Abstract: Disclosed is a patellar cutting jig for use in a knee joint surgical procedure. The jig grips and holds a patella in situ in spatial reference to the femur to enable the appropriate cut to be made to the patella to accurately accommodate the patello-femoral gap at the replacement knee joint. The patella jig has a referencing component that provides a landmark connection between the patella jig and the femur which enables the patella clamp of the jig to be oriented relative to the reference feature prior to gripping the patella. Thus a patella held in the clamp is fixed in the cutting jig an appropriate orientation relative to the femur prior to its resection. Cutting the patella while it is referenced to the patellar groove on the femur increases the accuracy of the resection.

Abstract: An acetabular reamer (10, 10?, 10?) is intended in particular for the shaping of the cotyloid cavity in the event of a replacement of a hip joint by total prosthesis. The reamer (10, 10?, 10?) is typically of a truncated hemispherical form and is adapted for attachment to a reamer spindle in order to be driven in rotation about a cutter axis (11). The ability to cut a full, continuous hemisphere to the apex (12) of the hemispherical body (14) is suppressed, so as to attain the principal advantage of the invention, namely, to adequately prepare the acetabulum for receipt of a prosthesis while minimizing the possibility of breakthrough of the fovea/acetabular fossa. The reamer (10, 10?, 10?) has an interface 16 typically made tip of cross bars (20) which a holder engages for rotationally activating the reamer for cutting.

Abstract: A support arrangement for use in supporting a bone during a surgical operation. The arrangement includes one or more supports located by a guide means, each support including means to fit around and support said bone during said operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides implantable receptacle devices (and methods) for use in bone and tissue regeneration which provide immediate structural stability and strength to a zone where tissue regeneration is required. By virtue of their size, shape and construction, the devices are scalable, modular, structurally stable, self-stacking in three dimensions, can be aggregated to an anatomically accurate shape, and hold various materials delivered into the implant area so as to create a highly regenerative micro-environment. They can be implanted via less invasive surgical procedures, and because they act as external scaffolding as well as being imbedded as an integral part of a matrix for the effective and rapid regeneration of bone and cartilage in vivo, they may provide significant advantages to patients or subjects in terms of reduced pain, faster healing and fewer complications.

Abstract: Bone replacement tissue suitable for bone grafting procedures, said bone replacement tissue being grown in a host until suitable for translocation into a desired position in a patient, and methods for manufacturing said bone replacement tissue.

Abstract: A gauge for use in a surgical procedure, including a body with a plumb bob mounted to the body. The plumb bob hangs from the body under the influence of a local gravitational field. More particularly, the plumb bob is rotatable relative to the body in both a first plane and a second plane, said planes being orthongonal to each other. In use, a connector allows the gauge to be connected to various surgical implements. The position of the indicator needle on the plumb bob is noted with reference to two sets of markings on the body to allow a surgeon to determine a first angle in a first plane and a second angle in a second plane. In one exemplary application of the invention, the first and second angles are anatomical angles associated with the surgical insertion of prosthetic components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patellar cutting jig for use in a knee joint surgical procedure. The jig grips and holds a patella in situ in spatial reference to the femur to enable the appropriate cut to be made to the patella to accurately accommodate the patello-femoral gap at the replacement knee joint. The patella jig has a referencing component that provides a landmark connection between the patella jig and the femur which enables the patella clamp of the jig to be oriented relative to the reference feature prior to gripping the patella. Thus a patella held in the clamp is fixed in the cutting jig an appropriate orientation relative to the femur prior to its resection. Cutting the patella while it is referenced to the patellar groove on the femur increases the accuracy of the resection.

Abstract: An acetabular reamer (10, 10?, 10?) is intended in particular for the shaping of the cotyloid cavity in the event of a replacement of a hip joint by total prosthesis. The reamer (10, 10?, 10?) is typically of a truncated hemispherical form and is adapted for attachment to a reamer spindle in order to be driven in rotation about a cutter axis (11). The ability to cut a full, continuous hemisphere to the apex (12) of the hemispherical body (14) is suppressed, so as to attain the principal advantage of the invention, namely, to adequately prepare the acetabulum for receipt of a prosthesis while minimizing the possibility of breakthrough of the fovea/acetabular fossa. The reamer (10, 10?, 10?) has an interface 16 typically made tip of cross bars (20) which a holder engages for rotationally activating the reamer for cutting.

Abstract: A gauge for use in a surgical procedure, including a body with a plumb bob mounted to the body. The plumb bob hangs from the body under the influence of a local gravitational field. More particularly, the plumb bob is rotatable relative to the body in both a first plane and a second plane, said planes being orthongonal to each other. In use, a connector allows the gauge to be connected to various surgical implements. The position of the indicator needle on the plumb bob is noted with reference to two sets of markings on the body to allow a surgeon to determine a first angle in a first plane and a second angle in a second plane. In one exemplary application of the invention, the first and second angles are anatomical angles associated with the surgical insertion of prosthetic components.

Abstract: The surgeon grasps the jig by its handle and manipulates the head of the jig through the patient wound and onto the femoral neck. The head of the jig includes jig location means in the form of an elongate rod which acts as a spacer. The spacer has an end which abuts the trochanteric fossa so as to position the slot of the jig at the required position, which is between 5 mm and 25 mm, and most preferably 15 mm, from the trochantic fossa. Additional jig location means are provided by a surface adapted to receive a bone formation. This surface is provided by contours on the base of the head which are adapted to mate with contours of the femur. The slot is oriented generally perpendicularly to the elongate dimension of the rod. The slot functions as a surgical tool guide means which is positioned by the jig at the correct position for osteotomisation of the neck. Advantageously, osteotomisation takes place while the femoral head is still disposed within the acetabulum.

Abstract: A gown of the type having an opening to enable enrobement and at least one gown closure means for substantially closing the opening of the gown, comprising a flap adapted, in use, to substantially cover the gown closure means. A flap closure means operable to hold the flap in a position where it substantially covers the gown closure means, a shielded closure device removably attached to the flap and/or the flap closure means to enable operation of the flap closure means. A method of enrobement using the gown and a shielded adhesive closing device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thumb support (1) including a thumb engaging portion (3) and an anchoring portion (5). The thumb engaging portion (3) is attached to the anchoring portion (5) by means a first elastically extensible strap (7), such that the thumb is resiliently biased towards a preselected healing position. In a preferred embodiment, a second elastically extensible strap (9) is included which provides additional support.

Abstract: An ankle brace comprising ankle anchor strap (7) adapted to attach to the ankle of a user above the ankle joint and a heel support (5) adapted to fit under and support the heel of the user. A first bracing strap (11) extends from a point at or adjacent to a rear portion of the heel support (5) to a point at or adjacent a front portion of the ankle anchor strap (7) when each is fitted to the foot of said user. A second bracing strap (11) extends from a point at or adjacent to a front portion of the heel support (5) to a point at or adjacent a rear portion of the ankle anchor strap (7) when each is fitted to the foot of said user said first and second bracing straps (11) extending around an outer side of the user's ankle in use and each adapted, in use, to apply a tensile force to the heel support (5) so as to seek to raise the outer side of the user's heel.