Richards Medical Company

Smith & Nephew Richards Inc.

William D McLeod

Mark S Gosney

Paul J Wisnewski

James J Cassidy

David Evans

Steven W Davison

A surgical cable for use in the repair of fractures or fusions of small bones and to assist in the repair of torn ligaments and tendons. The surgical cable has unique characteristics of high tensile strength, flexibility and inelasticity or stiffness.

Load bearing polymeric cable

An instrument for determining the variation in tension of a ligament graft extending between first and second proposed fixation sites positioned on first and second articulated bones, respectively, comprises a yoke which carries a device for securing the yoke to one of the first and second bones. A yoke plate is rotatably carried by the yoke. A main housing is adapted for connection to the yoke plate. A sled is slidably carried by the main housing. The sled is adapted for connection to the ligament graft. A mechanism is provided for adjusting the position of the sled relative to the housing so as to place a desired degree of tension on the ligament graft. A transducer is associated with the mechanism for adjusting for determining changes in tension, if any, from the desired degree of tension as the first and second bones are moved relative to one another.

Apparatus and method for determining the tension on a ligament graft

An orthopedic prosthesis including a trunk engaging means, an arm engaging means and a lift assist means. The trunk engaging means includes a shoulder engaging means comprised of a strap which passes over the injured shoulder and a support plate attached to each end of the shoulder strap, the support plates being positioned in front of and behind the shoulder to be supported. The trunk engaging means also includes a lateral support strap, one end of the strap being connected to one of the support plates and around the body of the wearer under the arm opposite of the shoulder to be supported where it is connected to the second support plate. The arm engaging means includes a strap passing around the humerus of the arm of the wearer. The lift assist means utilizes two pulley systems, one mounted on the arm engaging means and one on the support plate of the shoulder engaging means. The lift assist means further includes an elasticized cord anchored to the arm engaging means which passes, in order, through the shoulder pulley system, the arm pulley system and is anchored on the other support plate. The elastic cord is in tension when the wearer's arm is at the side of the body. As the arm is raised, the energy stored in the arm is transferred through the pulley system, which operates as a variable lever, to the shoulder muscles thereby aiding in the lifting of the arm up and away from the side of the wearer throughout a full range of locations of the arm relative to the wearer's body, and at the same time allow unrestricted lateral movement of the arm.

Growing community of inventors

Memphis, TN, United States of America

William D McLeod