A method and system for determining the orientation of a surgical tool with respect to a bone of a patient are disclosed. The method includes defining a bone reference plane using a processor; receiving first information at the processor from a first active sensor attached to the bone at a location having a predetermined relationship with the plane, the first information relating to a movement of the first sensor and wherein changes in orientation to the plane are trackable through changes in orientation of the first sensor; receiving second information from a second active sensor attached to the surgical tool, the second information relating to a movement of the second sensor; and determining a three-dimensional orientation of the surgical tool with respect to the plane based on the first and second information. The reference plane may be defined from distances between at least three predetermined reference locations on the bone.

An apparatus for positioning an orthopedic implant, the apparatus includes a flexible substrate, at least first and second field-generating coils, and circuitry. The flexible substrate is formed into a three-dimensional (3D) shape and is coupled to a predefined location on the orthopedic implant. The at least first and second field-generating coils are formed in the flexible substrate, such that in the 3D shape the first and second field-generating coils have first and second respective axes that are not parallel to one another. The circuitry is mounted on the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the at least first and second field-generating coils, and is configured to drive the at least first and second field-generating coils with respective signals.

An apparatus for positioning an orthopedic implant, the apparatus includes a magnetic receiver, a processor, and a personal display device. The magnetic receiver is configured to sense respective components of one or more magnetic fields generated by a field-generating device coupled to the orthopedic implant, and to produce corresponding electrical signals indicative of the sensed components of the one or more magnetic fields. The processor is configured to calculate, based on the electrical signals, a position of the orthopedic implant within an organ of a patient. The personal display device is configured to display at least part of the orthopedic implant overlaid on a scene, based on the position calculated by the processor.

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.

In one embodiment, an intramedullary nail has a nail body that has a proximal end and a distal end that are offset from one another such that the body is elongate from the proximal end to the distal end. The body has an outer surface, and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a cannulation that extends into the proximal end towards the distal end. The body defines a proximal bone-anchor hole that extends into the outer surface and entirely through the nail, and a distal bone-anchor hole that extends into the outer surface and entirely through the intramedullary nail at a location between the proximal bone-anchor hole and the distal end. The nail also defines an access hole extends into the outer surface between the leading portion and the trailing portion. The access hole terminates at the cannulation and is in communication with the cannulation.

A bone nail apparatus includes a bone nail, a light source unit and a focalizing unit. The bone nail has a tube wall and at least one through hole. The tube wall is enclosed to form a receiving space. The at least one through hole extends through the tube wall and communicates with the receiving space. The light source unit includes a light emitter and at least one light transmission tube. The at least one light transmission tube is connected to the light emitter and receives a light therefrom. The at least one light transmission tube is received in the receiving space of the bone nail. Each light transmission tube has a light-outputting end aligned with a respective one of the at least one through hole. The focalizing unit has a light-receiving face facing one of the at least one through hole.

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.

Disclosed herein are device and methods for determining an orientation of an instrument for inserting a medical device in a bone. One such method includes simulating an insertion point and an orientation of a simulated surgical hardware installation on a diagnostic representation of the bone, and then using an electronic device to align an instrument for inserting a surgical hardware installation at a desired orientation through an insertion point of the bone by indicating when an orientation of the electronic device is within a threshold of the simulated orientation.

A distal targeting device for a surgical instrument includes a field generator having a coupling element configured to receive a shaft that is elongate along an axis and a bridge connectable to the field generator so as to be spaced from the field generator in a proximal direction with respect to the axis. The bridge includes an attachment device that is connectable to a tool that is configured to manipulate the shaft. The bridge also includes a pair of arms configured to clasp a body of the tool in a manner substantially rigidly coupling the bridge to the tool. At least one of the arms is positionable with respect to the attachment member at a distance that is adjustable so as to enable the arms to substantially rigidly clasp tool bodies having one or more of various shapes and sizes.

A system comprising: a sensor configured to be introduced into a clearance hole of a surgical implant, wherein the sensor is configured to be introduced in proximity to a generated magnetic field and cause distortion of the magnetic field; and one or more field measuring coils configured to: measure a characteristic of the magnetic field when the sensor is in proximity to the magnetic field; and provide, to a computing device, a signal representative of the measured characteristic of the magnetic field, wherein the computing device is configured to determine one or both of a position and an orientation of the sensor and the clearance hole based on the measured characteristic of the magnetic field.