Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.

Abstract: A patient-specific acetabular guide can be used for preparing an acetabulum of a patient to receive an acetabular implant. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific engagement surface designed to be complementary and mateable with a corresponding surface of the patient's pelvic anatomy. The acetabular guide is designed during a pre-operative plan for the patient by a three-dimensional reconstruction of the anatomy of the patient using two-dimensional medical images. The patient-specific engagement surface has a first portion mateable with a portion of the acetabulum of the patient. The acetabular guide includes a guiding element that extends from the acetabular guide opposite to the first portion of engagement surface. The guiding element defines a bore designed to be oriented along an alignment axis for an acetabular implant when the acetabular guide is engaged to the acetabulum.

Abstract: A patient-specific acetabular guide can be used for preparing an acetabulum of a patient to receive an acetabular implant. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific engagement surface designed to be complementary and mateable with a corresponding surface of the patient's pelvic anatomy. The acetabular guide is designed during a pre-operative plan for the patient by a three-dimensional reconstruction of the anatomy of the patient using two-dimensional medical images. The patient-specific engagement surface has a first portion mateable with a portion of the acetabulum of the patient. The acetabular guide includes a guiding element that extends from the acetabular guide opposite to the first portion of engagement surface. The guiding element defines a bore designed to be oriented along an alignment axis for an acetabular implant when the acetabular guide is engaged to the acetabulum.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.

Abstract: A system for implanting a prosthetic device with an opening into a bone includes a plug that is removably received within the opening of the prosthetic device. The system also includes a bone removal tool that advances into the bone from outside the bone and that removes a portion of the bone while advancing into the bone to reveal the plug. The bone removal tool includes a plug engaging portion that engages with the plug. The bone removal tool at least partially removes the plug from the opening of the prosthetic device while engaged with the plug. Moreover, the system includes an alignment system that detects whether the bone removal tool and the plug are substantially axially aligned.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes an orientation sensor that detects an actual orientation of a surgical tool. The apparatus also includes a tactile orientation feedback device that selectively provides a tactile orientation feedback signal. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller that causes the tactile orientation feedback device to provide the tactile orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the surgical tool detected by the orientation sensor is substantially equal to a predetermined target orientation of the surgical tool.

Abstract: A patient-specific acetabular guide can be used for preparing an acetabulum of a patient to receive an acetabular implant. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific engagement surface designed to be complementary and mateable with a corresponding surface of the patient's pelvic anatomy. The acetabular guide is designed during a pre-operative plan for the patient by a three-dimensional reconstruction of the anatomy of the patient using two-dimensional medical images. The patient-specific engagement surface has a first portion mateable with a portion of the acetabulum of the patient. The acetabular guide includes a guiding element that extends from the acetabular guide opposite to the first portion of engagement surface. The guiding element defines a bore designed to be oriented along an alignment axis for an acetabular implant when the acetabular guide is engaged to the acetabulum.

Abstract: A patient-specific acetabular guide can be used for preparing an acetabulum of a patient to receive an acetabular implant. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific engagement surface designed to be complementary and mateable with a corresponding surface of the patient's pelvic anatomy. The acetabular guide is designed during a pre-operative plan for the patient by a three-dimensional reconstruction of the anatomy of the patient using two-dimensional medical images. The patient-specific engagement surface has a first portion mateable with a portion of the acetabulum of the patient. The acetabular guide includes a guiding element that extends from the acetabular guide opposite to the first portion of engagement surface. The guiding element defines a bore designed to be oriented along an alignment axis for an acetabular implant when the acetabular guide is engaged to the acetabulum.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.

Abstract: A dilator for adapted to implant a graft in a bone. The dilator includes a hollow frusto conical configuration having a distal and proximal end, a continuous tapered outer surface extending from said distal end to said proximal end of said dilator, the continuous tapered outer surface configured to engage a bone in order to radially expand the bone outwardly as the dilator is advanced into an opening, one end of dilator having a cross-section less than the cross-section of the opening for insertion into the opening, and the other end of the dilator having a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the opening so that insertion of the body member in the opening expands the opening.

Abstract: Implantable sensors and methods for detecting changes in a characteristic of a soft tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment, an implantable sensor for detecting indicators of cartilage wear in a joint is provided. The implantable sensor includes a sensing element for detecting a signal indicative of a characteristic of the cartilage of the joint and a telemetry circuit in communication with the sensing element for transmitting a data set representative of the detected signal. In another embodiment, a system for detecting changes in joint cartilage includes an implantable acoustic sensing element and an external receiver in communication with the implantable acoustic sensing element. In other embodiments, methods of detecting cartilage degradation in a joint and methods of using the disclosed sensors are provided.

Abstract: A surgical procedure for preparing a graft for insertion in an opening in a human body, according to which a mold is formed in the opening and transferred from the opening to a position adjacent a stylus. A contour of the mold is traced with the stylus; and the tracing movement of the stylus is transferred to corresponding movement of a cutting member so that the cutting member cuts the same contour in the graft.

Abstract: An implantable tissue growth stimulator is disclosed. The implantable tissue growth stimulator includes electronic circuitry to alter the voltage output by the stimulator. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may he controlled from an external device via wireless communication. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be configured for use with an implants in particular, the implantable tissue growth stimulator may be incorporated into an orthopedic device such as a hip prosthesis. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be used to stimulate bone growth.

Abstract: Each of an osteochondral plug graft and a kit comprises a trapezoid shaped construct configured for osteochondral implanting. An osteochondral regeneration method comprises forming a recipient socket in a chondral area of an articular joint in need of repair; harvesting a trapezoid shaped graft from another chondral area; and implanting the trapezoid shaped graft into the recipient socket.

Abstract: A bone regenerative composition includes a resorbable osteoconductive matrix and a multiplicity of substantially rigid nanofibers dispersed within structure of the matrix to impart structural integrity with nanofiber ends projecting out of a surface of the matrix to provide differential load bearing surface bristles.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a tool having a slot, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor and the slot being formed in an outer wall of the tool. The apparatus may include a transmitter having an antenna, where the antenna may be offset from the tool. The transmitter may be positioned within the slot, may be coupled to the tool by a conductive material, and may be covered with a protective material, where the tool may be adapted to operate as an electrical ground.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically programming an RFID tag using machine readable indicia. A dual mode device performs a bar code scan of a bar coded label. Information obtained from the bar code scan is stored. This information may be used to query a database indexed by the bar code information that contains detailed product information. The bar code information as well as the detailed information may be transmitted in an RF signal by the dual mode device to an RFID tag to be stored in a memory structure in the tag. The dual mode device may perform a read operation on the tag after the write operation to confirm that the data was successfully stored and provide an indication thereof. The indication may be a visual indication, a textual indication, an audible indication or combinations of these.

Abstract: A surgical procedure according to which a slotted film is positioned over an area of a bone to be milled; and a portion of a milling assembly is inserted in the defect, with another portion of the assembly extending through one of the slots so that the slot can be used as a guide to mill the bone.

Abstract: A system for implanting a prosthetic device with an opening into a bone includes a plug that is removably received within the opening of the prosthetic device. The system also includes a bone removal tool that advances into the bone from outside the bone and that removes a portion of the bone while advancing into the bone to reveal the plug. The bone removal tool includes a plug engaging portion that engages with the plug. The bone removal tool at least partially removes the plug from the opening of the prosthetic device while engaged with the plug. Moreover, the system includes an alignment system that detects whether the bone removal tool and the plug are substantially axially aligned.