Methods and systems for providing a safety mechanism for a robotically controlled surgical tool. Embodiments of the methods use sensors to detect parameters that vary by the tissue traversed by a surgical tool. The sensors detect signals arising from the interaction of the surgical tool with the tissue and provide this information to a robotic controller. For example, during drilling, the sensors may measure power, vibration, sound frequency, mechanical load, electrical impedance, and distance traversed according to preoperative measurements on a three-dimensional image set used for planning the tool trajectory. By comparing the detected output with that expected for the tool position based on the planned trajectory, identified discrepancies in output would indicate that the tool has veered from the planned trajectory. The robotic controller may then alter the tool trajectory, change the speed of the tool, or discontinue power to the tool, thereby preventing damage to underlying tissue.

An implant that can function as a tissue suspension implant. Embodiments find particular use in connection with eyebrow or forehead lifts, which require raising of soft tissue and skin of the forehead and brow.

An ultrasonic surgical drill or drill bit includes a tubular member having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and a plurality of fins extending in longitudinal planes each containing the axis. In a surgical method utilizing the drill bit, one places a distal tip of the drill bit in contact with bone, presses the drill bit against the bone, and during that pressing of the drill bit, conducts ultrasonic vibrations into the drill bit. With the fins in contact with the bone, the drill bit is oscillated or angularly reciprocated about a longitudinal axis, so that the fins fragment bone material located between the fins.

A drill bit for drilling into bone, including at least a first, second and third longitudinally extending substantially straight flute blades, wherein the drill bit has an extrapolated outer profile established by rotation of the first, second and third flute blades 360 degrees about a longitudinal axis thereof, the extrapolated outer profile includes a first surface having tangents more perpendicular than parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the extrapolated outer profile includes a second surface having tangents more parallel than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

An improved method and device are provided for forming and/or maintaining a percutaneous access pathway. The device generally comprises an access pathway. The provided assembly substantially reduces the possibility of injury while accessing and/or re-accessing a body space.

Cranial perforator (1) comprising a rotating element (10) capable of being fixed to a driving element, a first drill-head (20) and a second drill-head (30), clutch means (50) disposed on the first drill-head (20) and the rotating element (10) means of disengagement (60) from a engaged position of the first drill-head (20) to an idle position of the first drill-head (20) and a casing (40) fixed at one of its extremities to the rotating element (10) and partly encasing the second drill-head (30).

The invention relates to a bone implant for attaching to on a surface of a bone, including a base body whose lower side and/or upper side correspond(s) substantially to a deformation-free bone outer contour, wherein the outer dimensions of the base body are chosen such that the base body covers a specifically introduced deformation region for obtaining autologous bone material completely, wherein in the base body at least one slot is provided which is dimensioned such that it guides a bone marking and/or bone processing tool inserted in the slot in use.

A bone drilling cover device comprises an upper fastening member and a lower fastening member. The upper fastening member includes a first base portion and a first coupling portion. The lower fastening member includes a second base portion and a second coupling portion engagable with the first coupling portion. The second base portion is composed of at least one first arm and at least one second arm. The first arm has a length greater than a length of the second arm. A total length of the first arm and the second arm is greater than a diameter of a drilled hole. Through the first arm and the second arm having different lengths, the first arm and the second arm can be inserted in an oblique manner and positioned to the underside of the drilled hole for covering the drilled hole of any bone.

A bone drilling cover fixing device includes an upper fastening member and a lower fastening member. The upper fastening member includes a first base portion and a first coupling portion. The first coupling portion protrudes from an underside of the first base portion and can be inserted into a drilled hole. The lower fastening member includes a second base portion and a second coupling portion. The second base portion includes at least one first arm and at least one second arm. The first arm has a length equal to that of the second arm. The length of the first arm and the length of the second arm are greater than a radius of the drilled hole. When in use, the first and second arms are inserted in an oblique manner into the drilled hole to be positioned at two ends of an underside of the drilled hole.

An automated craniotomy opening apparatus includes a drilling apparatus with a drilling tip, at least one drilling apparatus positioning device, a detection device, and a computer processor that automatically controls the drilling apparatus, the positioning device, and the detection device. A method for automated opening of craniotomies includes, under automatice control of a computer processor, drilling into a skull for a predetermined distance and determining when there is a conductance drop near the drilling tip that indicates skull breakthrough. If the conductance is not below a predetermined threshold, drilling continues iteratively manner until conductance is below the threshold. A craniotomy pattern may be predetermined and automatically drilled under control of the processor. A cranial window may be created by drilling along a path that interpolates between holes to form the circumference of the window. Determining conductance may include use of an impedance detection circuit.