Abstract: A safety shield adapted for use with a syringe having a syringe barrel for protecting a needle after use in a medical procedure is disclosed. The safety shield includes a first portion disposed at least partially about the barrel and axially movable from a retracted position surrounding at least a portion of the syringe barrel to an extended position wherein at least the distal end of the first portion extends beyond the distal end of the syringe barrel. The shield further includes a second portion associated with the first portion and axially movable with respect to the first portion from a retracted position to an extended position extending beyond the distal end of the first portion. First and second locking members are provided for locking the first and second portions in an extended position upon axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A safety shield adapted for use with a syringe having a syringe barrel for protecting a needle after use in a medical procedure is disclosed. The safety shield includes a first portion disposed at least partially about the barrel and axially movable from a retracted position surrounding at least a portion of the syringe barrel to an extended position wherein at least the distal end of the first portion extends beyond the distal end of the syringe barrel. The shield further includes a second portion associated with the first portion and axially movable with respect to the first portion from a retracted position to an extended position extending beyond the distal end of the first portion. First and second locking members are provided for locking the first and second portions in an extended position upon axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A safety shield adapted for use with a syringe having a syringe barrel for protecting a needle after use in a medical procedure is disclosed. The safety shield includes a first portion disposed at least partially about the barrel and axially movable from a retracted position surrounding at least a portion of the syringe barrel to an extended position wherein at least the distal end of the first portion extends beyond the distal end of the syringe barrel. The shield further includes a second portion associated with the first portion and axially movable with respect to the first portion from a retracted position to an extended position extending beyond the distal end of the first portion. First and second locking members are provided for locking the first and second portions in an extended position upon axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A safety shield adapted for use with a syringe having a syringe barrel for protecting a needle after use in a medical procedure is disclosed. The safety shield includes a first portion disposed at least partially about the barrel and axially movable from a retracted position surrounding at least a portion of the syringe barrel to an extended position wherein at least the distal end of the first portion extends beyond the distal end of the syringe barrel. The shield further includes a second portion associated with the first portion and axially movable with respect to the first portion from a retracted position to an extended position extending beyond the distal end of the first portion, First and second locking members are provided for locking the first and second portions in an extended position upon axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A safety shield adapted for use with a syringe having a syringe barrel for protecting a needle after use in a medical procedure is disclosed. The safety shield includes a first portion disposed at least partially about the barrel and axially movable from a retracted position surrounding at least a portion of the syringe barrel to an extended position wherein at least the distal end of the first portion extends beyond the distal end of the syringe barrel. The shield further includes a second portion associated with the first portion and axially movable with respect to the first portion from a retracted position to an extended position extending beyond the distal end of the first portion. First and second locking members are provided for locking the first and second portions in an extended position upon axial movement thereof.

Abstract: A telemetric tibial tray includes a lower plate that defines a plurality of cylindrical transducer cavities having circular load diaphragms. An upper plate is attached to the lower plate through support posts projecting from the load diaphragms. The support posts have a circular cross-section and a diameter of about 5.0 mm. The lower plate further defines wiring channels communicating between the transducer cavities and a central cavity housing the circuit board for the telemetric tray. The wiring channels are arranged at a 45 degree angle relative to the sagittal plane of the knee joint in order to reduce the effects of the wiring channel intersection on the strain sensitivity of the tray. Each transducer cavity includes a radial strain gage array with four pairs of radially aligned strain gages, each pair aligned at a 45 degree angle relative to the sagittal plane of the knee joint.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting implant data includes an orthopaedic implant, a wireless receiver, and a processing circuit electrically coupled to the wireless receiver. The orthopaedic implant is configured to transmit implant identification data and implant sensor data to the wireless receiver in response to a power signal. The orthopedic implant may transfer the data over, for example, a wireless network. The processing circuit receives the implant identification data and the implant sensor data from the wireless receiver and is configured to retrieve patient-related data from a database based on the implant identification data. The processing circuit may also be configured to update a patient queue, assign a patient room to a patient, and/or transmit the patient-related data and the implant sensor data to a client machine located in the patient room.

Abstract: A system and method for managing patient-related data includes transmitting a power signal to an orthopaedic implant, receiving implant identification data from the orthopaedic implant, and retrieving patient-related data from a database based on the implant identification data. The method may also include receiving security code data and determining the validity of such security code data prior to the retrieving the patient-related data from the database. The method may further include updating an electronically-stored patient queue based on the patient-related data, assigning a patient room to a patient identified by the patient-related data, and transmitting the patient related data to a client machine located in the patient room and/or a portable media device.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a magnetic source includes measuring a magnetic field generated by the magnetic source and determining components of the three-dimensional magnetic flux density of the magnetic field at a plurality of points in space based on such measurement. The method also includes estimating a position of the magnetic source and determining components of a theoretical three-dimensional magnetic flux density at the plurality of points in space based on the estimated position. The position of the magnetic source may then be determined by minimizing the difference between the components of the measured and corresponding theoretical three-dimensional magnetic flux density components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for registering a bone of a patient with a computer assisted surgery system includes a support frame and a number of magnetic sensor arrays movably coupled to the support frame. Each of the magnetic sensor arrays may be pivoted and translated with respect to the frame. In addition, each of the magnetic sensor arrays may include a circuit for sensing a magnetic field generated by a magnetic source coupled to the bone of the patient. Each circuit may include one or more magnetic sensors, a processing circuit, an angle sensor, a distance sensor, and a transmitter. The magnetic sensors and processing circuit cooperate to determine a position of the magnetic source. The angle sensor, distance sensor, and processing circuit cooperate to determine a displacement of the magnetic sensor array from a reference point. The processing circuit controls the transmitter to transmit data indicative of the position of the magnetic source.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor array includes a first three-dimensional magnetic sensor secured to a substrate in a central location of the substrate. A number of second three-dimensional magnetic sensors are secured to the substrate at a first distance from the first magnetic sensor. Additionally, a number of one-dimensional magnetic sensors are secured to the substrate at a second distance from the first magnetic sensor greater than the first distance. Additional magnetic sensors of any dimension may also be included. The magnetic field sensitivity of the first and second three-dimensional magnetic sensors may be less than the magnetic field sensitivity of the one-dimensional magnetic sensors. The sensing range of the first and second three-dimensional magnetic sensors may be greater than the sensing range of the one-dimensional magnetic sensors. The magnetic sensor array may also include a processing circuit coupled to the magnetic sensors.

Abstract: A computer assisted orthopaedic surgery system includes a controller, a display device, and a magnetic sensor array. The magnetic sensor array includes one or more magnetic sensors configured to sense a magnetic field of a magnetic source coupled to a bone of a patient. The magnetic sensor array is configured to determine a position of the magnetic source and transmit data indicative of such position to the controller. The controller retrieves an image of the bone from an electronic file, determines a position of the bone, and displays a graphically rendered image of the bone on the display screen.

Abstract: A method of predicting the operating state of a curable bone cement composition includes determining the impedance of the bone cement composition. The impedance is used to predict a number of operating states of the bone cement composition including end-of-work time and setting time.

Abstract: An implantable orthopaedic component includes an information storage device that contains information related to the component. In the preferred embodiment, the information storage device is an RFID tag that is embedded within the component or within a housing that is configured to be removably engaged to the component. The RFID tag can be pre-loaded with information related only to the implant, or can be configured to allow additional surgery or patient specific information to be added by the caregiver at the time and point of surgery.

Abstract: A computer assisted surgery system includes a controller configured to display images of the surgical procedure according to a workflow plan. The controller is configured to retrieve data and determine the workflow plan based on the data. The controller may also be configured to record and store data related to the surgical procedure on, for example, a hospital network.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the ambient conditions of a mammalian joint, and particularly a joint that has been instrumented with a joint endoprosthesis includes a sensor supported by a component of the joint endoprosthesis. The system includes a transmission element that is also supported within the body of the patient, preferably within the endoprosthesis. The transmission element transmits a signal indicative of the sensed ambient condition within the instrumented joint. For example, the sensor can be a temperature sensor used to evaluate the temperature within a joint, such as a hip joint, during activity or exercise by the patient.

Abstract: An implantable orthopaedic prosthesis includes a superparamagnetic material. Features and/or location of the prosthesis may be determined in vivo by use of the superparamagnetic material. Methods of using such a prosthesis are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on a patient includes at least one femoral paddle and a tibial paddle. At least one of the femoral paddle and the tibial paddle is movable away from the other. The apparatus also includes a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a force applied to the femoral paddle or the tibial paddle. The apparatus may be communicatively coupled to a computer assisted orthopaedic surgery system.

Abstract: A method of determining the operating state of a curable bone cement composition includes determining the resonant frequency of the bone cement composition. The resonant frequency is correlated to a number of operating states including dough time, end-of-work time, and setting time.

Abstract: A medical device communications network comprises a plurality of medical devices including either or both of a first number of surgical instruments and a second number of implants configured for subcutaneous implantation in a biological body. A corresponding plurality of wireless communication circuits are each mounted to a different one of the plurality of medical devices. Each of the plurality of wireless communication circuits is configured to broadcast medical device information relating to the medical device to which it is mounted and to receive information relating to any other of the plurality of medical devices. The network may or may not include a master wireless communications circuit configured to receive the medical device information broadcast by any of the plurality of slave wireless communication circuits and to broadcast the information relating to any other of the plurality of medical devices.