Abstract: A watermark image may be generated that includes a first set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a first transparency value and a second set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a second transparency value, the second transparency level being different from the first transparency level. The encoded pixels may be distributed among a set of blank pixels such that each encoded pixel neighbors one or more blank pixels in the watermark image, and in particular at least two blank pixels in the watermark image. Herein, each blank pixel may be assigned the second transparency value. The watermark image may be overlaid and blended over a background source image to create an encoded source image. A decoder system may recover encoded information from the encoded source image.

Abstract: A femoral trialling kit and method for assessing acetabular cup orientation during a left hip joint surgical procedure and a right hip joint surgical procedure are described. The kit includes a trial femoral head having an inner wall defining a cavity extending along a head axis and a visual alignment guide on an outer surface of the trial femoral head and a trial femoral neck having a taper at a free end, the taper being receivable within the cavity. One of the taper and the inner wall has a first anti-rotation feature and a second anti-rotation feature, the first anti-rotation feature and the second anti-rotation feature being inclined, and the other of the taper and the inner wall has a third anti-rotation feature.

Abstract: A femoral trialling kit and method for assessing acetabular cup orientation during a left hip joint surgical procedure and a right hip joint surgical procedure are described. The kit includes a trial femoral head (104, 414, 514, 614, 814) having an inner wall defining a cavity extending along a head axis and a visual alignment guide on an outer surface of the trial femoral head and a trial femoral neck (126, 412, 512, 612, 812) having a taper at a free end, the taper being receivable within the cavity. One of the taper and the inner wall has a first anti-rotation feature (684, 698) and a second anti-rotation feature (686, 700), the first anti-rotation feature and the second anti-rotation feature being inclined, and the other of the taper and the inner wall has a third anti-rotation feature (702).

Abstract: A replaceable battery unit for a surgical power tool and a method of operating a surgical power tool including the replaceable battery unit. The replaceable battery unit includes a housing containing one or more battery cells, a motion sensor unit, and a controller. The controller is operable to determine, from an output of the motion sensor unit, a sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool. The controller is also operable, in response to the determination, to disconnect power from the replaceable battery unit to the surgical power tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the disaggregation of tissue. The apparatus comprises a first cutting zone comprising a first cutting blade configured to rotate about a first rotational axis, and an opening for the ingress of tissue. The opening is oriented at an angle to the first rotational axis.

Abstract: A connection member for connecting a surgical tool to a plurality of different kinds of corresponding connector. A surgical tool including the connection member. A surgical kit including the surgical tool. The connection member includes an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The connection member also includes a plurality of connection features located at the proximal end of the shaft. The plurality of connection features includes at least one connection feature for mating with a first kind of corresponding connector. The plurality of connection features also includes at least one connection feature for mating with a second, different kind of corresponding connector. The connection member may be a male connection member and the corresponding connectors may be female. A method including providing the surgical tool and connecting the connection member to a corresponding connector.

Abstract: Kits and methods for use in intraoperative trialling of hip prostheses to determine an appropriate length for the femoral neck component of a prosthetic hip joint, are described. A kit for use in selecting a femoral neck component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis kit comprises a first and a second broach. Each of the first and second broaches has a neck connection element comprising a projection extending from a proximal surface of the broach, each projection having a length. The projection on the first broach has a different length than the projection on the second broach. The kit also includes a trial femoral neck component having a neck connection element in the form of a recess in a distal surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of orthopedics, and more particularly to a pelvic referencing guide and methods of using the guide in orthopaedic surgery, specifically total hip arthroplasty.

Abstract: A connection member for connecting a surgical tool to a plurality of different kinds of corresponding connector. A surgical tool including the connection member. A surgical kit including the surgical tool. The connection member includes an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The connection member also includes a plurality of connection features located at the proximal end of the shaft. The plurality of connection features includes at least one connection feature for mating with a first kind of corresponding connector. The plurality of connection features also includes at least one connection feature for mating with a second, different kind of corresponding connector. The connection member may be a male connection member and the corresponding connectors may be female. A method including providing the surgical tool and connecting the connection member to a corresponding connector.

Abstract: A surgical device and method for performing a controlled resection of the neck of a femur during a hip replacement procedure. The surgical device includes a body portion. The body portion has a mounting portion. The mounting portion is mountable on a femoral head of the femur to position the body portion with respect to a center of the femoral head. The body portion also has an opening for mounting the body portion on an intramedullary pin located in an intramedullary canal of the femur. The surgical device also includes a resection guide. The resection guide is adjustably locatable at a plurality of positions on the body portion for positioning a resection plane indicator of the resection guide with respect to the neck of the femur according to a measured radius/diameter of the femoral head.

Abstract: A medicament delivery device for dispensing discrete doses of medicament comprises: first and second medicament carriers each comprising said doses of medicament contained in a plurality of individual compartments spaced along a carrier strip and sealed by a sealing layer; first and second opening mechanisms each arranged to handle a respective one of the first and second medicament carriers and to open each compartment of the respective medicament carrier by separating the sealing layer from the carrier strip as the medicament carrier is advanced through the device; a take-up spool arranged to wind the separated sealing layers thereon such as to maintain the separated sealing layers in tension, each separated sealing layer having a path of travel between a respective one of the first and second opening mechanisms and the take-up spool; and a tension control element in contact with each of the separated sealing layers, wherein at least a part of the tension control element is arranged to be movable by a biasi

Abstract: Kits and methods for use in intraoperative trailing of hip prostheses to determine an appropriate length for the femoral neck component of a prosthetic hip joint, are described. A kit for use in selecting a femoral neck component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis kit comprises a first (10) and a second (110) broach. Each of the first and second broaches has a neck connection element comprising a projection (12, 112) extending from a proximal surface (14, 114) of the broach, each projection having a length (L). The projection on the first broach has a different length than the projection on the second broach. The kit also includes a trial femoral neck (30) component having a neck connection element in the form of a recess (36) in a distal surface (34).

Abstract: Apparatus and Method for Hip Surgery. An adjustable trial femoral head (400) for assessing anteversion of an acetabular cup relative to a pelvis of a patient are described. The adjustable trial femoral head comprises a spherical body (402) having a bore extending along a polar axis of the spherical body and configured to receive a free end of a femoral neck. A visual alignment guide (420) is mounted on the at least partially spherical body and the orientation of the visual alignment guide relative to the spherical body is adjustable.

Abstract: Surgical instrument trays and related methods are described. The surgical instrument tray is for a surgical instrument having a plurality of parts from which the surgical instrument is assembled. The surgical tray comprises a tray having a plurality of side walls and a base which define an interior space; a lid for closing the interior space and which is removable from the tray; and a plurality of outlines located within the interior space. Each outline has the shape of a corresponding different part of the surgical instrument and each outline has at least one support arranged to receive and releasably hold the respective different parts of the surgical instrument above and in registration with the outline. The plurality of outlines are configured to indicate that the different parts of the surgical instrument are assembled to form the surgical instrument and/or that the surgical instrument is disassembled into the different parts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning an acetabular cup. The apparatus may include an acetabular cup and/or a protractor and/or a depth gauge tool and may be provided in the form of a surgical kit. Components of the apparatus may allow an angle of rotation of an acetabular cup about an axis of the cup relative to an anatomical feature of a patient to be determined when the acetabular cup implant is placed in the acetabulum of the patient. Components of the apparatus may allow an amount of overhang between a rim of an acetabular cup and an edge of the acetabulum to be determined. The acetabular cup may be an acetabular trial cup or and acetabular cup implant. Embodiments of the invention may allow both the angle of rotation about the cup axis and the amount of overhang between the rim and the acetabulum edge to be determined.

Abstract: A neck trial (170) is disclosed. The neck trial has a body (182) and a neck (186). The body has an exterior surface. The neck extends away from the body along a neck axis (190). At least one first line (194) is provided on the exterior surface, which extends in a first direction parallel to an inferior-superior axis of a patient when in use. At least one second line (196) is provided on the exterior surface, which extends in a second direction parallel to a medial-lateral axis of the patient in use. The number of first lines, or the position of the first line or lines relative to the second line or lines, is indicative of an amount of offset in the medial-lateral direction caused by the neck trial. The number of second lines, or the position of the second line or lines relative to the first line or lines, is indicative of an amount of leg-length in the inferior-superior direction caused by the neck trial. A kit of parts, a trial assembly and a method of trialling a joint of a patient are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning an acetabular cup. The apparatus may include an acetabular cup (150, 10) and/or a protractor (30) and/or a depth gauge tool (90) and may be provided in the form of a surgical kit. Components of the apparatus may allow an angle of rotation of an acetabular cup about an axis (111) of the cup relative to an anatomical feature of a patient to be determined when the acetabular cup implant is placed in the acetabulum of the patient. Components of the apparatus may allow an amount of overhang between a rim (12, 162) of an acetabular cup and an edge of the acetabulum to be determined. The acetabular cup may be an acetabular trial cup (10) or and acetabular cup implant (150). Embodiments of the invention may allow both the angle of rotation about the cup axis and the amount of overhang between the rim and the acetabulum edge to be determined.

Abstract: A manifold for a medicament delivery device configured to deliver discrete doses of medicament contained in a plurality of individual compartments spaced along a carrier strip and sealed by a sealing layer to form a medicament carrier, the manifold comprising: at least one opening mechanism comprising a release member arranged to engage between the carrier strip and the sealing layer of a medicament carrier so as to separate the sealing layer from the carrier strip and thereby open a compartment of the medicament carrier as it is advanced into an entrainment position; wherein the release member includes a surface configured to cover the opened compartment when in the entrainment position so as substantially to contain the medicament dose of said opened compartment.

Abstract: A device for releasing discrete doses of medicament carried in a plurality of spaced-apart compartments on a medicament carrier, each compartment being arranged in a carrier strip and sealed by a sealing layer, the device comprising: a release mechanism arranged to engage between the carrier strip and the sealing layer so as to unseal at least a portion of the compartment and expose the medicament dose contained therein, wherein the release mechanism preferably covers said exposed compartment in place of the sealing layer.