Abstract: An anti-skive drill bit including a body having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a flute extending longitudinally along the body. The distal end includes a distally facing region and a first channel defining a first channel surface. The distally facing region includes a relief surface having a first most-distal point at one of an intersection of an outer diameter of the body and a leading edge of the first flute, and an intersection of the outer diameter of the body and the first channel surface. The distally facing region has a relief surface angle between the relief surface and an outer diameter surface of the body at the first most-distal point of less than 90 degrees. The channel has a proximal end intersecting the first flute, and a distal end intersecting the relief surface.

Abstract: Navigation systems, methods and software for assisting in determining whether a tool is properly installed on a surgical device. A protective packaging retains the tool and has a trackable feature. The trackable feature has a predetermined state defined relative to the tool and the trackable feature is detectable by a localizer. One or more controllers acquire the actual state of the tool based on the detected trackable feature and compare the actual state of the tool with an expected state of the tool, which is based on an expected condition in which the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device. Based on the comparison, the one or more controllers can determine whether the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device.

Abstract: A surgical system and method of operating the same include a manipulator with a base, a robotic arm coupled to the base, and a saw tool coupled to the robotic arm to perform a cut of a bone. A control system is coupled the manipulator and obtains data defining a cutting plane for the bone and a pre-determined depth of the bone to be cut by the saw tool along the cutting plane. The control system associates a virtual planar boundary with the bone along the cutting plane and controls the manipulator to autonomously align the saw tool to the cutting plane. The control system controls the manipulator to activate and autonomously move the saw tool along the cutting plane to perform the cut. Autonomous movement of the saw tool is constrained to remain within the virtual planar boundary and not exceed the pre-determined depth.

Abstract: Protective packaging, surgical kits, systems, and methods are described herein for assisting in determining whether a tool is properly installed on a surgical device. The protective packaging retains the tool and has trackable features defined relative to a tool center point of the tool. The trackable features have a predetermined state defined relative to the tool center point and the trackable features are configured to be detectable by a localizer to locate the tool center point. One or more controllers can compare the actual state of the tool center point with an expected state of the tool center point, which is based on an expected condition in which the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device. Based on the comparison, the one or more controllers can determine whether the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device.

Abstract: A surgical drill bit for bone drilling and for determining a characteristic of a drilling medium from a characteristic of fluid flow. The surgical drill bit includes a shank portion for coupling to a drill chuck. The shank portion defines a proximal opening. The surgical drill bit also includes a drilling portion for drilling through bone. A distal cutting region (62) of the drilling portion includes a rake surface (66), a clearance surface (68), and a flank surface (70). The flank surface (70) defines a distal opening (72) and is configured to abut the bone such that the distal opening is occluded by the bone while the rake surface is cutting into the bone. The shank and drilling portions collectively define an inner channel in fluid communication with the proximal and distal openings. The distal opening is occluded by the bone during drilling to establish fluid pressure within the inner channel.

Abstract: Methods of cutting bone using a robotic cutting system are provided. The robotic cutting system includes one or more controllers, a robotic manipulator, and one or more cutting tools, such as those including a bur or a saw blade, that can be coupled to the robotic manipulator. An initial cut, such as a notch, is made into the bone with the bur or the saw blade. This notch is then used to constrain the saw blade for limiting skiving of the saw blade during cutting along a cutting plane.

Abstract: A method for mounting a tool to a surgical device using a packaging body. A proximal section of the packaging body is articulated about a second boundary relative to a first distal section of the packaging body for removing a proximal end of the tool from a proximal cavity for exposing the proximal end. The proximal end is mounted to the surgical device while a distal end of the tool remains securely retained by first and second distal sections of the packaging body within a distal cavity. After mounting, the distal end is released from the distal cavity by articulating one distal section relative to the other distal section for exposing a first portion of the distal end that was retained by the one distal section. Thereafter, the other distal section is removed for exposing a remaining portion of the distal end that was retained by the other distal section.

Abstract: Methods of cutting bone using a robotic cutting system are provided. The robotic cutting system includes one or more controllers, a robotic manipulator, and one or more cutting tools, such as those including a bur or a saw blade, that can be coupled to the robotic manipulator. An initial cut, such as a notch, is made into the bone with the bur or the saw blade. This notch is then used to constrain the saw blade for limiting skiving of the saw blade during cutting along a cutting plane.

Abstract: A packaging system for an elongate tool to be coupled to a surgical device. A segmented packaging body comprises a first distal section, a second distal section, and a proximal section. The first and second distal sections provide a clamshell casing to the distal end of the tool, and the proximal section is pivotally coupled to the first distal section and configured to receive the proximal end of the tool. The packaging body may comprise a living hinge and perforations to facilitate mounting the tool on the surgical device without the user touching the tool, thereby minimizing risk of contamination and/or injury. The proximal section may be detached from the clamshell casing at the perforations after the tool is mounted on the surgical device. Secondary packaging may be provided to receive the packaging body. Methods for mounting the tool disposed within the packaging system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A robotic cutting system including a robotic manipulator and a cutting tool coupled to the robotic manipulator. The cutting tool comprises a saw blade. A controller is also coupled to the robotic manipulator. The controller is configured to control operation of the robotic manipulator, the cutting tool, and/or another cutting tool, to cut the bone in an initial stage of cutting until a notch is created in the bone at a predetermined depth. A final stage of cutting is then completed by cutting along the cutting plane.

Abstract: Protective packaging, surgical kits, systems, and methods are described herein for assisting in determining whether a tool is properly installed on a surgical device. The protective packaging retains the tool and has trackable features defined relative to a tool center point of the tool. The trackable features have a predetermined state defined relative to the tool center point and the trackable features are configured to be detectable by a localizer to locate the tool center point. One or more controllers can compare the actual state of the tool center point with an expected state of the tool center point, which is based on an expected condition in which the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device. Based on the comparison, the one or more controllers can determine whether the tool is properly mounted to the surgical device.

Abstract: A surgical saw blade for being coupled to a drive hub of a surgical saw assembly. The blade includes an attachment portion configured to be removably coupled to the drive hub and a cutting portion opposite the attachment portion. The cutting portion includes a plurality of teeth. The blade also includes a pivot portion configured to engage a pivot structure of the surgical saw assembly. Additionally, the cutting portion has a follower which engages a blade support of the surgical saw assembly and is configured to limit deflection of the blade during use.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw with a complementary blade. The blade is formed with a void to receive a pin associated with the saw that releasably holds the blade to the saw. The blade and the pin have complementary tapered surfaces. When the tapered surface of the pin moves against the tapered surface of the blade, the blade is urged against a static surface of the saw.

Abstract: A robotic cutting system including a robotic manipulator and a cutting tool coupled to the robotic manipulator. The cutting tool comprises a saw blade. A controller is also coupled to the robotic manipulator. The controller is configured to control operation of the robotic manipulator, the cutting tool, and/or another cutting tool, to cut the bone in an initial stage of cutting until a notch is created in the bone at a predetermined depth. A final stage of cutting is then completed by cutting along the cutting plane.

Abstract: A surgical saw blade for being coupled to a drive hub of a surgical saw assembly. The blade includes an attachment portion configured to be removably coupled to the drive hub and a cutting portion opposite the attachment portion. The cutting portion includes a plurality of teeth. The blade also includes a pivot portion configured to engage a pivot structure of the surgical saw assembly. Additionally, the cutting portion has a follower which engages a blade support of the surgical saw assembly and is configured to limit deflection of the blade during use.

Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature and (b) proximate to the stabilisation feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.

Abstract: A packaging system for an elongate tool to be coupled to a surgical device. A segmented packaging body comprises a first distal section, a second distal section, and a proximal section. The first and second distal sections provide a clamshell casing to the distal end of the tool, and the proximal section is pivotally coupled to the first distal section and configured to receive the proximal end of the tool. The packaging body may comprise a living hinge and perforations to facilitate mounting the tool on the surgical device without the user touching the tool, thereby minimizing risk of contamination and/or injury. The proximal section may be detached from the clamshell casing at the perforations after the tool is mounted on the surgical device. Secondary packaging may be provided to receive the packaging body. Methods for mounting the tool disposed within the packaging system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature and (b) proximate to the stabilisation feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.

Abstract: A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit having a stabilization feature and (b) proximate to the stabilization feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilized by the stabilization feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw with a complementary blade. The blade is formed with a void to receive a pin associated with the saw that releasably holds the blade to the saw. The blade and the pin have complementary tapered surfaces. When the tapered surface of the pin moves against the tapered surface of the blade, the blade is urged against a static surface of the saw.