Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthopaedic retractor frame assembly (10) for use during orthopaedic surgery at an incision site associated with a limb of a patient. The retractor frame assembly (10) includes a retractor frame (16) for placement adjacent the incision site. A limb attachment device (22) is connected to the retractor frame (16) and is configured for connection with a limb of the patient, whereby the retractor frame (16) is held at a desired orientation relative to the incision site. In addition, the retractor frame assembly (10) provides for retractor instruments (18) to be adjustably positioned relative to the retractor frame (16).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthopaedic apparatus 24, 80, 380, 480, 580 for positioning an implant 22, 322, 422 relative to an end of a bone. The implant has at least one extractor opening 30, 330, 430 and a shoulder 26, 326, 426 with a slot therein. The positioning apparatus includes a shaft 32, 82, 382, 482 having a fixed impactor tip at an end thereof. The impactor tip is configured to be received within the implant slot. At least one clamping jaw is connected to the shaft, and includes a projection which is configured to be received in the at least one extractor opening. The at least one clamping jaw is preferably detachably connected to the shaft.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthopaedic template system for use with a bone (14) having a shaft and a bearing surface at an end of the shaft. A first template (30) is attachable to the bone end adjacent to the bearing surface, and includes a first saw guide surface or slot (40). A joint locator (10) is used to position the first template (30) relative to the bearing surface. A second template (50) is pivotally attachable to the first template (30), whereby the second template (50) may be selectively positioned at one of a plurality of angular orientations relative to the first template. A third template (70) includes a second saw guide surface or slot (78), and is attachable to the first template (30) at a plurality of locations (72, 74, 76), whereby the second saw guide slot (78) may be selectively positioned relative to the first saw guide slot (40).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthopaedic implant for implantation into a bone at a joint. The orthopaedic implant 10 includes an articulating surface 20 for mating with a complementary implant 30. The orthopaedic implant includes a body 12 defining the articulating surface. The articulating surface 20 includes a conforming surface 22 bounded by a translational surface 24. The conforming surface 22 allows rotational movement between the articulating surface and the complementary implant, and the translational surface 24 allows rolling and translational movement between the articulating surface and the complementary implant. The conforming surface 22 is tangent at a periphery thereof to the translational surface 24.

Abstract: An orthopaedic assembly includes a first portion or an acetabular cup and a second connecting portion or a cup inserter. The acetabular cup includes a cavity for receiving a femoral head and a pole defining a longitudinal axis through the cavity. The acetabular cup further includes an annular face which bounds the cavity and has a plurality of notches extending therein. Each notch includes an undercut wall. The annular face further includes a projection receiving device. A cup inserter includes a body with an end face and a plurality of fingers extending from the end face. Each finger is insertable into a corresponding one of the notches in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and is rotatable around the longitudinal axis to a locking position. Each finger includes a transverse surface which matingly engages with a corresponding one of the undercut walls when the finger is in the locking position. The cup inserter further includes a projection and a biasing device.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthopaedic retractor frame assembly 10 for use during orthopaedic surgery at an incision site associated with a limb of a patient. The retractor frame assembly 10 includes a retractor frame 16 for placement adjacent the incision site. A limb attachment device 22 is connected to the retractor frame 16 and is configured for connection with a limb of the patient, whereby the retractor frame 16 is held at a desired orientation relative to the incision site. In addition, the retractor frame assembly 10 provides for retractor instruments 18 to be adjustably positioned relative to the retractor frame 16.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wrist fusion plate 10 configured to extend over a carpus area and position at least one metacarpal relative to a radius. The wrist fusion plate includes a saddle portion 36 which is placed over the carpus area. A proximal end 38 extending from the saddle portion and attachable to the radius defines a first longitudinal axis. A distal end 40 extending from the saddle portion and attachable to one of the metacarpals defines a second longitudinal axis. The second longitudinal axis is not axially aligned relative to the first longitudinal axis in a medial-lateral direction.

Abstract: An orthopaedic stem inserter grips and inserts a prosthetic implant having a stem into a prepared opening in a bone. A handle includes a housing, a rotating knob connected to a first end of the housing, and an elongate element connected to the knob and extending through the housing to a second end of the housing. A body includes a pair of jaws, with each jaw being configured to grip the implant. One of the jaws is movable in directions toward and away from the other jaw. A geared rack is connected with the movable jaw. A first gear is connected with the rack, and a second gear is connected with the elongate element and selectively enmeshes with the first gear. A quick release lever is pivotally attached to the handle and has an engaging portion which engages the second gear. The quick release lever moves the second gear toward and away from the first gear upon pivotal movement relative to the handle and thereby respectively enmeshes and demeshes the first and second gears.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of attaching spikes (34) to an orthopaedic implant such as an acetabular cup (22). The acetabular cup (22) is formed with at least one tapered hole (28) therein which extends from an outside diameter (30) to an inside diameter (32) of the cup. At least one spike (34) having a tapered end (38) is pressed into a corresponding tapered hole (28) of the cup (22), whereby an interference fit is created between the tapered end (38) and the tapered hole (28). The spike (34) is metallurgically bonded to the cup (22), such as by electron beam welding and heat treating. The inside diameter (32) of cup (22) is then finished.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic implant 1 which includes a stem 2 having two lateral fins 20. The lateral fins 20 extend outwardly from the lateral side 6 of the stem 2, such that the lateral face 21 of each fin 20 is flush with the lateral side 6 of stem 2.

Abstract: A centralizer 10 for positioning against a prosthetic implant 1. The centralizer 10 includes a plurality of inner raised ribs 15 extending from the inner surface 13 of the centralizer 10. The inner ribs 15 provide inner recessed pathways 16 which extend from the distal edge 12 toward the proximal edge 11. The centralizer 10 also may include a plurality of outer raised ribs 17. The inner and outer ribs 15 and 17 space the centralizer 10 from the implant 1 and the bone 5. This allows bone cement to flow into the gaps created between centralizer and the implant and between the centralizer and the bone.

Abstract: A prosthetic gripping instrument 10 for inserting or removing an orthopaedic product 1. The instrument 10 has a first gripping jaw 20 which is pivotally attached and a second gripping jaw 30 which is swivelably attached. This allows the instrument 10 to be used with a wide variety of orthopaedic products having varying geometries, such as various styles of hip stem implants or other surgical products.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a lavage tip for use with a lavage system to irrigate living tissue. A fluid tip includes a fluid port and a suction or vacuum port, with the fluid port and vacuum port defining a cross-sectional area. A shield is connected to the fluid tip which has an open end with a surface area which is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the fluid tip. The open end of the shield is configured for placement against the tissue to be irrigated. The shield includes an articulating joint allowing relative angular movement between the shield and the fluid tip, whereby substantially all of the tissue to be irrigated at the open end of the shield may be irrigated without repositioning the open end relative to the tissue. The fluid tip may include an oxygen port for providing oxygen therapy to the tissue.

Abstract: An acetabular cup assembly 10 that uses the mating contour of its bearing component 20 and its shell component 30 to provide a reliable interlocking engagement to secure the bearing component to the shell component is disclosed. Bearing component 20 includes end surface 24 and a convex spherical surface 22, which extends beyond its lateral diametrical plane 23, making the shape of the bearing component slightly greater than a hemisphere. Shell component 30 includes a concave inner surface 36 defining an open cavity 37 for receiving bearing component 20. Concave shell surface 36 has a diametrical recess 40, and surface 36 is complimentary and approximately the same in contour and radial dimension to convex bearing surface 22. Concave shell surface 36 includes an annular portion 38, which extends beyond its lateral diametrical plane 39.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a retainer (10, 12, 70) for securing a sponge (16) at the point of entry for an orthopaedic elongate member (14). The retainer (10, 12, 70) is removably attachable to the elongate member (14) adjacent the sponge. The retainer, in one embodiment, includes a body (22) having a bottom (24) and a side (26), with the side (26) being disposed adjacent to the bottom (24). The body (22) further includes an opening (34) associated with each of the bottom (24) and the side (26). The opening (34) is configured for receiving the elongate member (14) therein. A clamp (40) is movably attached to the body (22) and engageable with the elongate member (14) for retaining the elongate member (14) within the opening (34). A resilient member (50) is integral or engaged with the clamp (40) for biasing the clamp (40) into engagement with the elongate member (14).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a strong orthopaedic wire (30). A block (20) has an opening (26) with an interior diameter which is slightly larger than an outside diameter (28) of the wire (30). The wire (30) is placed within the opening (26) such that an end (36) of the wire (30) extends a predetermined distance (40) above the block (20). The extending end (36) is heated (e.g. by applying an electric current) until the metal from which the wire is made reaches the wire melting point. The molten metal is allowed to fall via gravitational force against the block (20), whereby the extending end (36) forms an enlarged end (42) on the wire (30).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an orthopaedic apparatus 10 for at least one of removing and driving an elongated fixation member 12 having an enlarged head 22. The orthopaedic apparatus 10 includes a hollow, elongated body 14 having an open end 26 for receiving the enlarged head 22 therein. The body 14 further has a deflectable portion 28 at the open end. A shaft 16 is disposed within the body, and has a distal end 34 disposed substantially adjacent to the body open end. The distal end 34 has an exterior configuration which is adapted to mate with the enlarged head. The deflectable portion is configured to impart a radially inward force around the enlarged head and the shaft is configured to impart an axial compression force on the enlarged head, thereby locking the elongated fixation member relative to the orthopaedic apparatus.

Abstract: A hip stem provisional 10 having adjustable neck offsets is disclosed. Hip stem provisional 10 includes a stem part 12 and an attachable cone provisional 20. Cone provisional 20 includes a base 30 and a neck 40 shiftably connected to the base. Base 30 has a mounting surface 36 upon which neck 40 is shiftably seated. Neck 40 can be positioned along the length of mounting surface 36 at a plurality of discrete positions. In one embodiment of cone provisional 20, base 30 has an arcuate mounting surface 36, which allows neck 40 to be positioned along the length of the mounting surface at a plurality of discrete positions, each having a different neck offset and neck angle. In a second embodiment of the cone provisional 60, the base 70 has a flat mounting surface 76, which allows the neck 80 to be positioned along the length of the mounting surface at a plurality of discrete positions, each having a different neck offset, but having a fixed neck angle.