Abstract: A compact impacting apparatus includes a spring anvil assembly with a spring, an anvil, and a barrel cam. A cam follower engages the barrel cam to energize the spring anvil assembly. The spring anvil assembly is thereafter released to impact a striker, which striker delivers impact force to an impact target. The spring anvil assembly may be biased in a starting operational position by the weight of the apparatus or the impact target. The spring anvil assembly may be disposed against a rotating pusher plate while engaged by the cam follower. Force of impact may be adjusted by repositioning the pusher plate and or changing the compression of the spring of the spring anvil assembly. The cam follower provides for repeated impacts upon the impact target and the striker holds the impact target in place for effective impacting.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus includes a spring anvil assembly that comprises a gas spring and an anvil. The end of the piston that extends out of the gas spring may be fixedly disposed against an object that is capable of exerting a force against the piston for at least a portion of the operational cycle. A drive mechanism acts on the spring assembly to store potential energy in the spring. The drive mechanism thereafter ceases acting on the spring assembly and the potential energy is released, causing the spring anvil assembly move and to separate from the drive mechanism for a period of free flight of the spring anvil assembly, the anvil thereafter moving to strike a fastener to drive the fastener into a substrate.

Abstract: An orthopedic impacting tool comprises a motor, a linear motion converter, an air chamber, a compression piston, an impacting element, an anvil element, and a broach adapter. The compression piston may cause the impacting element to apply controlled force on a broach adapter to create a precise opening for subsequently disposing a prosthesis in a patient. The tool allows forward or backward impacting for expanding the size or volume of the opening or for facilitating removal of the broach and tool from the opening. A force adjustment control of the tool allows a user to increase or decrease the impact force. A light source and hand grips improve ease of operation of the tool.

Abstract: A thermoformable article having a body constructed using material which is rigid at temperatures below a thermoformable temperature and becomes formable when heated to a temperature above a thermoformable temperature and a heater material in thermal contact with the body when the heater material is activated, wherein the heat generated by the heater material when activated is provided by an enthalpy of solution of the heater material.

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 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 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 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: An orthopedic impacting tool comprises a motor, a linear motion converter, an air chamber, a compression piston, an impacting element, an anvil element, and a broach adapter. The compression piston may cause the impacting element to apply controlled force on a broach adapter to create a precise opening for subsequently disposing a prosthesis in a patient. The tool allows forward or backward impacting for expanding the size or volume of the opening or for facilitating removal of the broach and tool from the opening. A force adjustment control of the tool allows a user to increase or decrease the impact force. A light source and hand grips improve ease of operation of the tool.

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 impacting apparatus includes a spring anvil assembly and a drive mechanism that alternatively engages a the spring anvil assembly to actuate the spring anvil assembly to store potential energy in the spring anvil assembly, and which drive mechanism alternatively disengages the spring anvil assembly to allow the spring anvil assembly to launch and accelerate toward an impact target to deliver impact energy from the spring anvil assembly to the impact target. In an embodiment, the spring anvil assembly is biased to a start position by one of the impact target and the weight of the apparatus. The spring anvil assembly may comprise a gas spring or a spring, for example. The apparatus is capable of delivering multiple impacts to an impact target.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus comprises an energy storage means, a drive mechanism, and an anvil assembly. The drive mechanism selectively engages the energy storage means to store potential energy within the energy storage means. After the drive mechanism disengages, potential energy previously stored within the energy storage means impart a force on the anvil assembly to launch the assembly (and incorporated anvil) to drive a fastener. The drive mechanism may comprise a cam for engaging and disengaging the energy storage means. The apparatus may also comprise a nail indexing mechanism for supplying fasteners, which indexing mechanism may also be acted and operated on by the cam. The apparatus may further comprise a gas spring as a return mechanism for returning the anvil assembly to a position after the anvil assembly has separated from the energy storage means.

Abstract: An orthopedic impacting tool comprises a motor, a linear motion converter, an air chamber, a compression piston, an impacting element, an anvil element, and a broach adapter. The compression piston may cause the impacting element to apply controlled force on a broach adapter to create a precise opening for subsequently disposing a prosthesis in a patient. The tool allows forward or backward impacting for expanding the size or volume of the opening or for facilitating removal of the broach and tool from the opening. A force adjustment control of the tool allows a user to increase or decrease the impact force. A light source and hand grips improve ease of operation of the tool.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus includes a drive mechanism, a drive piston disposed with in a cylinder and operatively coupled to the drive mechanism, and an anvil coupled to the drive piston. The apparatus also preferably comprises a biasing element for temporarily holding the drive piston at BDC of the piston cylinder. The drive mechanism is capable of selectively applying force on the drive piston to move the drive piston away from BDC of the piston cylinder. When the drive mechanism engages the drive piston to move the drive piston away from BDC, a vacuum is generated in the cylinder, which vacuum, after the drive mechanism disengages the drive piston, acts on the drive piston to cause the piston to move toward BDC and the anvil to drive a fastener. A sealed air chamber on the side of the piston opposite the vacuum may assist in generating force.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus includes a spring anvil assembly that comprises a gas spring and an anvil. The end of the piston that extends out of the gas spring may be fixedly disposed against an object that is capable of exerting a force against the piston for at least a portion of the operational cycle. A drive mechanism acts on the spring assembly to store potential energy in the spring. The drive mechanism thereafter ceases acting on the spring assembly and the potential energy is released, causing the spring anvil assembly move and to separate from the drive mechanism for a period of free flight of the spring anvil assembly, the anvil thereafter moving to strike a fastener to drive the fastener into a substrate.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus includes an extensible polymer assembly and a fastener drive assembly, such that when said extensible polymer assembly is actuated (by a motor and linear motion converter), energy is stored as an extensible polymer of the polymer assembly extends in length and force from said extensible polymer is applied on said fastener drive assembly. When said extensible polymer reaches a sufficient extension, a retention means releases said fastener drive assembly and wherein said fastener drive assembly moves from a first position to a second position such that an anvil of the fastener drive assembly is capable of driving a fastener into a substrate.

Abstract: A power tool includes an output member, a drive mechanism operable to perform work on the output member in one of a first mode or a second mode, and an actuator for activating the drive mechanism in the first mode or the second mode based upon an amount of time the actuator is depressed.

Abstract: A fastener driving apparatus comprises a gas spring or spring, a drive mechanism, an anvil assembly, and an anvil. The drive mechanism permits transition from engagement with the gas spring, spring or anvil assembly to disengagement from the gas spring, spring or anvil assembly. The anvil and/or anvil assembly are operatively coupled to the gas spring or spring such that after the drive mechanism disengages them, the gas spring piston or the spring moves to imparts a force on the anvil to cause the anvil to move and drive a fastener. The mass of the anvil assembly is preferably greater than 50% of the total mass of the anvil assembly and gas spring moving mass. The gas spring is configured such that the pressure increase during the movement of the gas spring piston by the drive mechanism is less than 30% of the initial pressure in the gas spring.

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: A fastener driving apparatus includes a drive mechanism, a drive piston disposed with in a cylinder and operatively coupled to the drive mechanism, and an anvil coupled to the drive piston. The apparatus also preferably comprises a biasing element for temporarily holding the drive piston at BDC of the piston cylinder. The drive mechanism is capable of selectively applying force on the drive piston to move the drive piston away from BDC of the piston cylinder. When the drive mechanism engages said drive piston to move said drive piston away from BDC, a vacuum is generated in the cylinder, which vacuum, after the drive mechanism disengages the drive piston, acts on the drive piston to cause the piston to move toward BDC and the anvil to drive a fastener. A sealed air chamber on the side of the piston opposite the vacuum may assist in generating force.