Abstract: A rotary impactor for orthopedic surgery includes an output anvil and a hammer that is capable of imparting linear and rotary force on the anvil. The anvil may be moveable on a leadscrew element to alternately generate energy in an energy storage means and to move along the leadscrew element to impact the anvil. A viscoelastic mechanism or a dampening mechanism is used to reduce the reflected force and or torque during operation of the rotary impactor. High frequency linear impacts by the impactor obviate the need for a surgeon to provide an external push force on the impactor in order to perform a successful surgical operation.

Abstract: An electrically driven orthopedic impactor may include an adapter for interfacing between the orthopedic impactor and a surgical implement. The adapter may have a first surface that transmits a forward impact energy and a second surface that transmits a reverse impact energy. The adapter can connect to the surgical implement and to the orthopedic impactor without the use of external tools. The adapter may connect to the orthopedic impactor via a pushing motion and may disconnect from the orthopedic impactor via a reciprocal sleeve. A sensor can communicate a spatial orientation of the adapter with respect to at least one reference point that is not located on the adapter or the orthopedic impactor. A communication device may transmit information to the orthopedic impactor related to frequency or impact energy settings based on a type of surgical implement attached to the adapter.

Abstract: A rotary impactor for orthopedic surgery includes an output anvil and a hammer that is capable of imparting linear and rotary force on the anvil. The anvil may be moveable on a leadscrew element to alternately generate energy in an energy storage means and to move along the leadscrew element to impact the anvil. A viscoelastic mechanism or a dampening mechanism is used to reduce the reflected force and or torque during operation of the rotary impactor. High frequency linear impacts by the impactor obviate the need for a surgeon to provide an external push force on the impactor in order to perform a successful surgical operation.

Abstract: Various exemplary gas spring surgical impacting tools and methods of using gas spring surgical impacting tools are provided. In general, a surgical impacting tool includes a gas spring assembly. The gas spring assembly includes a sealed chamber configured to contained compressed gas therein. The surgical impacting tool also includes a motor configured to cause compression of the gas in the sealed chamber. The compression and decompression of the gas is configured to drive movement of a surgical implement attached to the surgical impacting tool and configured to impact bone.

Abstract: A projectile includes a projectile housing with at least one compartment, an energizable energy storage means, a payload, a control circuit, and an initiator. The payload may be sequestered in one compartment of the projectile until the projectile is separated or opened. A ram element within the projectile may move within the projectile to cause the opening of a projectile. The projectile may include a means for activating the initiator via dynamic induction. In an example embodiment, the projectile comprises a coil that is operatively coupled to a magnetic element of a launcher. The projectile may be charged dynamically as via interaction between the coil and magnetic element as the projectile moves within the launcher.

Abstract: A nonlethal projectile includes a debilitating material for immobilizing a target. The projectile is capable of self-separating or otherwise opening after launch by a launcher to release the debilitating material prior to impact with a target. The launcher is capable of initiating separation of the projectile. Opening may also be accomplished by a control circuit with a radio-frequency identification (RFID), where an RFID tag in the projectile causes the projectile to open at a user-specified distance from the launcher or by the force of launch on the projectile. A magazine may holds a plurality of projectiles and the various projectiles of the magazine may be configured to open at different distances and/or times after launch. The launcher may include a trigger and/or a safety switch to prevent the projectile from becoming armed until a certain parameter is met. The debilitating material may also be released through pores in the projectile.

Abstract: A launcher and projectile system include at least one magnet disposed on or within the launcher for charging a wire coil of the projectile to energize the projectile, thereafter having a housing of the projectile rupture, disintegrate, separate or otherwise have an opening created therein after launch to release a payload. In another embodiment, an accessory for a launcher and projectile is provided, the accessory comprising a magnet for charging a projectile that is launched by the launcher. The strength of magnetic field of the magnet may be adjusted for selective performance of the projectile.

Abstract: A motor-driven orthopedic impacting tool is provided for orthopedic impacting in the hips, knees, shoulders and the like. The tool is capable of holding a broach, chisel, or other end effector, which when gently tapped in a cavity with controlled percussive impacts, can expand the size or volume of an opening of the cavity or facilitate removal of the broach, implant, or other surgical implement from the opening. A stored-energy drive mechanism stores potential energy and then releases it to launch a launched mass or striker to communicate a striking force to an adapter in either a forward or reverse direction. The tool may further include a combination anvil and adapter and an energy adjustment mechanism to adjust the striking force the launched mass delivers to the adapter in accordance with a patient profile.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus comprises a linear motor, a power source, a control circuit, an energy storage means, a drive mechanism, a piston and an anvil. The motor and drive mechanism are operatively coupled to the energy storage device and/or the piston such that they may alternately actuate the piston and/or engage the energy storage device, and then refrain from acting on the piston and/or energy storage device so as to selectively store potential energy in the energy storage device during, and then to allow the piston to move and act on the anvil to cause the anvil to act on a fastener. In an embodiment, the linear motor comprises a magnetic housing and at least one magnet such that when a voltage is applied across the terminals of the motor, the motor is caused to move to one direction. Reversing the polarity of the applied voltage will move the motor to the opposite direction.

Abstract: A motor-driven orthopedic impacting tool is provided for orthopedic impacting in the hips, knees, shoulders and the like. The tool is capable of holding a broach, chisel, or other end effector, which when gently tapped in a cavity with controlled percussive impacts, can expand the size or volume of an opening of the cavity or facilitate removal of the broach, implant, or other surgical implement from the opening. A stored-energy drive mechanism stores potential energy and then releases it to launch a launched mass or striker to communicate a striking force to an adapter in either a forward or reverse direction. The tool may further include a combination anvil and adapter and an energy adjustment mechanism to adjust the striking force the launched mass delivers to the adapter in accordance with a patient profile.

Abstract: A lethal projectile for immobilizing a target is capable of self-separating or otherwise opening after launch by a launcher and may release a payload prior to impact with a target. Opening may caused after an energy storage means of the projectile is charged beyond a threshold energy level. Charging of the energy storage means may be accomplished through dynamic induction when the projectile moves through a stationary magnetic field generated by a magnet of the launcher prior to launch, A control circuit can increase or decrease the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field in order to control the distance at which the projectile releases its payload, A rangefinder may provide distance information to the control circuit for charging the energy storage means to a specific energy level associated with the distance to a target.

Abstract: A battery pack assembly or enclosure comprises one or more batteries having an electrochemical cell and an enclosure having at least an outer wall configured to create a sealed volume of space substantially around the batteries. An atmosphere of the volume of space comprises gas having a thermal conductivity less than 0.018 watts per meter per degree Celsius. This atmosphere of gas provides an insulative layer between the outer wall of the enclosure and the batteries. With this insulative layer, the battery pack assembly can be subjected to autoclaving without damaging the batteries. The battery pack assembly can be used to power surgical tools or other devices that are subjected to autoclaving.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing bone cement for use in orthopedic surgeries includes a mixing region and an agitator for mixing the cement ingredients. The apparatus can be operated or acted on by a power tool for the mixing of the bone cement. The agitator may act as a generator to charge embedded electronics of the apparatus such as with a magnet in the agitator that interacts with a wire coil outside of the agitator. A timer of the apparatus may be started by a sensor of the apparatus, in response to a mechanical torque value, or by a magnetic sensor that can sense a start state of the apparatus. When the timer is complete, a cue by the apparatus signals to the user that the mixed cement is ready and able to be applied.

Abstract: Various exemplary surgical impacting tool interfaces and methods of using surgical impacting tool interfaces are provided. In general, a surgical impacting tool includes a locking assembly configured to releasably attach to an adapter. In response to engagement with the adapter, the locking assembly is configured to move from an unlocked configuration, in which the adapter is not releasably attached to the surgical impacting tool (nor is any other adapter releasably attached to the surgical impacting tool via the locking assembly), to a locked configuration, in which the adapter is releasably attached to the surgical impacting tool via the locking assembly. The locking assembly is configured to receive the adapter in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis defined by the locking assembly and to automatically lock the adapter to the surgical impacting tool.

Abstract: A rotary torque releaseor for orthopedic surgery includes an output anvil and a hammer that is capable of imparting linear and rotary force on the anvil, The anvil may be moveable on a leadscrew element to alternately generate energy in an energy storage means and to move along the leadscrew element to torque release the anvil. A viscoelastic mechanism or a dampening mechanism is used to reduce the reflected force and or torque during operation of the rotary torque releaseor. High frequency axial movements by the torque releaseor obviate the need for a surgeon to provide an external push force on the torque releaseor in order to perform a successful surgical operation.

Abstract: Various exemplary gas spring surgical impacting tools and methods of using gas spring surgical impacting tools are provided. In general, a surgical impacting tool includes a gas spring assembly. The gas spring assembly includes a sealed chamber configured to contained compressed gas therein. The surgical impacting tool also includes a motor configured to cause compression of the gas in the sealed chamber. The compression and decompression of the gas is configured to drive movement of a surgical implement attached to the surgical impacting tool and configured to impact bone.

Abstract: A rotary impactor for orthopedic surgery includes an output anvil and a hammer that is capable of imparting linear and rotary force on the anvil. The anvil may be moveable on a leadscrew element to alternately generate energy in an energy storage means and to move along the leadscrew element to impact the anvil. A viscoelastic mechanism or a dampening mechanism is used to reduce the reflected force and or torque during operation of the rotary impactor. High frequency linear impacts by the impactor obviate the need for a surgeon to provide an external push force on the impactor in order to perform a successful surgical operation.

Abstract: A heating device having at least one package surrounding a hygroscopic salt and a heater mix having at least a metal reactant. The heating device may include a source of moisture positioned in the package, the source of moisture initially generating an atmosphere having nearly 100% relative humidity inside the package. The hygroscopic salt is spatially separated from the source of moisture within the at least one package and positioned so as to absorb moisture out of the atmosphere to form an electrolyte, and the hygroscopic salt is further positioned so that the electrolyte generated by the hygroscopic salt is in contact with the heater mix. Rather than have an internal source of moisture, the at least one package may be water vapor permeable to allow ambient moisture from the atmosphere to enter the interior of the package to combine with the hygroscopic salt to generate an electrolyte.

Abstract: A fastener driving device includes a fastener and at least one gas spring. Additionally, the fastener driving device includes a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being capable of selectively engaging and disengaging the at least one gas spring, the at least one gas spring capable of moving to an energized position upon being engaged by the drive mechanism. Additionally, the device includes an anvil, wherein the drive mechanism includes a first lifting mechanism and a second lifting mechanism, wherein the first lifting mechanism actuates the at least one gas spring for a portion of an operation cycle, and the second lifting mechanism thereafter actuates the at least one gas spring for a subsequent portion of the operation cycle before the drive mechanism ceases applying a force on the at least one gas spring and the at least one gas spring releases a portion of its potential energy and accelerates the anvil to drive a fastener.

Abstract: An orthopedic impacting tool comprises a motor, an energy storage chamber, a striker, and an anvil. The motor stores energy in the energy storage chamber and then releases it, causing the striker to apply a controlled force on an adapter to create a precise impact for use in a surgical setting. The tool may further comprise a combination anvil and adapter. The tool further allows forward or backward impacting for expanding the size or volume of the opening or for facilitating removal of a broach, implant, or other surgical implement from the opening. An energy adjustment control of the tool allows a surgeon to increase or decrease the impact energy. A light source and hand grips improve ease of operation of the tool.