Abstract: A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure includes determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of the patient. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, communication with an orthopaedic care provider is initiated. A patient monitoring system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A femoral component of a knee prosthesis has spaced condyle surfaces defining a notch therebetween. The notch defines an elongated cam housing having an anterior cam and a posterior cam at opposite ends of the housing. The tibial component of the knee prosthesis includes a platform and a bearing supported on the platform, the bearing defining bearing surfaces configured to articulate with the condyle surfaces. The tibial component includes a spine projecting superiorly from the bearing that defines an anterior face and a posterior face. The posterior face and the posterior cam define complementary curved surfaces configured for cooperative engagement when the femoral component and the tibial component are at a predetermined flexion angle. The cam housing is configured to form a gap between the posterior cam and the spine when the knee is normally extended. In another feature, the spine includes a stiffening pin extending therethrough.

Abstract: A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure includes determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of the patient. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, communication with an orthopaedic care provider is initiated. A patient monitoring system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing medical instrument use during a surgical procedure may comprise a number of medical instruments, a display device configured to display any of the number of medical instruments, a microphone for transmitting voice commands identifying different ones of the number of medical instruments, and a controller. The controller is responsive to the voice commands to control the display device to display corresponding ones of the number of medical instruments.

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: An adjustable tibial trial insert includes an upper plate having an upper articular surface and a lower plate. A height-adjustment mechanism of the insert is coupled to and positioned generally between the upper plate and the lower plate and is configured to move between a closed position where the upper and lower plates are adjacent each other and an opened position where the upper and lower plates are spaced-apart from each other in order to adjust a height or thickness of the insert.

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 stem component having a body portion and a connection portion is provided. A portion of the stem component may be fitted to a cavity in a canal of a long bone. The stem component includes a canal portion and a sleeve portion that has an internal periphery that forms an internal cavity. A portion of the external periphery of the sleeve portion may be fitted to the cavity of the long bone. A portion of the external periphery of the connection portion may be fitted into the internal cavity of the sleeve portion, so that the external periphery of the connection portion of the joint component is spaced inwardly from the external periphery of the sleeve portion of the stem component when the joint component is fixedly connected to the stem component so that the joint component may be removed without disturbing the fixation to the long bone.

Abstract: A kit for use in performing revision surgery on a cavity in a canal of extending from a resected plane a long bone is provided. The kit includes a canal component fitted to the cavity. The canal component includes a canal portion having first and second ends. The canal component further includes a sleeve portion having an external periphery and an internal periphery defining an internal cavity. The kit also includes a first joint component having a body portion and a connection portion. The connection portion is fitted into the sleeve portion. A connection portion of a second joint component also may be fitted into the sleeve portion so that the external periphery of the connection portion of the first joint component is spaced inwardly from the external periphery of the sleeve portion of the canal component when the first joint component is fixedly connected to the canal.

Abstract: An orthopaedic implant for use in performing joint arthroplasty is provided. The orthopaedic implant includes a joint component having a stem element defining a external periphery of the stem element. The external periphery of the stem element has a stem resection ring that may be aligned with the resected plane of the long bone. The joint component also includes a body element, which is capable of being fixedly fitted to the stem element and having an external periphery with a body resection ring alignable with the resected plane of the long bone. The external periphery of a canal portion of the body element is spaced inwardly from the external periphery of the stem element so that the body element may be removed from the long bone without disturbing the fixation of the stem element to the long bone.

Abstract: A system for assisting a surgeon in performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure includes a microphone and controller. The microphone is configured to transmit voice commands to the controller. The controller is configured to perform one or more surgical related functions in response to the voice command.

Abstract: A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure includes determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of the patient. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, communication with an orthopaedic care provider is initiated. A patient monitoring system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing medical instrument use during a surgical procedure may comprise a number of medical instruments, a display device configured to display any of the number of medical instruments, a microphone for transmitting voice commands identifying different ones of the number of medical instruments, and a controller. The controller is responsive to the voice commands to control the display device to display corresponding ones of the number of medical instruments.

Abstract: An adjustable tibial trial insert includes an upper plate having an upper articular surface and a lower plate. A height-adjustment mechanism of the insert is coupled to and positioned generally between the upper plate and the lower plate and is configured to move between a closed position where the upper and lower plates are adjacent each other and an opened position where the upper and lower plates are spaced-apart from each other in order to adjust a height or thickness of the insert.

Abstract: An implantable, adjustable prosthesis includes a first component which may be moved relative to a second component by use of a transcutaneous control signal. A method of operating such a prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A femoral component of a knee prosthesis has spaced condyle surfaces defining a notch therebetween. The notch defines an elongated cam housing having an anterior cam and a posterior cam at opposite ends of the housing. The tibial component of the knee prosthesis includes a platform and a bearing supported on the platform, the bearing defining bearing surfaces configured to articulate with the condyle surfaces. The tibial component includes a spine projecting superiorly from the bearing that defines an anterior face and a posterior face. The posterior face and the posterior cam define complementary curved surfaces configured for cooperative engagement when the femoral component and the tibial component are at a predetermined flexion angle. The cam housing is configured to form a gap between the posterior cam and the spine when the knee is normally extended. In another feature, the spine includes a stiffening pin extending therethrough.

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 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: An orthopaedic element has an information storage portion. A transmitter portion and an internal power source portion may be associated with the body of the orthopaedic element. Information, such as data related to the orthopaedic element, patient or caregiver can be stored in the information storage portion. The transmitter portion is coupled to the information storage portion and the internal power source portion. The stored information is selectively transmitted to an external receiver and data interpretation device.

Abstract: A joint endoprosthesis system has first and second prosthetic components. The second prosthetic component has a bearing surface. The interface of the bearing surface and the first prosthetic component defines the joint articulation. A signal source and sensor are affixed on opposite sides of the joint articulation. The signal source generates a first signal that is received by the sensor. The sensor generates a second signal that has a characteristic that varies depending on the distance between the sensor and the signal source. A transmitter transmits a signal. The signal has a characteristic that varies depending on the characteristic of the second signal. This system can be used to measure a dimension of the joint space and to determine whether a dimension of the joint space has changed over time. The system may alternatively use magnets and magnetic sensors.