the same vessel as used for centrifuging. The same plunger is preferably used to draw centrifuged fluid from the centrifuge chamber as to pressure the centrifuged fluid past the filter.

Fluid concentrator

An external fixator includes a main body and an outrigger for extending over a fractured joint, such as a wrist joint. The main body can be positioned next to a right arm, or flipped over and positioned next to a left arm. The outrigger is attachable to extend either to the left or to the right of the main body, as appropriate. A distal body is removeably connectable to the distal end of the main body, and the distal body can be affixed to bone on the opposite side of the fracture to immobilize the joint where the fracture occurs. The distal body is connected to the main body with an adjustable securement section which provides six degrees of adjustment freedom. The outrigger is attached to the main body through a slide plate in a dual rail configuration which provides two dimensions of adjustment. Fragment pin supports ride in a track of the outrigger, and provide seven degrees of adjustment freedom for directed fixation of fragments at the fracture site. The outrigger is pivotally adjustable relative to the main body, and includes track portions separated by a wrap around angle. The major components of the fixator are molded of plastic. A surgical technique using the fixator includes immobilizing the joint for an initial healing duration and retaining fragment pins in place during a secondary healing duration.

Method of fracture fixation

An external fixator for treating a fracture of a long bone has six extension arms which are extendable out of and retractable into a main body. The six extension arms are arranged into two sets of three out opposing sides of the main body, with each set of three extension arms being able to support a fixation ring. Each extension arm is pivotable at a joint and extendable so as to allow the ring to be set at a wide range of angular positions relative to the main body. The three extension arms and the ring each define a wrap angle about the axis of the long bone being treated. The longitudinal position of each extension arm can be changed either with a coarse adjustment capability or with a fine adjustment capability, with the coarse adjustment capability being through rotation of a thumb wheel.

External fixator

Method of concentrating a component from a fluid

A bone fragment wire connects a bone fragment to an anchor bone for a healing duration. The bone fragment wire has a distal bone penetration section which is advanced into the bone and a proximal bone exterior section. The proximal bone exterior section is longer than the bone penetration section, and thus extends substantially out of the bone during healing of the bone. The bone penetration section includes a distal bone anchor section which threadingly engages the anchor bone, and a proximal fragment section of small diameter. The fragment section fits within the overbore created by advancing the bone anchor section through the bone fragment, and thus extends through but does not positively engage the bone fragment. A compression engagement on a distal end of the bone exterior section provides a compression shoulder. In one embodiment the compression engagement is provided by a threaded compression nut, while in another embodiment the compression engagement is permanently affixed to the bone wire. The shoulder makes substantial contact with an exterior surface of the bone fragment, biasing the bone fragment toward the anchor bone with a controlled compression force. The compression engagement is further adapted, such as through thread form and/or with a sloped proximal side, to enable the bone wire to be more easily removed from the healed fracture without damaging surrounding tissue.

Compression bone fragment wire

A convertible threaded compression device connects a bone fragment to an anchor bone for a healing duration. The compression device has a distal bone penetration section which is advanced into the bone and a proximal bone exterior section. The proximal bone exterior section is longer than the bone penetration section. The bone penetration section includes a distal bone anchor section which threadingly engages the anchor bone, and a proximal fragment section which fits within the overbore created by the bone anchor section. A compression engagement on a distal end of the bone exterior section provides a compression shoulder. The shoulder makes substantial contact with an exterior surface of the bone fragment, biasing the bone fragment toward the anchor bone with a controlled compression force. The compression engagement enables the device to be easily removed from the healed fracture without damaging surrounding tissue.

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Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, United States of America

Thomas Coull