Abstract: An osteotome blade that is optimized for cutting and removal of bone cement such as from an intramedullary canal during revision surgery. The blade may have a body and a tip, wherein the body cross-section and tip are trough-shaped and the tip has a swept-back configuration. Further away from the cutting region, the blade may have a transition region and a hub suitable to be grasped in a power tool. There may also be provided a scoring blade, and a method may comprise scoring grooves into bone cement using the scoring blade, followed by removal of bone cement using the cement removal blade.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a blade that has a gripping portion, a transition portion and a distal portion that may have a cutting edge. The gripping portion may be V-shaped in cross-section, or, more generally, not lying in a single plane. Some embodiments are straight along a longitudinal direction. Embodiments may comprise a transition portion that is complex having sub-regions, or a distal portion having a cross-sectional shape that is curved or V-shaped, or a distal portion having a tip of a different material. Other embodiments have a shape that follows a longitudinal path that is curved either concavely or convexly or both. Distal tip design parameters for good cutting properties are discussed.

Abstract: A blade for use in an osteotome or other cutting device. The blade may have, in sequence, a cutting portion, a transition portion, and a gripping portion, with the transition portion being located between the cutting portion and the gripping portion. The cutting portion may be planar and have at least one cutting edge. The gripping portion may be non-planar. The transition portion may be smoothly contoured. The non-planar nature of the gripping portion may provide increased rigidity of the blade. All of the blade may have uniform thickness of material. Also provided may be a chuck for gripping the blade. The chuck may have an upper nest and a lower nest that in combination closely fit around the gripping portion. The chuck may have a movable pin that locks the gripping portion into the chuck. A portion of the chuck may be spring-loaded.

Abstract: A case for storing medical instruments contains a rotating bracket for holding the instruments. The bracket is connected to the tray and hinged lid of the case via a movable frame, and the bracket movement is controlled by opening and closing of the lid. When the lid is closed, the bracket points the tips of the instruments downward to minimize water collection; and when the lid is opened, the instrument holding bracket rotates so that the instruments it holds are moved to a vertical position, facilitating instrument selection.

Abstract: A tool for delivering bio-compatible solid, fluid or mixed solid and fluid substances to an operating site within a patient. The tool has a tubular body or barrel with a central longitudinal through hole and a flow control valve for selectively allowing material to flow from a holding chamber within the barrel through an extender tip to a dispensing end of the tool. A plunger having a piston at one end may be inserted through the dispensing end of the barrel and drawn distally to aspirate material into the holding chamber using a syringe attached to the proximal end of the barrel, after which the valve is closed to retain the material in the chamber. The plunger, which fits into the through hole from either end of the barrel, is then removed and re-inserted into the proximal end of the barrel, the barrel valve is opened, and the plunger is pushed to move the material in the holding chamber through the extender tip and out the distal end of the barrel.

Abstract: The invention includes a three-dimensional printing (3DP) machine that has at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source directed at powder or slurry being processed by the 3DP machine and/or directed at any of various surfaces or machine components, in a manner suitable to kill or damage microorganisms to a desired extent. The UV light sources may be either stationary or movable, and may be either pulsed or substantially continuous, and may operate in any desired sequence and timing with respect to other operations performed by the machine. The invention may include ultraviolet illumination in such a way as to interact with powder to sterilize or disinfect powder either while the powder is stationary or, alternatively, as powder is being moved from one place to another within the 3DP machine, or both. The invention also includes methods of performing three-dimensional printing using such illumination.

Abstract: An engineered regenerative biostructure (erb) for implantation into a human body as a bone substitute, which includes an internal microstructure, mesostructure and/or macrostructure to provide improved bone in-growth, and methods for making the erb. Under one aspect of the invention, the biostructure has resorbable and nonresorbable regions. Under another aspect of the invention, the biostructure is constructed of hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate and/or demineralized bone. Under yet another aspect of the invention, the porous biostructure is partially or fully infused with a resorbable, nonresorbable or dissolvable material.

Abstract: An engineered regenerative biostructure (erb) for implantation into a human body as a bone substitute, which includes an internal microstructure, mesostructure and/or macrostructure to provide improved bone in-growth, and methods for making the erb. Under one aspect of the invention, the biostructure has resorbable and nonresorbable regions. Under another aspect of the invention, the biostructure is constructed of hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate and/or demineralized bone. Under yet another aspect of the invention, the porous biostructure is partially or fully infused with a resorbable, nonresorbable or dissolvable material.