Medical devices such as osteotomes are provided. The medical device may include inner and outer members that form a working end portion. Distal end portions of the inner and outer members can cooperate to allow deflection of the working end portion. Medical devices including indicators are also provided. The indicator may communicate a direction of deflection of the working end portion to a practitioner. Additionally, medical devices including torque release mechanisms are provided. The torque release mechanism may uncouple a first portion of the medical device from a second portion of the medical device when an amount of torque applied to the medical device exceeds a predetermined value. The torque release mechanism may limit damage to components of the medical device during use of the medical device.

The present invention relates to a laser assisted surgical resection alignment guide for performing joint resection surgery. The present invention includes a base plate containing a switch which activates orthogonal laser assemblies when the laser assisted surgical resection alignment guide is inserted into a surgical block. The orthogonal laser assemblies each project beams which are each refracted by lenses to project two laser lines onto a human who has been prepared for surgery.

In one embodiment, an intramedullary nail has a body that includes proximal and distal ends and an inner surface that defines at least one locking hole that extends into an outer surface of the body so as to receive a bone anchor to lock the nail in a medullary canal of a bone. The body has a first biocompatible material that defines at least a portion of the outer surface. The nail has a second material that is different from, and at least partially encapsulated in, the first material. The second material can produce at least one of an electrical current and a magnetic field, and is supported by the nail body such that a position of the at least one bone-anchor locking hole can be detected based on the at least one of the electrical current and the magnetic field.

A method and system for determining the orientation of a surgical tool with respect to a bone of a patient discloses initializing a first active sensor and a second active sensor relative to each other with the first active sensor and second active sensor having a predetermined (relative) orientation. The first active sensor is configured to sense a change in its orientation, provide first information relating to the change and be attached to a bone in a relationship to a reference plane therefor, for use during an operation. The second active sensor is configured to sense a change in its orientation, provide second information relating to the change and be attached to a surgical tool. The relative orientation of the active sensors is useful to determine the relative orientation of the tool and the reference frame of the bone.

A jig for placing a screw to stabilize a femoral nail comprises a shell, a drill guide assembly movably mounted on the shell, and having a plurality of radiopaque markers affixed thereon, a magnetic field generator, and a plurality of magnetic location sensors responsive to magnetic fields produced by the magnetic field generator. A position processor is operative to compute positional information of the magnetic location sensors based on signals communicated thereto. The positional information is placed in registration with an anatomical image so that the drill guide assembly can be aligned with a transverse bore in the femoral nail.

A three dimensional magnetic sensor attached to a surgical nail is located based on an applied monotonic magnetic field gradient. Another three dimensional magnetic sensor locates a surgical drill. A display generates a real time image of the relative alignment of the surgical drill and of the surgical nail, allowing a surgeon to repair bone fractures.

Systems and methods for joint replacement are provided. The systems and methods include a surgical orientation device and at least one orthopedic fixture. The surgical orientation device and orthopedic fixtures can be used to locate the orientation of an axis in the body, to adjust an orientation of a cutting plane or planes along a bony surface, to distract a joint, or to otherwise assist in an orthopedic procedure or procedures.

A three dimensional magnetic sensor attached to a surgical nail is located based on an applied monotonic magnetic field gradient. Another three dimensional magnetic sensor locates a surgical drill. A display generates a real time image of the relative alignment of the surgical drill and of the surgical nail, allowing a surgeon to repair bone fractures.

Medical devices such as osteotomes are provided. The medical device may include inner and outer members that form a working end portion. Distal end portions of the inner and outer members can cooperate to allow deflection of the working end portion. Medical devices including indicators are also provided. The indicator may communicate a direction of deflection of the working end portion to a practitioner. Additionally, medical devices including torque release mechanisms are provided. The torque release mechanism may uncouple a first portion of the medical device from a second portion of the medical device when an amount of torque applied to the medical device exceeds a predetermined value. The torque release mechanism may limit damage to components of the medical device during use of the medical device.

Medical devices such as osteotomes are provided. The medical device may include inner and outer members that form a working end portion. Distal end portions of the inner and outer members can cooperate to allow deflection of the working end portion. Medical devices including indicators are also provided. The indicator may communicate a direction of deflection of the working end portion to a practitioner. Additionally, medical devices including torque release mechanisms are provided. The torque release mechanism may uncouple a first portion of the medical device from a second portion of the medical device when an amount of torque applied to the medical device exceeds a predetermined value. The torque release mechanism may limit damage to components of the medical device during use of the medical device.