Abstract: A directed structure placement guide assists with positioning at least one directed structure in at least one of a predetermined insertion trajectory and a predetermined insertion location with respect to a patient tissue surface during preparation of the patient tissue surface to receive an implant. The implant has a tissue-contacting surface. A guide base has a distal base surface mimicking the structure of at least a portion of a tissue-contacting surface of the implant. The guide base also has a proximal base surface longitudinally spaced from the proximal base surface. At least one insertion guiding structure is movably supported by the guide base and is adjustable into a guiding configuration in which at least one of the predetermined insertion trajectory and the predetermined insertion location is selectively imparted to the directed structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for dictating an insertion trajectory and location for insertion of an elongate pin into a surface includes a primary leg having longitudinally spaced proximal and distal primary leg ends. At least one subordinate leg has longitudinally spaced proximal and distal subordinate leg ends. The proximal subordinate leg end is movably attached to the primary leg by a coupling mechanism allowing at least two degrees of freedom of motion of the subordinate leg relative to the primary leg. The distal subordinate leg end is configured for contact with the surface concurrently with contact of the distal primary leg end with the surface, to support the apparatus during use of the apparatus. The primary leg guides longitudinal translational movement of the elongate pin to insertion into the surface at the dictated insertion trajectory and location when the apparatus is supported in a predetermined guiding relationship with the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus transfers predetermined spatial positioning information to an adjustable tool. Means are provided for temporarily holding at least a carrier portion of the adjustable tool stationary relative to a manipulable reference surface. Means are provided for imparting predetermined spatial positioning information to the reference surface in a first degree of freedom. Means are provided for imparting predetermined spatial positioning information to the reference surface in a second degree of freedom. The predetermined spatial positioning information is imparted to the reference surface in the first and second degrees of freedom to generate a pre-set reference surface. At least a portion of the adjustable tool is held stationary relative to the pre-set reference surface. At least a functional portion of the adjustable tool is manipulated into a predetermined setting position relative to the reference surface. The predetermined setting position reflects a position of the pre-set reference surface.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing at least one patient-specific surgical aid is described. A native patient tissue having at least one patient tissue surface of interest is provided. A moldable substance is placed into contact with at least a portion of the patient tissue surface of interest. An impression of the patient tissue surface of interest is maintained upon the moldable substance. The moldable substance is solidified into a patient-specific surgical aid. The patient-specific surgical aid is removed from the native patient tissue. A system for producing at least one patient-specific surgical aid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with surgical implementation of a preoperative plan includes generating a physical native tissue model of a native patient tissue. The physical native tissue model includes at least one primary patient tissue area including a surface of interest, at least one secondary patient tissue area including no surfaces of interest, and a base surface for engaging a supporting structure. The physical native tissue model, as generated, includes at least one information feature providing clinically useful information to the user. The information feature is substantially separated from the surface of interest. An apparatus for assisting a user with surgical implementation of a preoperative plan is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary surgical tool includes a driving shaft. A cutting head, connected to the driving shaft, is configured to cut into a surface. Driving means, connected to the driving shaft, rotate the driving shaft and the cutting head. A depth-limiting feature includes an adjustable stud extending from one of the cutting head and the surface toward the other one of the cutting head and the surface. The stud has a protrusion length that is greater than and/or equal to the length of a desired amount of final penetration of the cutting head into the surface. An aperture, provided in the other one of the cutting head and the surface, has an aperture depth that is greater than and/or equal to the desired amount of final penetration of the cutting head into the surface. Interaction between the aperture and the stud limits longitudinal advancement of the cutting head into the surface.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing analytics for an enterprise workflow, such as to characterize employee behavior based on enterprise data collected based on services performed by the employees. The system can be utilized, for example, to help drive proper documentation by employees of the enterprise, such as by generating statistics that characterize documentation entered by or on behalf of an employee or a group of employees for services that have been performed.

Abstract: An improved fastener apparatus includes an outer sleeve which is moved into a patient's body tissue. A distal end portion of the outer sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. An inner sleeve is moved axially through the outer sleeve and a distal end of the inner sleeve is expanded in the patient's body tissue. The fastener apparatus may be provided with an external thread convolution on either or both of the inner and outer sleeves. During expansion of the distal end portion of either the inner or outer sleeve, a proximal end portion of the outer sleeve may be gripped and pulled to offset forces applied to the distal end portion of one of the sleeves. Although inner and outer sleeves may advantageously be utilized, the fastener apparatus may be constructed with only a single sleeve or three or more sleeves if desired. A secondary fastener assembly may be moved through a main fastener assembly.

Abstract: A method for producing at least one patient-specific surgical aid includes providing a physical model of a native patient tissue. The physical model has at least one surface of interest. A constraining wall is placed in contact with at least a portion of the physical model. A moldable substance is placed into contact with at least a portion of the surface of interest. An impression of the surface of interest is maintained upon the moldable substance. The moldable substance is solidified into a patient-specific surgical aid. The patient-specific surgical aid is removed from the physical model. A system for producing at least one patient-specific surgical aid is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a reference indication to a patient tissue includes a primary locating block having a patient-specific primary mating surface contoured for mating contact with a portion of the patient tissue in a predetermined primary mating orientation custom-configured responsive to preoperative imaging of the patient tissue. At least one mounting feature is provided to the primary locating block. At least one secondary item is configured for selective engagement with the primary locating block. The secondary item is at least one of a noncustomized secondary item and a patient-specific secondary item. The secondary item provides a reference indication to at least a portion of the patient tissue. The mounting feature of the primary locating block is configured for engagement with at least one secondary item in a predetermined secondary mounting relationship. The secondary mounting relationship is custom-configured for the patient tissue responsive to preoperative imaging of the patient tissue.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a visualization tool that can be implemented to facilitate medical decision making by providing an interactive graphical map of relevant health data. The interactive map can include graphical elements representing health data that can be obtained from an EHR and associations between such data that are represented by graphical connections. The graphical elements and associations can be modified to reflect medical decision making.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with surgical implementation of a preoperative plan includes generating a physical native tissue model of a native patient tissue. The physical native tissue model includes at least one primary patient tissue area including a surface of interest, at least one secondary patient tissue area including no surfaces of interest, and a base surface for engaging a supporting structure. The physical native tissue model, as generated, includes at least one information feature providing clinically useful information to the user. The information feature is substantially separated from the surface of interest. An apparatus for assisting a user with surgical implementation of a preoperative plan is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to predictive modeling. Systems and methods can be utilized extract data from a plurality of data sources to provide a set of predictor variables. The predictor variables can be analyzed to generate a model having a portion of the predictor variables with weighted coefficients according to an event or outcome for which the model is generated. A prediction tool can employ the model to predict the even or outcome for one or more patients.

Abstract: An elongate, longitudinally oriented outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve surface defining a radially oriented proximal sleeve border, a radially oriented proximal sleeve rim intersecting the outer sleeve surface at the proximal sleeve border, an outer sleeve body enclosed by the outer sleeve surface and the proximal sleeve rim, and an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem-receiving cavity formed in the outer sleeve body and intersecting the proximal sleeve rim to define a stem-receiving aperture. A joint articulating member includes an elongate, longitudinally oriented stem, an articulating surface, and an interface rim. When the stem is at least partially inserted into the stem-receiving cavity, the proximal sleeve rim and the interface rim interact to change a longitudinal relationship between the outer sleeve and the joint articulating member responsive to relative radially-oriented rotation between the stem and the stem-receiving cavity.

Abstract: A distance indicator for indicating the distance that a device has traveled includes an elongate housing with a guidewire connector configured for operative connection to a guidewire to hold the housing stationary with respect thereto. A plunger is operatively connected to the housing for longitudinal motion with respect to the housing. A first plunger end is configured to operatively contact the device. As the guidewire connector is holding the housing stationary with respect to the guidewire, the first plunger end is placed into operative contact with the device with the plunger and housing in a first relative plunger/housing position. The device moves longitudinally. The plunger moves into a second relative plunger/housing position assisted by the operative connection between the first plunger end and the device. The longitudinal difference between the first and second relative plunger/housing positions indicates a distance that the device has moved longitudinally with respect to the guidewire.

Abstract: A patient tissue includes a primary patient tissue area and an anatomically differentiated bordering secondary patient tissue area. An apparatus is at least partially customized responsive to preoperative imaging of the patient tissue. Means are provided for mating with the primary patient tissue area in a preselected relative orientation. Means are provided for fixing a first landmark to the primary patient tissue area in at least one of a predetermined marking location and a predetermined marking trajectory. Means are provided for fixing a second landmark to the secondary patient tissue area in at least one of a predetermined marking location and a predetermined marking trajectory. A method of associating a plurality of landmarks with a patient tissue is also provided.

Abstract: A method of preoperative planning and provision of patient-specific surgical aids includes creating a virtual model of a native patient tissue. A virtual device is placed into a predetermined device orientation relative to the virtual model of the native patient tissue. At least one predetermined landmark orientation is specified for placement of at least one virtual landmark relative to the native patient tissue. A virtual patient-specific template containing the predetermined landmark orientation and having a landmark guiding feature is generated. At least one virtual patient-specific placement guide configured to interact simultaneously with at least one previously placed virtual landmark and the virtual device when the virtual device is in the predetermined device orientation is generated. A physical patient-specific template is created as a tangible representation of the virtual patient-specific template.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for guiding resection of a patient tissue and guiding placement of a prosthetic implant component in a desired implant position with respect to the resected patient tissue and method of use are described. A locating block includes a mating surface contoured for mating contact with the patient tissue. A cutting plane indicator provides a physical indication of a desired cutting plane for the resection. A placement indicator is spaced apart from the locating block and includes a component-contacting feature. An elongate spacing arm is operative to space the placement indicator apart from the locating block. The spacing arm is configured to place the component-contacting feature of the placement indicator at a predetermined placement position in three-dimensional space relative to the patient tissue. The placement position predetermination is at least partially based upon pre-operative imaging of the patient tissue.

Abstract: A stock instrument includes at least one guide interacting feature. A lower instrument surface of the stock instrument is placed into contact with the patient tissue. A guide has a lower guide surface contoured to substantially mate with at least a portion of an upper instrument surface of the stock instrument. A predetermined instrument orientation upon the patient tissue is defined, which is preselected responsive to preoperative imaging of the patient tissue. The guide and instrument are mated in a predetermined relative guide/instrument orientation wherein at least one guide interacting feature of the instrument is placed into engagement with at least one instrument guiding feature of the guide. The guide is moved into a predetermined guide orientation with respect to the patient tissue and concurrently the instrument is moved into a predetermined instrument orientation with respect to the patient tissue.

Abstract: A guide for assisting with attachment of a stock prosthetic implant to a patient tissue includes a lower guide surface configured to contact an upper implant surface of the stock prosthetic implant when a lower implant surface of the stock prosthetic implant contacts the patient tissue. An upper guide surface is accessible to a user when the lower guide surface is in contact with the upper implant surface. At least one guiding aperture extends through the guide body between the upper and lower guide surfaces at a predetermined aperture location with respect to the guide body and defines a predetermined target trajectory through the guide body. At least one of the target trajectory and the aperture location of each guiding aperture is preselected responsive to preoperative imaging of the patient tissue. A method of assisting with attachment of a stock prosthetic implant to a patient tissue is also provided.