Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses including an orthopedic assembly are disclosed. The orthopedic assembly can include a femoral component and a guide. The femoral component can be configured to engage a resected distal surface of a femur. The femoral component can have a box cutout configured to provide access to a distal centrally located region of the femur. The box cutout can be disposed between a medial condyle, a lateral condyle and an anterior portion of the femoral component. The guide can be configured to selectively connect to the femoral component at one or more locations and can be spaced from the femur. The guide can have an opening therethrough configured to provide access to the box cutout and the distal centrally located region of the femur. One or more surfaces of the guide can define the opening, each of the one or more surfaces can be configured to act as a guide surface.

Abstract: A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses including an orthopedic assembly are disclosed. The orthopedic assembly can include a femoral component and a guide. The femoral component can be configured to engage a resected distal surface of a femur. The femoral component can have a box cutout configured to provide access to a distal centrally located region of the femur. The box cutout can be disposed between a medial condyle, a lateral condyle and an anterior portion of the femoral component. The guide can be configured to selectively connect to the femoral component at one or more locations and can be spaced from the femur. The guide can have an opening therethrough configured to provide access to the box cutout and the distal centrally located region of the femur. One or more surfaces of the guide can define the opening, each of the one or more surfaces can be configured to act as a guide surface.

Abstract: A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.

Abstract: A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.

Abstract: A ligament balancer for a knee is disclosed that includes a first guide portion having a first guide hole extending there through, and a second guide portion having a second guide hole extending there through, the first and second guide portions being moveable with respect to each other along a movement axis, the balancer being adapted such that, in use, the movement axis is substantially parallel to the anterior/posterior axis of a distal femoral surface. Also disclosed is a kit of parts that includes the ligament balancer and a drill guide for a knee, the drill guide includes first and second connected arms, each arm comprising at least two guide openings extending there through, the guide openings being spaced longitudinally along each arm, longitudinal axes of the first and second arms intersecting at a predetermined angle. Also disclosed is a method of attaching a cutting block to a distal femoral surface as part of a knee replacement procedure.

Abstract: Methods for forming an integral porous region in an orthopedic implant are provided. The method uses an orthopedic implant pattern, together with a porous framework having a plurality of reticulated interstices in a molding technique. After filling the mold with a molten metal such that the molten metal enters at least a portion of the reticulated interstices, followed by cooling, an orthopedic implant is formed. The porous framework is then removed to expose an integral porous region of reticulated porosity in the implant. The orthopedic implant may comprise a monolithic metallic body having an integral porous metal region. Reticulated porosity extends into the monolithic metallic body and is adapted to allow living tissue growth therein.

Abstract: An autonomous adaptive agent which can learn verbal as well as nonverbal behavior. The primary object of the system is to optimize a primary value function over time through continuously learning how to behave in an environment (which may be physical or electronic). Inputs may include verbal advice or information from sources of varying reliability as well as direct or preprocessed environmental inputs. Desired agent behavior may include motor actions and verbal behavior which may constitute a system output (and which may also function “internally” to guide external actions. A further aspect involves an efficient “training” process by which the agent can be taught to utilize verbal advice and information along with environmental inputs.

Abstract: The invention is an autonomous adaptive agent which can learn verbal as well as nonverbal behavior. The primary object of the system is to optimize a primary value function over time through continuously learning how to behave in an environment (which may be physical or electronic). Inputs may include verbal advice or information from sources of varying reliability as well as direct or preprocessed environmental inputs. Desired agent behavior may include motor actions and verbal behavior which may constitute a system output and which may also function "internally" to guide external actions. A further aspect of the invention is an efficient "training" process by which the agent can be taught to utilize verbal advice and information along with environmental inputs.