Kinamed, Inc.

Vineet Kumar Sarin

Clyde Ronald Pratt

William Ralph Pratt

Robert Arthur Bruce

Roger G Carignan

Richard Lee Kendall

Mark Edward Apgar

Adam Lee Nelson

Stephen F Howard

Kyle Craig Pilgeram

William R Pratt

Richard L Kendall

James J Nicholson

Mark E Apgar

Roger C Carignan

A sternotomy closure technique is suitably carried out with a cerclage mechanism, which is capable of maintaining proper bony compression (within a desired range) across the sternum cut, in spite of a range of external forces and significant lateral distraction due to these external forces. The sternum fragments are aligned in apposition disposed around a longitudinal seam and secured with a resilient element. The resilient element is tensioned to a desired tension to compress the sternum to a desired compression range. The resilient element is then elongated and contracted while accepting multiple cycles of physiological distracting forces across the sternum while maintaining contact pressure across the longitudinal seam within a desired range for a length of time sufficient for bony healing. The resilient element is preferably a polymer cable comprising an elongated elastic polymeric core coaxially surrounded by a sheath woven from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene strands.

Sternotomy closure technique using polymeric cable

A sternotomy closure technique is suitably carried out with a cerclage mechanism which is capable of maintaining proper bony compression (within a desired range) across the sternum cut, in spite of a range of external forces and significant lateral distraction due to these external forces. The sternum fragments are aligned in apposition disposed around a longitudinal seam and secured with a resilient element. The resilient element is tensioned to a desired tension to compress the sternum to a desired compression range. The resilient element is then elongated and contracted while accepting multiple cycles of physiological distracting forces across the sternum while maintaining contact pressure across the longitudinal seam within a desired range for a length of time sufficient for bony healing. The resilient element is preferably a polymer cable comprising an elongated elastic polymeric core coaxially surrounded by a sheath woven from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene strands.

A shapeable passer for surgical cable or suture is made from a flexible tubular extrusion which includes at least one lumen arranged to receive the leading end of a surgical cable or suture, and at least one lumen arranged to contain a malleable stiffener element. The lumens and stiffener element are arranged parallel to each other and lengthwise along longitudinal axis of the extrusion, such that the malleable stiffener element enables the malleable portion of the passer to be shaped as desired. The leading ends of the lumens are preferably sealed, capped or tipped, while the trailing ends of the lumens arranged to receive the surgical cables or sutures are preferably flared to facilitate manual insertion of the cables or sutures.

Shapeable passer for surgical cable or suture

A cable tensioning system includes a reaction frame which contains a sliding platform arranged to move linearly within the frame, and a clam-type cleat attached to the sliding platform. The cleat features one or more grooves, each of which comprises two arrays of opposing ridges that converge to form a V-shape groove adapted to receive a length of cable. The ridges of each groove are tilted relative to an axis perpendicular to the groove's longitudinal axis, such that the cable is progressively captured between the ridges of the opposing arrays as it settles into the crotch of the groove when moved in a first direction, and can be disengaged from the cleat by relaxing the axial force on the cable and moving it in the opposite direction. A linear actuator mechanism may be coupled to the sliding platform to move the platform with respect to the reaction frame.

Surgical cable tensioning system

The invention includes both a method for acquiring the position of a patient's anterior pelvic plane, and a patient positioner or holder (apparatus) for securing a patient and acquiring the position of the patient's anterior pelvic plane. The method and apparatus facilitate definition of the anterior pelvic plane (APP) in the context of computer assisted hip surgery.

Pelvic plane locator and patient positioner

The invention includes a method for tracking the human scapula during shoulder surgery, by a trackable device fixed to the coracoid process of the scapula. A device of the invention allows a trackable target to be fixed to the coracoid process by bone screws and an anchor. In one embodiment, a releasable coupling is provided between the anchor and the trackable target.

Tracking tools and method for computer-assisted shoulder replacement surgery

The invention includes a method of determining a surgical patient's pelvic position and inputting that position into a computer via a tracking system, suitable for use in navigating partial or total hip replacement surgery. The patient is first aligned with anatomical reference points in relation to corresponding locating features on a patient positioner. The positions of index features on the patient positioner are then acquired via a tracking system. Based on the positions of the index features and their known relationship to the locating features, the locations of the anatomical reference features are calculated and a pelvic plane is defined therefrom. The invention also includes a surgical tool for mounting a trackable target to a human bone, suitable for fixation to a human femur. This tool includes a removable bone clamp and a releasable coupling member, integrated with said removable bone clamp.

Non-imaging tracking tools and method for hip replacement surgery

A surgical tool for mounting a trackable target to a human bone, suitable for fixation to a human femur. The tool includes a removable bone clamp and a releasable coupling member which is integrated with the removable bone clamp. The releasable coupling member is arranged to mate with a compatible coupling member mounted on the trackable target to establish a predetermined spatial relationship between the bone clamp and trackable target. The releasable and compatible coupling members form a releasable connection which is mechanically constrained to re-engage only in a re-engaged position that accurately recaptures the predetermined spatial relationship.

The invention includes: a locating system; a computer, interfaced to the locating system and interpreting the positions of tracked objects in a generic computer model of a patient's hip geometry; a software module, executable on the computer, which defines the patient's pelvic plane without reference to previously obtained radiological data, by locating at least three pelvic landmarks; and a pelvic tracking marker, fixable to the pelvic bone and trackable by the locating system, to track in real time the orientation of the defined pelvic plane. Preferably, the system also includes a femoral tracking marker, securely attachable to a femur of the patient by a non-penetrating ligature and trackable by the locating system to detect changes in leg length and femoral offset.

Non-imaging, computer assisted navigation system for hip replacement surgery

The invention includes a method and system for intra-operative navigation of a joint replacement operation, without recourse to pre-operative imagery of pre-operative computerized simulations. Trackable markers and a locating system are employed to track first and second bones. A computer receives positional information regarding the trackable markers and calculates (predicts) at least one suggested combination of components of a modular implant system to produce a desired post-operative skeletal relationship.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Vineet Kumar Sarin