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: The present invention relates to a container, a method and a system for sterilising a medical device. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively, for use with orthopaedic medical devices, such as surgical instruments used in orthopaedic surgical procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to an attachment mechanism for detachably coupling a first component to a second component as part of a surgical instrument. There is also provided a surgical instrument comprising the attachment mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a version angle of a restored neck of a femur during a hip replacement procedure. The apparatus includes a broach. The broach has a distal end that is insertable into a medullary canal of the neck of the femur. The broach also has a proximal end that extends along a neck axis of the broach. The apparatus also includes a protractor. The protractor includes a rod which is attachable to the proximal end of the broach to extend away from the neck axis of the broach for measuring the version angle of the restored neck of the femur relative to a vertical direction. The method includes inserting the broach, flexing the knee at approximately ninety degrees, orienting the tibia vertically, attaching the protractor to the proximal end of the broach and using it to measure the version angle.

Abstract: An instrument for extracting a pin from a substrate, such as a bone mass, which comprises a first lever arm with a body part having a channel in which a free end of a pin can be received, a second lever arm which can pivot relative to the first lever arm, a gripping member within the body part by which the pin can be gripped to retain the pin in the channel, and a terminating member mounted on the body part having an end face and two side walls which extend along opposite sides of the body part. The terminating member has a slot provided in a portion of the end face and which extends along a portion of at least one of the two side walls configured to guide the free end of the pin into the instrument prior to being received into the channel.

Abstract: A bone broach is formed from a plurality of substantially planar members which are positioned adjacent to each other with each of the substantially planar members attached to at least one other substantially planar member. At least some of the substantially planar members defines at least one cutting profile at its perimeter. The plurality of substantially planar members include a first group of substantially planar members defining planes which are substantially parallel to each other, and at least one additional substantially planar member defining a plane which is angled relative to the planes defined by the first group of substantially planar members.

Abstract: A bone broach is formed from a plurality of substantially planar members which are positioned adjacent to each other with each of the substantially planar members attached to at least one other substantially planar member. At least some of the substantially planar members defines at least one cutting profile at its perimeter. The plurality of substantially planar members include a first group of substantially planar members defining planes which are substantially parallel to each other, and at least one additional substantially planar member defining a plane which is angled relative to the planes defined by the first group of substantially planar members.

Abstract: A method of marking a surgical instrument with a symbol formed in or on a smooth surface comprises forming a symbol in or on a smooth surface of the surgical instrument; and forming a plurality of angled surfaces over at least part of the area of the symbol. The angled surfaces define a plurality of parallel ridges and grooves in the symbol. The steps of forming the symbol and forming the plurality of angled surfaces take place substantially simultaneously in a single step.

Abstract: A cutting guide assembly comprises a mounting block having a guide surface into which may be mounted an articulated mounting arm. The mounting arm has a first post which is retained in the mounting block and a second post. A cutting tool attachment component is provided to attach the cutting tool to the cutting guide assembly. The cutting tool attachment component has a first surface against which the saw blade can be retained for oscillation around an axis of oscillation, and a shaft which cooperates with the second post such that the longitudinal axis of the shaft is collinear with the axis of oscillation of the saw blade. When the saw blade is retained against the first surface, the plane of oscillation is parallel to, and displaced from, the guide surface of the mounting block.

Abstract: A multi-pin pin impactor and method of use are described. The pin impactor includes a body which can be held by a user and manipulated to re-position the pin impactor during use. First and second pin holders are attached to the body and each include a pin release mechanism effective to releasably retain a pin within the pin holder. An impaction can have a force applied to apply a driving force to a one of the pins. In use, a first pin held by the pin impactor is introduced into an aperture in a surgical instrument mounted on a bone. A force is applied to the pin impactor to drive the first pin into the bone. The orientation or position of the pin impactor is changed to introduce a second pin held by the pin impactor into a second aperture in the surgical instrument without re-loading the pin impactor and a force is applied to the pin impactor to drive the second pin into the bone.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, for example a cutting block for use in knee surgery, comprises a mounting surface defining at least one opening for receiving a mounting projection. The mounting surface further defines a blind recess which extends linearly from the at least one opening. The blind recess may extend to an edge of the mounting surface. A system including a surgical instrument and one or more mounting projections is also disclosed. The blind recess can be used as a track to guide a projection to an opening, increasing the area of the instrument that can be used to locate the projection in the correct position. The recess acts as a guide for the projection to enter the opening by providing tactile feedback to guide the projection towards the opening. If the recess also extends to the edge of the instrument, the recess may be visible more easily when the surgeon is installing the instrument providing visual as well as tactile feedback.

Abstract: A twist-drivable pin assembly includes first and second drivers, each having a driving end (2) which can be received in a bore (104) in the end of a twist-drivable pin, and an opposite end at which torque can be applied. The cross-sectional shape of each of the drivers at its driving end has a first plurality of apexes (18) whose relative locations coincide with the apexes of a regular polygon such as a hexagon. The drivers differ from one another in their cross-sectional shapes at the driving end by virtue of one or more faces of at least one of the drivers between adjacent pairs of apexes having a groove (20) formed in it. Each of first and second twist-drivable pins has a bore (64) extending into it which is defined by a second plurality of apexes arranged as a regular polygon such as a hexagon and which is open at one end. The number of apexes of the second plurality is equal to the number of apexes of the first plurality.

Abstract: An instrument for extracting a pin from a substrate, such as a bone mass, which comprises a first lever arm with a body part having a channel in which a free end of a pin can be received, a second lever arm which can pivot relative to the first lever arm, a gripping member within the body part by which the pin can be gripped to retain the pin in the channel, and a terminating member mounted on the body part having an end face and two side walls which extend along opposite sides of the body part. The terminating member has a slot provided in a portion of the end face and which extends along a portion of at least one of the two side walls configured to guide the free end of the pin into the instrument prior to being received into the channel.

Abstract: A surgical distractor comprising a base plate (2), an intermediate stage (6) telescopically coupled to the base plate (2) and a distraction plate (4) telescopically coupled to the intermediate stage (6). The intermediate stage (6) is arranged to rotate relative to at least one of the base plate (2) and the distraction plate (4) to cause telescopic movement between the intermediate plate (6) and at least one of the base plate (2) and the distraction plate (4) such that the distraction plate (4) moves towards or away from the base plate (2). Surgical instrument kits incorporating distractors and drive elements and a method of distracting two bones within a joint are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical cutting guide is described which can guide a cutting implement to cut in a pair of planes at a defined relative orientation. The cutting guide comprises a first plate defining a first cutting plane, a second plate defining a second cutting plane at an angle to the first cutting plane; and a base member to which both the first plate and the second plate are attached. The first and second cutting planes intersect each other at a line of intersection and both the first plate and the second plate extend beyond the line of intersection.

Abstract: A surgical resection guide comprising: a housing (36); a stylus arm (38) extending through the housing (36) arranged such that when the housing (36) is coupled to the side of a bone, a tip of the stylus arm (38) is arranged to contact an end of a bone; and a linear adjustment mechanism. The linear adjustment mechanism comprises: a shaft (30) at least partially received within a bore extending through the housing (36) such that the shaft (30) can slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing (36), the shaft (30) incorporating a shaft tooth or groove (50); and a dial (44) rotatably coupled to the housing (36) and incorporating a helical dial groove or rib (48) defining a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft (30).

Abstract: A composite trial prosthesis comprises a first component (2) and a shim (4). The first component (2) has a first surface (8) corresponding to a surface of a prosthetic component and a reverse surface (10). The shim (4) is arranged to couple to the reverse surface (10). The first component (2) further comprises a first marking (24) which is arranged to be visible when the first component (2) is coupled directly to a bone or a further prosthetic component. Part of the shim (26) is arranged to obscure the first marking (24) when the shim (4) is coupled to the reverse surface (10), the shim (4) further comprising a second marking (28) which is visible when the shim (4) is coupled to a bone or a further prosthetic component. A set of composite trial prostheses and a method of selecting a required surgical prosthesis are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bone broach is formed from a plurality of substantially planar members which are positioned adjacent to each other with each of the substantially planar members attached to at least one other substantially planar member. At least some of the substantially planar members defines at least one cutting profile at its perimeter. The plurality of substantially planar members include a first group of substantially planar members defining planes which are substantially parallel to each other, and at least one additional substantially planar member defining a plane which is angled relative to the planes defined by the first group of substantially planar members.

Abstract: A surgical resection guide comprising: a housing (36); a stylus arm (38) extending through the housing (36) arranged such that when the housing (36) is coupled to the side of a bone, a tip of the stylus arm (38) is arranged to contact an end of a bone; and a linear adjustment mechanism. The linear adjustment mechanism comprises: a shaft (30) at least partially received within a bore extending through the housing (36) such that the shaft (30) can slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing (36), the shaft (30) incorporating a shaft tooth or groove (50); and a dial (44) rotatably coupled to the housing (36) and incorporating a helical dial groove or rib (48) defining a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft (30).

Abstract: A surgical resection guide comprising: a housing (36); a stylus arm (38) extending through the housing (36) and a linear adjustment mechanism. The linear adjustment mechanism comprises: a shaft (30) at least partially received within a bore extending through the housing (36) such that the shaft (30) can slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing (36), the shaft (30) incorporating a shaft tooth (50); and a dial (44) rotatably coupled to the housing (36) and incorporating a helical dial groove (48) defining a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft (30). The shaft tooth (50) engages the dial groove (48) such that rotating the dial (44) relative to the housing (36) causes the shaft tooth (50) to slide along the dial groove (48) causing the shaft (30) to slide within the bore along its longitudinal axis. The housing (36) and the stylus arm (38) can rotate about the shaft (30) without causing the shaft (30) to slide within its bore along its longitudinal axis.