Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade assembly and cutting guide for use with the blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a static bar from which a moving blade head protrudes. The blade head is reciprocated by a drive link internal to the bar. The cutting guide has a body that is positioned adjacent where the blade is to be used to cut tissue. The cutting guide has an outer surface over which the blade assembly is positioned. The cutting guide has a constraining feature. The constraining feature holds the blade bar to the body of the guide so the blade assembly can move over the body while being constrained from movement above the outer surface of the body. The constraining feature is mounted to the body of the cutting guide so as to be able to move while constraining guide retains the blade bar.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for sizing a distal portion of a femur during knee arthroplasty. A sizer according to the invention includes a body that can be removably attached to the distal portion of the femur and that is operable to support a module that is removably attachable to the body. The body with attached module is operable for use in measuring the size of the distal portion of the femur. The module can be attached to the body either before or after the body has been attached to the distal portion of the femur and can be detached from the body either before or after the body is detached from the distal portion of the femur.

Abstract: An optimization system for networks that use multiple different devices having different combinations of hardware and software (i.e., platforms). The system accurately assesses, controls and optimizes performance of such networks. The invention provides an efficient user interface for installing, configuring and operating various features of the optimization system. Intelligence objects operate at the server node level to dynamically analyze system processes at each server node. The analysis of system processes is extensive and includes hardware, software, operating system and communications. One feature allows an object to generate a number representing a local utilization value. The local utilization value is a measure of one or more performance factors in the platform hosting the object. The local utilization value can be passed to another platform system hosting a second intelligence object.

Abstract: A modular keel or stem for use as a tibial implant has a central stem portion including a tongue-like coupling portion for insertion into a grooved portion in a bone contacting portion of a tibial baseplate. The modular keel or stem may also include a pair of anti-rotation fins or ribs which extend medially and posteriorly on the medial side and laterally and posteriorly on the lateral side. Proximal portions of the ribs or fins may engage receptacles in the bone contacting of the tibial baseplate. A locking element is provided for engaging the keel or stem coupling portion and the baseplate after the coupling portion of the keel is inserted into the groove to prevent the disassembly the keel from the baseplate. In one embodiment, the baseplate is capable of being inserted in a direction offset from the anterior-posterior direction, such as a medial-lateral direction, after the keel has been implanted. A polymeric bearing insert is provided for placement onto the baseplate in a standard manner.

Abstract: A tibial alignment guide assembly for positioning a resection guide, the assembly including a main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The assembly also includes an anchor arm having an engaging end and a connection end. The connection end is preferably attached to the proximal end of the main shaft and the engaging end preferably has at least one anchor pin extending outwardly therefrom. The at least one anchor pin is adapted to anchor the tibial alignment guide assembly to a tibia plateau in order that the resection guide may be correctly aligned to the tibia. The assembly further includes a lever including an actuation end and a handle. The lever is pivotally connected to the anchor arm, whereby movement of the lever while the actuation end bears against the tibia plateau surface, causes at least a partial extraction of the at least one anchor pin from the tibia plateau.

Abstract: A locking intramedullary alignment jig for use in bone resection, especially for the proximal tibial has an axially extending intramedullary rod for insertion into the medullary canal of the tibia. A slidable anchoring block is mounted on the rod for movement along the rod in the axial direction, which on the tibia is the proximal-distal direction. The anchoring block has a pivot point at one end thereof and a tooth portion at a second end thereof. A first rotating body is pivotally coupled to the pivot point on the anchoring block for rotation about a first axis. The rotating body includes a toothed locking member for releasable locking engagement with the toothed portion the anchoring block. A second rotating body, including a bone resection guide is connected to the first rotating body. Movement of the first and second rotating bodies allow rotation of the resection guide in both the flexion-extension and varus-valgus directions.

Abstract: A universal coupler for coupling multiple orthopedic instruments is disclosed. The universal coupler includes a body having a boss and an internal bore, a locking shaft having a first portion and a second portion, a trigger including a trigger bore, and a connection portion. The trigger is operable between a first position and a second position, where in the first position the first portion and boss are misaligned and in the second position the first portion and the boss are aligned.

Abstract: A bone cutting guide block has a cutting tool guide surface and a navigation mount for a navigation tracker component for computer aided positioning of the guide for a resection procedure. In various embodiments, the guide includes a rotation means. Preferably, a swivel with a pivot apparatus is provided to limit rotation to permit controlled flexion-extension angle about the pivot with respect to the cutting guide surface. A fixing member through the swivel permits for varus-valgus adjustment of the guide surface. Optionally, a positioning actuator and/or biased resistance actuator implements more regulated flexion-extension angle adjustment with the swivel. Various traversing mechanisms, such as a threaded wheel or pivoted cam tool permit controlled proximal-distal adjustment of the cutting guide surface.

Abstract: A detachable cutting tool capture for a cutting block provides a guide surface to convert an open surface block into a slotted block for plying a surgical cutting tool along the surfaces of the guide during a surgical procedure such as a bone resection with a blade. A magnetized catch provides a convenient device for securing the capture and the block together. A triangular cam on the detachable capture in conjunction with a “v” groove in a magnetized lever of the catch permits a pin of the catch to be selectively retracted from or extended into an aperture of the block when the lever is rotated so that when the pin extends, it serves to secure the combined apparatus for cutting. Mating surfaces of the block and capture provide additional structure for supporting the capture with the block to secure them from relative movement.

Abstract: An optimization system for networks that use multiple different devices having different combinations of hardware and software (i.e., platforms). The system accurately assesses, controls and optimizes performance of such networks. The invention provides an efficient user interface for installing, configuring and operating various features of the optimization system. Intelligence objects operate at the server node level to dynamically analyze system processes at each server node. The analysis of system processes is extensive and includes hardware, software, operating system and communications. One feature allows an object to generate a number representing a local utilization value. The local utilization value is a measure of one or more performance factors in the platform hosting the object. The local utilization value can be passed to another platform system hosting a second intelligence object.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw including a handpiece from which a planar guide bar extends. A saw blade is mounted to the distal end of the guide bar to move across the guide bar. Drive rods connect the saw blade to a drive assembly in the handpiece, which drive assembly reciprocates the drive rods. The drive rods oscillate the saw blade across the distal end of the guide bar. The saw is used with a cutting guide that is in a fixed position relative to the bone or hard tissue to be cut. A capture element is disposed adjacent the guide surface and holds the guide bar to the guide surface so the cut is made along the desired cut plane.

Abstract: A method and a device for positioning a cutting guide for cutting a bone such as the tibia has a first elongated member having a longitudinally extended threaded surface. A second member is provided for receiving the first member. The second member includes an adjustment element mounted for rotation on the second member and for movement transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first member. The adjustment element has a threaded surface selectively engageable with the first member threaded surface. A biasing element extends between the second member and the adjustment element for biasing the adjustment element into engagement with the threaded outer surface of the first member so that rotation of the adjustment element causes relative movement between the first and second members. The adjustment element is moveable against the biasing element in the transverse direction out of engagement with the first member. Thus, the device allows both free sliding and threaded adjustment along the axis.

Abstract: A bone implantation instrument, punch apparatus and method of forming a recess in a bone are described. The instrument and apparatus include a punch that is extracted from the bone by prying force.

Abstract: A kit including tools or instruments for reaming a series of progressively larger bores in a work piece has as least two reamers of different reamers. Each of the reamers has a plurality of cutting flutes extending radially from a central shaft of the reamer. The flutes of each of the at least two reamers extend at a different radial distance from the shaft with the inner shaft of each reamer having the same diameter. A rotatable guide bushing has a recess for receiving each of the flutes of the at least two reamers with the recesses open to a central bore in the bushing. The central bore has a diameter equal to or greater than the shaft diameters of the reamers and acts as a guide to keep the rotational axis of each reamer aligned with the central axis of the bushing bore. A holder is provided to fix the bushing with respect to the bore in the work piece.

Abstract: An expandable trial augment, a trial including an augment and a method for using an expandable trial augment are provided. The trial augment is preferably biased to expand in at least one direction.