Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for removing abnormalities from bone. In general, the methods and devices can be used to allow excess bone to be scraped from a bone surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a scraper tool is provided that includes an elongate shaft having a plurality of blades movably disposed therein. The blades can be configured to move as a unit between a retracted configuration, in which the blades can be entirely disposed within the elongate shaft, and an advanced configuration, in which at least a portion of the blades can extend distally from the elongate shaft and/or flare away from one another. A distal portion of each of the blades can have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the bone to be scraped.

Abstract: An anchoring device and method for attaching an object to a bone comprises an anchoring member having proximal and distal ends, with the proximal end being adapted to hold the object to the bone while the distal end is in the bone, and a locking member having proximal and distal ends, with the proximal end adapted to secure the anchoring member into the bone and oppose its pull-out or loosening by stopping its backing or preventing its unscrewing while the distal end is in the bone. Also provided are first and second fasteners, with the first fastener adapted to fit to the proximal end of the anchoring member, and the second fastener adapted to fit to the proximal end of the locking member. The end of the second fastener can have an angle that matches an angle of the locking member.

Abstract: A bone rifling system for use in prosthesis, which allows improved prosthetic bone fixation. The system comprises orthopedic undercut reamer, which can cut controlled internal groove circles or spiral grooves on the internal surface of host bone. The system converts the commonly reamed smooth bone to grooved or rifled bony tube. Used together with bone cements, the bone rifling system ensures prosthetic bone fixation by significantly increasing the pull out strength, and decreasing the rate of clinical loosening and failure of replacement joints. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a bone for a prosthesis using such a bone rifling system to cut grooves in a host bone for increased prosthetic bone fixation.

Abstract: An anatomic femoral guide positions bone tunnels corresponding to the AM and PL bundles in ACL repair and reconstruction procedures. A template guide disposed in a surgical field proximate to a surgical member such as a femur or tibia defines a surgical footprint of the resulting bone tunnel. The template includes apertures corresponding to the size of the bone tunnels for the respective (AM or PL) bundles, and allows positioning at the drilling site to identify the size and location of the bone tunnel, as well as the relative distance between tunnels for double bundle procedures. An offset angle in the template provides differing orientations of the template apertures for visualizing the actual bone tunnel placement. The template has an aperture positionable parallel to a tibial plateau formation on the tibia, and the template orients a second aperture angled by the offset angle for positioning the second tunnel.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes embodiments for treating a defect in a tissue, the tissue having internal and external surfaces. A device includes a first portion for positioning at one of the internal and external surfaces for applying a treatment force to the defect. In addition, the device has a second portion for applying a counter-force, where the second portion is operable to be positioned so that the counter-force is applied on the other of the internal and external surfaces, away from the defect so as to substantially avoid application of force at the defect. Furthermore, the device includes a coupling member for connecting the inner and outer portions. Methods of using the device are described, for example in an intervertebral disc having a herniation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic surgery system comprises a handheld manipulator configured to be manually moved in a global coordinate system relative to the bone, the handheld manipulator comprising a bone cutting tool comprising an end effector portion, a frame assembly, and a motion compensation assembly movably coupled to the frame assembly and bone cutting tool. A controller may be operatively coupled to the manipulator and configured to operate one or more actuators within the frame assembly to cause the motion compensation assembly to automatically move relative to the frame assembly to defeat aberrant movement of the bone cutting tool that would place the end effector portion of the tool out of a desired bone cutting envelope that is based at least in part upon one or more images of the bone, while allowing the bone cutting tool to continue cutting one or more portions of the bone.

Abstract: Implants, instruments, and methods for performing surgical procedures on the spine, including one or more of creating an operative corridor to the spine, delivering implants to the spine, fusing one or more segments of the spine, and fixing one or more segments of the spine. A method for attaching a fixation system to the spine of a patient, the fixation system including at least two bone anchors and a spinal rod linking the at least two bone anchors.

Abstract: A surgical rasping system functional in multiple orthopedic applications, including but not limited to shoulder, knee, hip, wrist, ankle, spinal, or other joint procedures. The system may comprise a tissue removal member with a rasping head which may be low profile and offer a flat cutting/rasping surface, or with a cutting head with at least one cutting edge. The tissue removal member is configured to be driven by an attached hub that translates a rotational movement into a reciprocating motion. Suction for removal of bone fragments or other tissues is provided through an opening spaced apart from or adjacent to the rasping surface. A radiofrequency ablation (RF) electrode may be carried on the rasping system to provide ablation or coagulation of soft tissues.

Abstract: A medical catheter extrusion forms a sheath around a wire. The extrusion is coupled to a steering and motivating handle. The handle is part of a housing that houses a motivation component fixed to the housing, a crankshaft, or similar eccentric component, couples to the motivation component, which is coupled to a proximal end of the wire. At the wire's distal end, a cutting tip with canted teeth couples to the wire. The cutting tip is capable of cutting bone when moving axially toward the catheter extrusion but glides across the bone without cutting it when moving axially away from the catheter extrusion. The motivation component can be a motor or buttons or a trigger, that couple to the wire and converts manual movement into reciprocating motion of the flexible shaft. The shaft's reciprocating motion moves the flexible and steerable shaft back and forth to move the cutting tip.

Abstract: A computer assisted surgical navigation system and method is disclosed for registering the position of prosthetic hip joint components. Elements are applied to the pelvis and femur, generating a three-dimensional array. These two arrays combine to derive a reference point representing the native joint. A tracking device with a pre-determined shape and dimensions that precisely articulate with an acetabular cup component generates a third three-dimensional array. The device has a further shape and dimensions that independently articulate precisely with a neck portion of a femoral component, which represents a prosthetic joint center that is independently registered in the system. The tracking device concurrently registers the three dimensional positions of the femoral and acetabular prosthetic components, along with the prosthetic joint center and the native joint center, respectively enabling alterations in three dimensional location of the leg length and offset prior to reduction of the prosthetic joint.

Abstract: A covering for delivering a substance or material to a surgical site is provided. The covering, with substance provided therein, may be referred to as a delivery system. Generally, the covering may be a single or multi-compartment structure capable of at least partially retaining a substance provided therein until the covering is placed at a surgical site. In some embodiments, the covering may be configured and sized for receipt by an implant device. Upon placement, the covering may facilitate transfer of the substance or surrounding materials. For example, the substance may be released (actively or passively) to the surgical site. The covering may participate in, control, or otherwise adjust the release of the substance.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system functional in multiple orthopedic applications, including but not limited to shoulder, knee, hip, wrist, ankle, spinal, or other joint procedures. The system comprises a cutting head which includes jaw members which may be urged between open and closed positions to providing a biting or chewing action for removal of targeted tissues. The instrument system is configured to be driven by an attached hub that translates a rotational movement into a reciprocating motion to open and close the jaw members. Suction for removal of bone fragments or other tissues is provided through a suction opening.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low profile intervertebral implant (10) for implantation in an intervertebral disc space (D) in-between adjacent vertebral bodies (V). The intervertebral implant includes a plate (40) preferably coupled to a spacer (20). The plate is preferably formed from a first material and the spacer is preferably formed from a second material, the first material being different from the second material. The plate is preferably sized and configured so that the plate does not extend beyond the perimeter of the spacer. In this manner, the plate preferably does not increase the height profile (hs) of the spacer and the plate may be implanted within the intervertebral disc space in conjunction with the spacer.

Abstract: An insertion handle for medical implants includes a handle with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and connection means for the implant disposed at the end of the shaft opposite the handle. The connection means includes a pivotable attachment for the implant that is controlled remotely from the handle. Both angle of the implant with respect to the handle and shaft as well as the attachment may be separately controlled and adjusted. Remote angular adjustment facilitates insertion of implants in to small surgical sites because the orientation of the implant may be repeatedly, remotely adjusted as the implant is inserted. Connectors may also be provided at the engagement surface between the handle and implant in order to provide communication with the implant or surgical site. The connectors also may serve as torque bearing members to avoid the need for separate torque bearing means such as keyways and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis within a spine of a mammal includes: a handle including a drive nut operating to produce rotational torque in response to user-input about a central axis; a first drive shaft including a proximal end in communication with the drive nut, receiving rotational torque therefrom, and imparting rotational torque to the first drive shaft about a first axis, which is laterally offset from the central axis; and a distal end of the first drive shaft including a first drive head; and a chuck disposed at a distal end of the tool for engaging the intervertebral prosthesis during implantation, wherein the first drive shaft extends through the chuck and the first drive head engages a first gear of the intervertebral prosthesis, such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation and deployment of a first anchoring element of the intervertebral prosthesis.

Abstract: A bone-tying cable tightening device is disclosed which makes itself unusable after having been used a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: An apparatus for provisionally locking a polyaxial head on a fixed head of a bone screw using a locking bushing includes an elongated housing with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having couplers for releasably coupling with the polyaxial head; an inner shaft slidably engaged within the housing and including a distal portion, a middle portion, and a proximal portion; and an actuator that selectively positions the inner shaft within the housing to engage at least one of the distal portion, the middle portion, and the proximal portion with at least one of the couplers and the bushing disposed between the distal portion and the fixed head of the bone screw.

Abstract: A method for determining a depth of impaction of a prosthetic cup into an acetabulum using an end effector and a movable impactor shaft is provided, wherein the prosthetic cup may be positioned at a distal end of the impactor shaft. The method may position the distal end of the impactor shaft at a known pose relative to the end effector, track a spatial pose of the end effector relative to a spatial pose of the acetabulum, determine a spatial pose of the prosthetic cup based on the spatial pose of the end effector and the known pose between the distal end of the impactor shaft and the end effector, and determine the depth of impaction based on the spatial pose of the prosthetic cup and the spatial pose of the acetabulum.

Abstract: A bone screw is described which includes a one-piece threaded screw body composed at least partially of a rigid foam. The screw body is headless and includes a bore extending therethrough to define a cannula and thereby providing the screw body with an annular shape defining a radial wall thickness. At least a central portion of the screw body is formed of the rigid foam which defines a matrix having a plurality of inter-connected pores therein. The inter-connected pores are disposed throughout the complete radial wall thickness of the screw body from an outer surface of the screw body to an inner surface thereof within the cannula, such as to permit bone in-growth through the complete radial wall thickness of the annular screw body. The inter-connected pores and the cannula thereby respectively allow bone in-growth through the complete radial wall thickness and the full axial length of the screw body.

Abstract: Orthopedic systems and methods are provided for use in preparing joints for implants. Specifically, hip preparation systems and methods are disclosed which can include a surgical orientation device. The hip preparation systems and methods can be used, for example, to orient the hip during the procedure, determine the orientation of an anatomical plane or planes, and orient a prosthetic component or components.