1018 results about "Retainer" patented technology

A suturing system for receiving and retaining a suture is disclosed and includes a suture, at least one retainer, and at least one needle. Each needle is able to receive and removably retain the suture within a groove located in a tapered end. The retainer has a body that defines an aperture therethrough. The shape of the aperture is formed by a central passageway, and a pair of diametrically opposed slots extending radially outward from the central passageway. The central passageway is sized to allow passage of the needle therethrough. Each slot defines a tortured path section that permits passage of the suture in a first direction and inhibits passage of the suture in a second direction.

A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a fastener supporting portion and a retainer supporting portion. The fastener supporting portion includes a first row of first surgical fasteners and a second row of second surgical fasteners. The retainer supporting portion includes a first row of first retainers and a second row of second retainers, the first fasteners engagable with the first retainers and the second fasteners engagable with the second retainers. The fasteners and retainers are configured so when engaged a first distance between at least one of the first fastener backspans and respective first retainer backspan is different than a second distance between at least one of the second fastener backspans and respective second retainer backspan.

A polyaxial body is selectively removable from a pedicle screw in a spinal fixation system without disruption of the screw's placement in the patient's spine. The polyaxial body according to various embodiments of this invention may be locked relative to the screw head and coupled to the spine rod without deformation of the screw or body components while still allowing for subsequent removal of the body from the screw head. The head of the pedicle screw is threadably engaged with a retainer ring on the polyaxial body thereby permitting selective removal of the body from the screw head without disrupting the placement of the screw in the spine. This allows for the pedicle screw to remain in the spine as the fixation system is adjusted as required by the surgeon for subsequent and reliable reanimation.

A surgical fixation system including a surgical fixation plate, a plurality of fasteners, and a retainer having an improved mechanism to prevent the back out of screws employed in securing a surgical fixation plate to an intended orthopedic location.

A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a receiver, a compression insert and an articulation structure made from at least two discrete pieces. The shank upper portion cooperates with the compression insert to place the retainer in frictional engagement with the receiver. The geometry of the retainer structure pieces corresponds and cooperates with the external geometry of the shank upper portion to frictionally envelope the retainer structure between the capture structure and an internal surface defining a cavity of the receiver.

A minimally invasive orthopedic bone attachment system comprising a pedicle screw and guide support sleeve for insertion of the screw. The pedicle screw is a self-boring, self-tapping integral screw having a distal sharply pointed end for guiding the insertion of the screw as well as forming a borehole for the self-tapping threads of the screw. The proximal end of the screw provides a cylindrical extension which can include a recess for receiving a rotational drive tool or wrench. The length of the threads and the type of threads provided in the screw are designed for the type of orthopedic surgery that is intended. A relatively thin hollow support sleeve including an internal threaded section in the distal end is provided to match the threads and the length of the threaded portion of the pedicle screw. The proximal end of the sleeve includes a central passageway having an internal diameter that can receive the extension portion of the screw and also guide and receive a drive device for the screw. A retainer clip associated with circumferential slots spacedly indexed along the longitudinal surface of the drive device can be used to limit the depth of the screw upon insertion as well as to lock the drive device as an assembly with the screw and sleeve to form the attachment system. A small diameter passageway can be provided along the longitudinal axis of the assembly extending from the proximal end of the drive device through the screw to exit through the pointed distal end of the screw. A thin rigid rod having a point at the distal end is slidably positioned within the narrow passageway. The proximal end of the road includes a cap. A flange surface on the under portion of the cap limits the travel of the rod through the assembly. The length of the rod is determined so that it equals the length of the assembly plus an additional dimension corresponding to the anticipated installed depth of the screw. Prior to insertion of the screw, the rod is driven into the bone through the assembly. The location of the rod is ascertained by an image guidance system to determine the correct final projected location of the screw upon installation.

Embodiments of a surgical access system useful for single or limited port procedures comprise a trocar comprising a fixation cannula, a retractor, and a gel cap removably coupled to the retractor. The gel cap comprises a gel pad that acts as an artificial body wall, through which instruments may be inserted into a body cavity, either directly or through one or more trocars. The fixation cannula comprises a retainer and a bolster, which together, capture the artificial body wall therebetween, thereby fixing the trocar thereto. The gel pad permits flexible instrument placement, as well as translational and angular degrees of freedom for the instruments while maintaining a gas tight seal.

Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture an removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in an integral receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. A down-loadable compression insert with tool receiving arm extensions, a down-loadable friction fit split retaining ring and an up-loadable shank upper portion cooperate to provide for pop- or snap-on assembly of the shank with the receiver either prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra. The shank and receiver once assembled cannot be disassembled.

A medical implant assembly includes a polyaxial bone anchor having a shank, a receiver, a lower compression insert with surfaces for closely receiving an elongate connecting member and a dual closure structure that may include a single flange or helical flange. The dual closure structure independently engages the connecting member and the lower compression insert. A threaded capture connection of the bone anchor includes a shank upper surface exclusively engaging the lower compression insert and a retainer threadably attached to the shank and spaced from the upper surface, the retainer configured for polyaxial motion with respect to the receiver prior to locking.

A method for applying a desired shape to an orthodontic archwire includes the steps of obtaining a numerical description of the desired shape of an orthodontic archwire, generating a description of the design of a fixture basing on the numerical description, manufacturing a fixture basing on this description of the design, constraining a wire into the fixture and applying an adequate treatment to the wire in order to cause it to adopt the shape dictated by the fixture.

A medical implant is provided that includes a bone plate having an aperture therethrough. The aperture receives a portion of the bone anchor. A retention mechanism is coupled to the bone plate. The retention mechanism includes a retainer and a biasing member. The biasing member is operatively engaged with at least the retainer. The insertion of the bone anchor in the aperture causes the retainer to move to a first position and elastically deform the biasing member. The biasing member causes the retainer to move to the second position to retain the bone anchor in the bone plate.

A medical appliance for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the appliance comprising: a securing device configured to be removably affixed to the patient's jaw; and a biasing member which is insertable behind the soft palate and / or the base of the patient's tongue, thereby providing for the flow of air in the nasopharyngeal airway; wherein the securing device is connected to the biasing member to allow insertion and / or removal of the biasing member from the nasopharyngeal airway.

A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an integral upper portion receivable in a receiver, the receiver having an upper channel for receiving a longitudinal connecting member and a lower cavity cooperating with a lower opening. The shank upper portion expands a retaining member in the receiver cavity to capture the shank upper portion in the receiver. The retaining member and attached shank are pivotable with respect to the receiver until locked in place with respect to the receiver. A pre-assembled receiver, retaining member and compression insert may be popped-on or snapped-on to the shank upper portion prior to or after implantation of the shank into a vertebra.

The method of cutting a pleated shade to selected length, said shade having pleats retained in pleated condition between longitudinally elongated first and second retainers, that includes the steps providing a blade having a cutting edge, orienting the blade to extend laterally relative to the retainers and / or pleats, with the blade edge presented toward the first retainer at an angle to that retainer, and urging the blade in a first direction toward the first retainer so that the blade edge cuts through the first retainer progressively in a lateral and second direction, and progressively laterally through the pleats and lower retainer, the pleats and / or retainers being adjustably laterally confined, and the first retainer and pleats being clamped in said first direction at the locus of cutting, by force transmission from the blade.

A test socket including a contactor having a distal end which is received within a tapered retainer for guiding the distal end of the contactor and into a terminal housing having a counterbore such that movement of the distal end of the contactor is restricted by the counterbore of the terminal is disclosed.

The invention relates to an elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus and a method for implanting the same. The elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus and the method are used for treating patients suffering from sleep apnea-hypopnea syndromes or snoring. The elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus comprises a tongue dorsum connecting mechanism, elastic traction bodies and tooth-side fixators. A support body of the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism is implanted under the mucosa of the tongue dorsum of a patient, and the elastic traction bodies and the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism are exposed out of the mucosa of the tongue dorsum of the patient. The tooth-side fixators are fixed to the inner sides of the teeth or the alveolar bones of the patient, one end of each elastic traction body is connected with the corresponding tooth-side fixator, and the other end of each elastic traction body is connected with the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism. The elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus and the method have the advantages that the tooth-side fixators are used as support points, the elastic traction bodies can exert elastic tractive force on the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism, accordingly, the glossocoma tongue of the patient can be pulled up forwardly, airway stenosis and obstruction of the glossopharyngeal part of the patient can be prevented, and snoring and OSAHS (obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome) treatment effects can be realized; an elastic traction effect is realized for the tongue dorsum connecting mechanism by the elastic traction bodies, so that movement of the tongue of the patient is unaffected while the tongue of the patient is moderately pulled up, certain swallowing and speaking functions can be kept, the airway of the glossopharyngeal part of the patient can be expanded, and the patient feels comfortable when using the elastic tongue dorsum traction apparatus.

A matrix wedge restorative system comprising a matrix strip adapted for fitting between a pair of adjacent teeth for supporting a restoration material in one of said pair of teeth; a wedge shaped lingual retainer providing a first gripping means; and a wedge shaped buccal retainer providing a second gripping means; the first and second gripping means enabled for mutual stepwise engagement as the lingual and buccal retainers are drawn together; the lingual and buccal retainers each further providing a V-shaped flexible wedge surface adapted for flexible tight fitting between the pair of adjacent teeth, each of the retainers conformable to surfaces of said teeth. The retainers, together, adapted for pressing the matrix strip into a desired shape and for holding the matrix strip in said desired shape during a tooth restoration.

A multi-purpose external fixator (1) comprises at least one screw (2) to be implanted in a bone fragment (3) and a frame (7), in turn comprising at least one clamp (8) and at least one bar (9); the clamp (8) comprising a central body (11), in which a slot (12) is made for connection to the screw (2), an element (13) for locking the screw (2) in the slot (12) and a lever (14) for operating the locking element (13); the lever (14) is hinged to the central body (11) and can move away from and towards an end position for engagement of the locking element (13) and stable connection of the screw (2) to the slot (12); in the end position the lever (14) and the screw (2) are positioned in a T-shaped configuration relative to each other, in which the lever (14) forms a grip for implanting the screw (2) in the bone fragment.

An enteral feeding assembly is described which includes a base and a catheter positioned through the base. A portion of the catheter extends distally away from the base, and has a retainer provided on a distal end of the catheter. The retainer includes a plurality of struts having a flexible, preformed configuration which cooperate to form at least a portion of a spherical shape with openings between the struts. A shroud is positioned over at least a proximal portion of the struts to prevent the struts from causing irritation or embedding in a body lumen. The retainer is movable between an insertion configuration and a deployed configuration. An obturator and actuator are used to move the retainer between positions. A method for inserting and removing an enteral feeding assembly is also provided.

A wrench comprises a handle and a head extending from the handle. A peripheral wall defining a hole in the head includes a compartment. An annular groove is defined in an end of the peripheral wall defining the hole. The annular groove is partially coincident with the compartment. A pawl is slidably received in the compartment and biased to engage with a gear wheel in the hole. A switching member is partially mounted in the hole for moving the pawl when switching of the ratcheting direction is required. A retainer ring is partially engaged in an annular groove in the switching member and partially engaged in the annular groove of the head. The retainer ring is retained in place by a wall defining the compartment. The switching member is not moved when the pawl moves as a result of free rotation of the wrench.

A novel and safe composition has been discovered that is effective for cleaning dental appliances (e.g. removable braces, retainers, dentures, etc.). This composition bleaches, disinfects, and deodorizes the appliance, while removing plaque that has accumulated on the appliance during wear. The composition comprises a chloramine bleaching agent that liberates hypochlorous acid upon contact with water, a surfactant, a water-soluble carboxylic acid and an alkaline base to produce effervescence and regulate pH, a sequestering agent for alkaline earth metal ions, a drying agent, and an indicator dye that signifies the end of the cleansing process. In a preferred method of using this invention, the premixed components are added to water, and the dental appliance is submerged in the resulting effervescent solution until a color change indicates that cleaning is complete. This invention provides a safe, effective, and convenient method for cleansing and disinfecting dental appliances.

An implantable lead is provided with at least one extendable member to position therapy delivery elements, which may be electrodes or drug delivery ports, after the lead has been inserted into the body. The lead may formed as a resilient element which is contained in a retainer tube that may be removed to permit the lead to deploy. Alternatively, a non-resilient lead may be provided with a slotted retainer tube. A series of mechanical linkages for expanding and retracting the lead within the human body may be actuated with various mechanisms. A control system may be provided for closed-loop feedback control of the position of the extendable members. The invention also includes a method for expanding an implantable lead in situ.

A preloaded intraocular lens injection device includes a retainer for releasably holding an IOL in an unstressed state. The retainer and IOL are removably attached to an injector body and are sealed in the same package for delivery to a surgeon. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer and IOL are coupled together and sealed in one package and the injector body is sealed in a separate package with the surgeon attaching the retainer to the injector body at the time of surgery. To deliver the IOL through the injector body, the retainer is removed from the injector body causing the IOL to release from the retainer and become located in an unstressed state in the injector body. A compressor is moved to the closed position to compress the IOL, the injector tip is inserted through a small incision in an eye and a plunger is advanced to push the IOL through and out the injector body tip and into an eye.

A dispensing closure system, a package including the same, a method of making the package on a form-fill-seal machine and a method of dispensing flowable products from the package are disclosed. The package includes an openable port in a wall in communication with the package's interior. The closure system comprises a fitment having a hollow body member, a resilient valve, and retainer assembly. The body member is secured to the package's wall and encircles the openable port. The valve is held in the body member by the retainer assembly, which comprises a retaining ring and a cap integrally connected to each other by a frangible connection. The cap includes a handle which may be pulled to break the frangible connection to remove the cap and thereby expose the valve for a dispensing probe to be extended therethrough to dispense the product.

A dampered drop plug drops down a bore of a drill string. The dampered drop plug includes a retainer configured to land on an upward facing shoulder of a tubular sleeve, and a plug releasably coupled to the retainer. The plug couples to the retainer while at a first pressure in the bore and decouples from the retainer at a second pressure in the bore. The dampered drop plug lands on the upward facing shoulder of a tubular sleeve and actuates a first function. The plug then releases from the retainer, and passes fluid through the retainer at a controlled flowrate. The plug then lands on a ball seat and actuates a second function.

The invention relates to a damping joint for an external bone fixator and a regulating type bionic external bone fixator. The damping joint for the external bone fixator comprises a damping joint head A, a damping joint head B, a damping joint pin shaft, a gasket groove, a butterfly gasket, a U-shaped fixing clip and a gasket cover, wherein the damping joint head A comprises a spherical damping joint hinge seat and a threaded damping joint connector A arranged on the spherical damping joint hinge seat, the damping joint head B comprises a damping joint hinge plate and a threaded damping joint connector B arranged on the damping joint hinge plate, the damping joint hinge plate is connected with the spherical damping joint hinge seat through the damping joint pin shaft, and the diameter of the damping joint hinge plate is smaller than the diameter of the spherical damping joint hinge seat. The regulating type bionic external bone fixator with the damping joint has the advantages of simple structure, light weight, low cost, regulating capability and flexible operation, and targeted and personalized combination and regulation can be realized.

A retractor configured for anchorage to the acetabular area of the hip bone via a bendable pin, such that the bent pin retains the retractor in a selected position. The retractor includes a site anchor portion, with a spacer portion extending upward from a leading end of the site anchor portion. At least one retainer track is affixed to the spacer portion, the track being configured to closely receive the bendable pin. The leading end of the site anchor portion is preferably angled and serrated. The site anchor portion preferably has a curved configuration for use in resting the leading end of the site anchor portion substantially along an outer portion of a rim of the acetabulum. The retractor may be provided with an extension portion. The extension portion is preferably angled and serrated.