Abstract: A mobile cart that holds a bag for receiving solid waste generated during a medical or surgical procedure. The cart includes a sensor that monitors whether or not an object containing metal is placed in the bag. A processor monitors the signal output by the sensor. If the sensor signal indicates that an object with a minimal amount of metal is placed in the bag, the processor momentarily asserts an audible alarm and continuously asserts a light alarm. The light alarm remains asserted until turned off. If, while the light alarm is on, the sensor signal indicates a second object with the minimal amount of waste is placed in the container, the processor again momentarily asserts the audible alarm. This provides notice that it may be necessary to investigate the contents of the bag to determine if not one but two or more objects were inadvertently discarded.

Abstract: A mobile cart that holds a bag for receiving solid waste generated during a medical or surgical procedure. The cart includes a sensor that monitors whether or not an object containing metal is placed in the bag. A processor monitors the signal output by the sensor. If the sensor signal indicates that an object with a minimal amount of metal is placed in the bag, the processor momentarily asserts an audible alarm and continuously asserts a light alarm. The light alarm remains asserted until turned off. If, while the light alarm is on, the sensor signal indicates a second object with the minimal amount of waste is placed in the container, the processor again momentarily asserts the audible alarm. This provides notice that it may be necessary to investigate the contents of the bag to determine if not one but two or more objects were inadvertently discarded.

Abstract: A system for cleaning and milling bone to form bone chips. The system includes a shell into which bone stock is introduced. Internal to the shell is a cleaning element that removes soft tissue and other material surrounding the bone stock. The cleaned bone stock is transferred through an opening in the shell to a mill unit. The mill unit has a milling element against which the bone is disposed. The milling element, when actuated coverts the bone stock into bone chip. A motor drives both the cleaning element and the mill element. The shell and mill unit may be part of a head unit. The head unit is removably attached to a base in which the motor is disposed.

Abstract: A solid medical waste collection system for collecting solid medical waste. The system includes a mobile cart with a bag for storing the waste. A pre-detection apparatus detects metal-containing objects prior to placing them inside the bag to reduce costs to the facility in which the cart is employed. The system may also include a bag-tensioning mechanism for securing the bag to the cart.

Abstract: A system for cleaning and milling bone to form bone chips. The system includes a shell into which bone stock is introduced. Internal to the shell is a cleaning element that removes soft tissue and other material surrounding the bone stock. The cleaned bone stock is transferred through an opening in the shell to a mill unit. The mill unit has a milling element against which the bone is disposed. The milling element, when actuated coverts the bone stock into bone chip. A motor drives both the cleaning element and the mill element. The shell and mill unit may be part of a head unit. The head unit is removably attached to a base in which the motor is disposed.

Abstract: A solid medical waste collection system for collecting solid medical waste. The system includes a mobile cart with a bag for storing the waste. A pre-detection apparatus detects metal-containing objects prior to placing them inside the bag to reduce costs to the facility in which the cart is employed. The system may also include a bag-tensioning mechanism for securing the bag to the cart.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for injecting cement from a cartridge includes a cradle, a cartridge, a button, and a threaded rod. The cradle has an axial cavity extending therethrough for supporting the cartridge of cement. The cartridge dispensing mechanism is coupled to the cradle. The button includes threads and defines an axial bore. The button is moveable into and out of threaded engagement with the threaded rod. The threaded rod extends into the axial cavity of the cradle.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for injecting cement from a cartridge includes a cradle, a cartridge, a button, and a threaded rod. The cradle has an axial cavity extending therethrough for supporting the cartridge of cement. The cartridge dispensing mechanism is coupled to the cradle. The button includes threads and defines an axial bore. The button is moveable into and out of threaded engagement with the threaded rod. The threaded rod extends into the axial cavity of the cradle.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for injecting cement from a cartridge includes a cradle, a cartridge, a button, and a threaded rod. The cradle has an axial cavity extending therethrough for supporting the cartridge of cement. The cartridge dispensing mechanism is coupled to the cradle. The button includes threads and defines an axial bore. The button is moveable into and out of threaded engagement with the threaded rod. The threaded rod extends into the axial cavity of the cradle.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement. The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for injecting cement from a cartridge includes a cradle, a cartridge, a button, and a threaded rod. The cradle has an axial cavity extending therethrough for supporting the cartridge of cement. The cartridge dispensing mechanism is coupled to the cradle. The button includes threads and defines an axial bore. The button is moveable into and out of threaded engagement with the threaded rod. The threaded rod extends into the axial cavity of the cradle.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing and delivery assembly is disclosed for mixing a powdered copolymer and a liquid monomer to form a bone cement and delivering the bone cement The assembly includes a cartridge having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a mixing chamber between the distal end and the proximal end. A transfer mechanism having a cap and a stem supporting a piston and a plunger is connected to the distal end. The transfer mechanism includes a first advancement mechanism for advancing the piston and plunger in unison and a second advancement mechanism for moving the plunger independent of the piston. The assembly further includes a removable handle having a shaft for attachment of a mixing blade and a quick-release connector and a release button for locking and unlocking the mixing blade from the removable handle.

Abstract: An instrument assembly for removing, as single segments, a mass of previously formed thermoplastic bone cement from a bone in a patient. A first component of the assembly includes an elongate probe having a heater tip assembly provided at one end thereof. A second component of the assembly includes an electrical system for supplying electricity to the aforesaid heater tip assembly when appropriately interconnected for effecting a heating of the heater tip. A releasable connectability of the first and second components facilitates a removal of the second component only to be replaced by a third component, namely, a hammer device so that repeated impact forces can be imparted to the elongate probe and the heater tip assembly of which is embedded in the bone cement until the impact force will cause the bone cement to crack and permit a segment thereof to be removed while being fixedly coupled to the elongate probe.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing a two part cement of a type adapted for fixing a repair element to hard, rigid tissue of a patient and containing the mixed cement preparatory to dispensing for such fixation. A mixing chamber has an outlet for mixed cement. A cartridge has an inlet releasably coupled to the outlet of the mixing chamber for receiving mixed cement therefrom. A rotating blade in the mixing chamber mixes cement, removes voids therefrom and moves mixed cement off the inner surface of the mixing chamber and into the cartridge.