Linvatec Corporation

Other

William Palleva

Terry Van Blaricom

Brian David Dross

Neil F Nagy

A ring blade and drive system, and method of using same, for harvesting bone-tendon-bone ligament grafts having substantially cylindrical bone plugs. The ring blade disclosed is a circular ring having a predetermined arcuate gap formed in its periphery. The drive system includes a blade holder to peripherally hold the ring blade and a fixed-center oscillating mechanism to oscillate the ring blade about its axis within a predetermined arcuate range of motion. The ring blade structure enables the production of a substantially cylindrical bone plug of unlimited length. Harvesting of a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft is facilitated with the ring blade and method disclosed which enables the ring blade to be placed partially around a tendon segment to create bone plugs aligned with the tendon fibers included in the defined tendon segment. The cuts into the bone may be initiated into the bone at either end of the tendon segment from the tendon side through to the exterior of the bone to which the tendon is attached.

Apparatus and method for harvesting a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft

A restraining bar for use on pickup trucks and the like for clamping between the two sidewalls of the truck bed to restrain articles which otherwise would tend to drift around and/or fall over if not adequately retained. The restraining bar is comprised of first and second telescoping members, each having a friction pad at the distal end thereof for being forced against and frictionally retained by respective sidewalls of a pickup truck bed. Connected to the inner end of the smaller member of the telescoping pair is a spring member operable by an operating lever which, when in an upper or spring uncompressed position, is free to slide within the larger of the two telescoping members, though when pushed downward toward a spring compressed position will first engage and lock against interior opposing walls of the larger of the two telescopic members, and thereafter compress the spring, ultimately reaching an over center position to be self retaining. Accurately telescoping members, together with the simple engaging lever, allows the convenient use of the restraining bar on trucks ranging from the mini pickup trucks to full size pickup trucks without requiring any hardware changes.

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Cerritos, CA, United States of America

William Palleva