Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing bone cement includes a cartridge for containing the bone cement. The apparatus also includes a plunger insertable into the cartridge. An impedance sensor is coupled to the plunger and configured to produce an output signal indicative of an impedance of bone cement contained in the cartridge. The apparatus may also include a processing circuit configured to determine an impedance value of bone cement contained within the cartridge based on the sensor signal. The processing circuit may activate a visual indicator based on the impedance value to indicate that the dough time, the end-of-work time, and/or setting-time of bone cement contained in the cartridge has been reached.

Abstract: An orthopaedic implant includes a knee prosthetic component, adaptor, and stem extension. The adaptor includes a first mounting end and a second mounting end. The first mounting end is coupled to the knee prosthetic component, and the second mounting end is coupled to the stem extension. The first mounting end of the adaptor defines a first axis, and the second mounting end of the adaptor defines a second axis. The first axis is offset from and parallel to the second axis when viewed in a first anatomical plane. Additionally, the first axis and second axis define an angle therebetween when viewed in a second anatomical plane. In some embodiments, the second mounting end may be movable with respect to the first mounting end. In other embodiments, the adaptor may be integral with the stem extension. Additionally, in some embodiments, the adaptor may be embodied as multi-piece adaptor.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis kit includes single-winged and double-winged metaphyseal sleeve components. A milling guide and reamers in the kit allow for a cavity to be prepared to receive the metaphyseal sleeve components by pivoting one of the reamers on a portion of the milling guide. The instruments allow the cavity to be aligned with the intramedullary canal regardless of the relative hardness of the bone in the vicinity of the cavity.

Abstract: An orthopaedic implant includes a knee prosthetic component, adaptor, and stem extension. The adaptor includes a first mounting end and a second mounting end. The first mounting end is coupled to the knee prosthetic component, and the second mounting end is coupled to the stem extension. The first mounting end of the adaptor defines a first axis, and the second mounting end of the adaptor defines a second axis. The first axis is offset from and parallel to the second axis when viewed in a first anatomical plane. Additionally, the first axis and second axis define an angle therebetween when viewed in a second anatomical plane. In some embodiments, the second mounting end may be movable with respect to the first mounting end. In other embodiments, the adaptor may be integral with the stem extension. Additionally, in some embodiments, the adaptor may be embodied as multi-piece adaptor.

Abstract: A surgical head gear apparatus or helmet includes a lighting system that utilizes circuit board mounted LED clusters supported on the surgical helmet. The LED clusters are part of a light array mounted to the forward portion of the helmet. In one embodiment, the light array is self-contained with its own power supply. In another embodiment, the light array is electrically connected to an external power supply and controller, such as en existing controller associated with the ventilation system of the helmet. In accordance with the invention, the only remote link for the LED clusters and circuit boards is to a control switch and/or power supply.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing apparatus includes a bowl, an attachable/detachable lid, and a handle extending from the bowl. The bowl incorporates a bone cement vapor removal system that allows the extraction of bone cement vapors or fumes even after the lid has been detached from the bowl. Such extraction of vapors may be continuous. The vapor removal system is coupled to a vacuum source. The handle is ergonomically shaped and incorporates vacuum tubing that couples the bone cement vapor removal system of the bowl with the vacuum source.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing device has a canister which is modular in design and constructed from a transparent material. The mixing device further has a mixing head assembly having a crank which is operatively coupled to a mixing blade via a gear train. The gear train is configured to drive the mixing blade in a reciprocating manner including the varying of the angular velocity, direction of travel, and angular distance of travel of the blade while the crank is rotated at a constant velocity and direction. The mixing blade has a fluid passage defined therein which allows the liquid cement component to be delivered at various locations within the mixing chamber of the canister. A method of mixing bone cement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A kit(10) for removal of bone(12) adjacent to an implanted prosthesis(14), said kit(10) comprising: a guide(16) for cooperation with the prosthesis(14); and a tool(20) constrainable by said guide(16) for removal of the bone(12).

Abstract: A bone cement mixing device has a canister which is modular in design and constructed from a transparent material. The mixing device further has a mixing head assembly having a crank that is operatively coupled to a mixing blade via a gear train. The gear train is configured to drive the mixing blade in a reciprocating manner including the varying of the angular velocity, direction of travel, and angular distance of travel of the blade while the crank is rotated at a constant velocity and direction. The mixing blade has a fluid passage defined therein which allows the liquid cement component to be delivered at various locations within the mixing chamber of the canister. A method of mixing bone cement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing apparatus includes a bowl, an attachable/detachable lid, and a handle extending from the bowl. The bowl incorporates a bone cement vapor removal system that allows the extraction of bone cement vapors or fumes even after the lid has been detached from the bowl. Such extraction of vapors may be continuous. The vapor removal system is coupled to a vacuum source. The handle is ergonomically shaped and incorporates vacuum tubing that couples the bone cement vapor removal system of the bowl with the vacuum source.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing device has a canister which is modular in design and constructed from a transparent material. The mixing device further has a mixing head assembly having a crank that is operatively coupled to a mixing blade via a gear train. The gear train is configured to drive the mixing blade in a reciprocating manner including the varying of the angular velocity, direction of travel, and angular distance of travel of the blade while the crank is rotated at a constant velocity and direction. The mixing blade has a fluid passage defined therein which allows the liquid cement component to be delivered at various locations within the mixing chamber of the canister. A method of mixing bone cement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bone cement mixing device has a canister which is modular in design and constructed from a transparent material. The mixing device further has a mixing head assembly having a crank which is operatively coupled to a mixing blade via a gear train. The gear train is configured to drive the mixing blade in a reciprocating manner including the varying of the angular velocity, direction of travel, and angular distance of travel of the blade while the crank is rotated at a constant velocity and direction. The mixing blade has a fluid passage defined therein which allows the liquid cement component to be delivered at various locations within the mixing chamber of the canister. A method of mixing bone cement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A minimally invasive medical retrieval device 10 useful for the removal of objects such as stones, calculi, concretions, foreign bodies and the like from the urinary, biliary, vascular or other systems includes a sheath 12 containing at least three wires 14 adjacently disposed in the sheath 12. At least one of the wires 14, and preferably all of them, can be moved longitudinally with respect to the sheath 12. The wires 14 have distal portions 16 which are formed so as to allow the engaging and removal of the object or objects. The distal portions 16 of the wires 14 preferably form a helical basket 22 or 40 particularly adapted for engaging urinary stones, calculi and concretions. Other grasping and manipulating shapes are useful as well. The wires 14 are substantially wedge-shaped in cross-section and substantially fill the entire cross-sectional area of the interior 26 of the sheath 12. The wedge-shaped wires 14 can be partly contained within a stainless steel cannula 28 positioned in the sheath 12.

Abstract: A pneumatic tissue dissector 10 useful for cutting or dissecting living tissue during endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures includes a dissector tip 16 for exuding a flow of pressurized gas, an inlet arrangement 24 for controlling the flow of gas from the tip 16, and an exhaust system 30 for exhausting the gas exuded from the tip 16. The exhaust system includes an inlet 32 adjacent to the tip 16 and an outlet spaced from the inlet 32. The outlet 34 is operable in coordination with the inlet arrangement 24 and is capable of exhausting a flow of gas about equal to that exuded by the tip 16, ensuring that the pressure in the cavity in which the procedure is performed does not increase or fluctuate. The flow of pressurized gas from the tip 16 is preferably compatible with an insufflation cavity pressure of no more than about 15 mm Hg, and the inlet arrangement 24 preferably supplies gas to the tip 16 at a pressure of no more than about 50 psi.

Abstract: An expandable endovascular stent comprises a flexible, tubular body (1) with a longitudinal axis, the wall of which is formed by interconnected, closed lattice cells (2) arranged with at least two cells adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Filament-shaped lattice material capable of transmitting compressive forces in the axial direction of the filament extends continuously from one lattice cell directly into the lattice cell following in the longitudinal direction. The stent can be expanded from a radially compressed state into a radially expanded state having a larger diameter. In the expanded state of the stent, the pressure transmitting lattice material in several of the lattice cells (2) forms a heart-like or arrowhead-like shape with at least two interconnected diverging, angle .beta. cell sides (5) positioned opposite to and interconnected with at least two mutually converging, angle .alpha. longer cell sides (3).