...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8114079 | Intramedullary nail with coupled shafts A nail assembly for use in trauma surgery is provided. The nail assembly includes an intramedullary shaft including a first transverse passage and a second transverse passage in the shaft. The first transverse passage and the second transverse passage do not contact... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8092454 | Fixation instrument for treating a bone fracture A fixation instrument for treating a bone fracture including a bone screw and a nail, wherein the bone screw extends through an opening in the head or proximal end of the nail. A movable insert is disposed within a chamber located at the proximal end of the nail. Th... | 01/10/2012 |
| 7850690 | Device for the treatment of femoral fractures A femoral fracture treatment device including: an intramedullary pin (1) with a central longitudinal axis (2) and a passage (5) of non-circular cross-section (6) through a proximal portion (4) of the pin oblique to the longitudinal... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7842036 | Pediatric intramedullary nail and method An intramedullary nail (20) and related method for fixing a fracture in a long bone. The nail (20) comprises an elongate member (22) having a longitudinal axis (54), a proximal end section (32), a distal end section (34) and... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7776038 | Intramedullary locking nail An intramedullary locking nail for treating bone fractures and which have spaced apart regions has at least one transverse hole for receiving a bone screw and at least one transverse hole being configured as an elongate hole extending in the longitudinal axial direc... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7708738 | Self-boring and self-tapping screw for osteosynthesis and compression The invention provides an osteosynthesis and compression screw that is self-boring and self-tapping for the purpose of coaptation of small bone fragments. The screw comprises: a proximal portion formed by a screw head provided with... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7632272 | Device for bone fixation A device for bone fixation includes an intramedullary pin and a bone plate. The intramedullary pin has a longitudinal axis with a distal tip configured for insertion into the medullary canal. The intramedullary pin also has at least one transverse borehole passing t... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7556629 | Method and apparatus for bone fixation with secondary compression Disclosed is a fracture fixation device, for reducing and compressing fractures in a bone. The fixation device includes an elongate body comprising a first portion and a second portion that are detachably coupled to each other. The first portion defines a helical ca... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7378144 | Oriented polymer implantable device and process for making same A device is formed by the process into a bone screw or fastener, wherein the head has a degree of polymer alignment and strength, and wherein the shank has a higher degree of polymer alignment and strength. In practice of the present invention, the polymer slug is p... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7347861 | Bone fixture apparatus and jig A bone fixture apparatus has an elongate fixture device intended to be inserted in a metaphysical region of a long bone. The device is inserted generally transversely of the direction of the medullary cavity in the bone. The fixture device includes an aperture exten... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7341589 | Bone plating system The present invention relates to a bone plating system and method for fracture fixation of bone. The bone plating system includes a bone plate, at least one locking screw, and at least one non-locking screw. The bone plate has locking holes with threads and non-lock... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7341588 | Method and apparatus for treating supracondylar fractures of the femur Methods and apparatus for treating fractures of the distal femur are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an intramedullary nail and blade. The intramedullary nail has a passage through a distal end for accepting a locking screw and a blade passage ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7338496 | Method and apparatus for positioning an implant A jig for positioning an implant at an implantation site in a bone. The jig comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an exterior surface, an interior surface operable to receive at least a portion of the implant, and an engagement surface located ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7326211 | Deployment tool for distal bone anchors with secondary compression The invention relates to a deployment systems for deploying a bone fixation device. One embodiment of a deployment system includes a syringe-shaped body configured to provide proximal traction to a bone fixation device in response to a compressive force between a fi... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7316687 | Blade plate and instruments A blade plate, as well as instruments and methods for securing the blade plate to a bone to reduce a bone fracture. The blade plate includes a plate portion and a blade portion extending at an angle relative to the plate portion. The plate portion includes a plurali... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7306600 | Bone fixation system An implant for fixation of a bone includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a longitudinal axis defined between the proximal end and the distal end. A plurality of blades are disposed on the shaft, and are helically twisted about the longitudinal ... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7296804 | Hand-held instrument holder for surgical use A surgical instrument holder has a shank having a coupling end, a handle attached to an opposite end of the shank, a coupling device, and a locking mechanism. The coupling end has an interface thereon for receiving an instrument. The locking mechanism has an annular... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7282053 | Method of using fracture fixation plate for performing osteotomy A fixation plate includes a set of threaded peg holes adapted to individually receive fixation pegs therethrough and non-threaded alignment holes having a relatively smaller diameter than the peg holes and preferably sized to closely receive a K-wire. The alignment ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7258692 | Method and apparatus for reducing femoral fractures An improved method and apparatus for reducing a hip fracture utilizing a minimally invasive procedure which does not require incision of the quadriceps. A femoral implant in accordance with the present invention achieves intramedullary fixation as well as fixation i... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7247156 | Humeral nail A humeral nail for the surgical care of fractures of the proximal humerus, with a shaft which has a longitudinal axis and is provided in a proximal portion with at least transverse bores spaced apart in the axial direction. The axis of the three bores are circumfere... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7247171 | Modular hip implants An implant for improved engagement between modular components is provided. The implant includes a body member for insertion, in use, in a natural femoral neck; and a rod for insertion, in use, in the intramedullary canal of a femur. The body member has a first engag... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7232442 | Humeral nail A nail for use with repairing a bone fracture. The nail includes a cutting tip formed of at least one facet defining a cutting edge. The facet is skewed with respect to a primary longitudinal axis extending through the nail from the proximal end to the distal end. T... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7232443 | Locking nail and targeting apparatus A locking nail for treating fractures of tubular bones has at least one cross-bore is provided at one end for the reception of a bone screw. The nail has a female thread at the end with the cross-bore for connection to a nail retention screw. The nail has an anti-ro... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7207995 | Method and apparatus for retaining a guide wire A cannulated medical instrument for insertion of a medical device over a guide wire. The instrument includes a cannulated driver member configured to engage the medical device and insert the medical device at an insertion rate. The instrument also includes a cannula... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7192445 | Medical prosthetic devices and implants having improved biocompatibility Disclosed are medical prosthetic devices or medical implants which exhibit improved biocompatitibly. The devices or implants include a metal material, e.g. titanium, in which the metal surface parts are coated with a corresponding hydride material that contains one ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7182765 | Bone fixation system An implant for fixation of a bone includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a longitudinal axis defined between the proximal end and the distal end. A plurality of blades are disposed on the shaft, and are helically twisted about the longitudinal ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7175633 | Orthopedic implant insertion instruments Orthopedic implant insertion instruments for precision guiding of a fracture fixation implant into fractured bone to promote healing are disclosed. The implant insertion instruments comprise an insertion handle for implantation of a first fixation implant, an aiming... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7172600 | Locking mechanism for a bone screw A locking mechanism for securing a bone screw 20 to a clamping element 30 of an osteosynthesis holding system 5 is provided. The bone screw 20 has a circumferential groove 25 located on a top portion of the screw 20 below a ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7153309 | Guide system for bone-repair devices A system, including methods, apparatus, components, and kits, for guiding a hole-forming tool and/or a fastener through a bone and then to a bone-repair device that is connected to the bone. In some embodiments, the system may include a guide device including (1) a ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7135023 | Compression bone screw device A compression bone screw device for fixating a fractured bone. The device includes a constant compression lag screw, a side plate having a moveable rollerball for receipt of the lag screw and a compression member engageable with the lag screw and rollerball to impar... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7094236 | Hybrid interlocking proximal femoral fracture fixation The present invention provides a unique and novel internal fixation for fixing an intracapsular and extracapsular including substochanteric fracture of a femoral neck while using minimal invasive procedure. The fixation comprises a hollowed or full tubular member ha... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7066943 | Method and apparatus for locating and stabilizing an orthopedic implant The invention is a device, and a method of using the device, for securing an intermedullary (IM) orthopedic nail within a fractured long bone of a human or large animal. The nail is provided with a plurality of target apertures, a portion of which are located above ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7060066 | Spinal fixation support device and methods of using A spinal fixation system and methods are provided that includes a plurality of pillars each positioned through a compromised vertebra and into the lower or upper endplates of the neighboring healthy vertebrae. ... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7041104 | Femoral intramedullary rod system A femoral intramedullary rod system capable of treating a variety of femoral bone fractures using a uniform intramedullary rod design. The system generally comprising an intramedullary rod defining an opening having an upper surface and a transverse member including... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7008425 | Pediatric intramedullary nail and method An intramedullary nail (20) and related method for fixing a fracture in a long bone. The nail (20) comprises an elongate member (22) having a longitudinal axis (54), a proximal end section (32), a distal end section (34) and... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6969406 | Prosthetic element comprising two components and process for assembling such a prosthetic element A prosthetic element comprising two principal components which are assembled together and immobilized with respect to each other by a screw which may be selectively threaded into at least one tapping in at least one of the principal components. The screw comprises a... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6932819 | Modular intramedullary nail An intramedullary nail, comprises a proximal portion, a middle portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion has a longitudinal slot and the distal portion has at least one transversal bore. The proximal portion has a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal bore e... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6932818 | Intramedullary nail-based bone fracture treatment A bone fracture located in one of the distal area and the proximal area of a long bone of the body is stabilized by inserting an intramedullary nail at a corresponding proximal end or distal end of the long bone, the intramedullary nail having a shank long enough to... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6926719 | Modular intramedullary nail An intramedullary nail for repair of bone fractures. The intramedullary nail is of a modular configuration including a nail member having a chamber formed on the proximal end thereof. An insert having at least one opening therein for receiving a bone screw or fasten... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6921400 | Modular intramedullary nail An intramedullary nail for repair of bone fractures. The intramedullary nail is of a modular configuration including a nail member having a chamber formed on the proximal end thereof. An insert having at least one opening therein for receiving a bone screw or fasten... | 07/26/2005 |