A CAS system and method for guiding an operator in inserting a femoral implant in a femur as a function of a limb length and orientation of the femoral implant with respect to the femur, comprising a reference tool for the femur, a registration tool, a bone altering tool and a sensing apparatus. A controller is connected to the sensing apparatus to: i) register a frame of reference of the femur by calculating surface information provided by the registration tool as a function of the position and orientation of the registration tool provided by the sensing apparatus, and/or retrieving in a database a model of the femur; ii) calculate a desired implant position with respect to the frame of reference as a function of the limb length; and iii) calculate a current implant position and orientation in relation to the desired implant position with respect to alterations being performed in the femur with the bone altering tool, as a function of the position and orientation of the bone altering tool provided by the sensing apparatus and of a digital model of a femoral implant provided by the database. The database is connected to the controller for the controller to store and retrieve information relating to an operation of the controller. The computer-assisted system may be used to guide an operator in inserting a pelvic implant in an acetabulum as a function of an orientation of the pelvic implant with respect to the pelvis.

A method of inserting an intervertebral disc implant into a disc space includes accessing a spinal segment having a first vertebral body, a second vertebral body and a disc space between the first and second vertebral bodies. The method includes securing a first pin to the first vertebral body and a second pin to the second vertebral body, using the first and second pins for distracting the disc space, and providing an inserter holding the intervertebral disc implant. The method also desirably includes engaging the inserter with the first and second pins, and advancing the inserter toward the disc space for inserting the intervertebral disc implant into the disc space, whereby the first and second pins align and guide the inserter toward the disc space.

There is provided a surgical reamer for removing bone, e.g., to access the spinal canal, the surgical reamer comprising: a shaft extending longitudinally along the length of the surgical reamer; and a cutting section for cutting bone, the cutting section being situated at a distal portion of the shaft, wherein the cutting section is provided at a lateral surface of the shaft so as to extend along part of the circumference of the shaft, and the cutting section extends along less than 50% of the circumference of the shaft. Furthermore, a corresponding set of reamers and a method for removing bone with a surgical reamer are provided.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an implant having a protrusion. The protrusion aids in the insertion and placement of the implant as well as the spinal fixation element. In certain embodiments the protrusion may be configured as a guide for the insertion of the spinal fixation element as well as closure mechanisms for connecting the spinal fixation element to the implant.

Implant assemblies, systems, and methods for replacing a knee joint may include a method of revising a knee joint prosthesis implanted in a knee of a patient to provide increased stability to the knee joint prosthesis by replacing a first tibial insert with a second tibial insert that provides more constraint that the first tibial insert. A knee joint prosthesis system and kit are also provided that may include a tibial baseplate component, a femoral component, and a tibial insert that is selectively interchangeable with other tibial inserts to provide varying levels of constraint and stability to the knee joint prosthesis.

Implant assemblies, systems, kits, and methods for replacing a knee joint may include a universal femoral trial component for preparing and trialing a femoral bone of a patient to receive a plurality of different femoral implant types. The universal femoral trial component may be configured to receive any of a plurality of femoral bone preparation attachments and any of a plurality of femoral trial attachments in order to facilitate the preparation and trialing of the femoral bone to receive the plurality of different femoral implant types.

An instrumentation system that includes a reamer sleeve having a reamer wall and a wedge body, the reamer wall being oriented about a central longitudinal axis. The reamer wall includes an inner passage that is sized to receive insertion of a reference instrument that is structured for placement in a canal in a bone. The inner passage can be centrally oriented about a longitudinal axis that is offset from at least the central longitudinal axis of the reamer wall. The wedge body can have a wedge surface that extends axially in a direction that is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. The apparatus also can include a cap having an opening that is sized to receive insertion of the wedge body. The cap can further include an inner wall having a tapered wall section that is oriented to matingly engage the wedge surface of the wedge body.

The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The present invention also relates to a method for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc via anterior or anterior lateral implantation. Other surgical approaches for implanting the prosthetic disc may also be used.

Instruments and methods for preparing an intervertebral space for receiving an implant. An adjustable trial implant has an adjustable stop mechanism having a stop member connected thereto to vary the distance that a body portion of the trial implant can move into the intervertebral space. Cutting tools for forming cutouts in the adjacent vertebrae use the trial implant and/or a guide to position a cutting tool which may be a burr or a chisel. The chisel cutting tool can be moveable relative to a selected trial implant or the chisel cutting tools can be fixed onto a trial implant shaped body portion.

A humeral guide is provided that has a first portion or member configured to be positioned on a portion of a proximal humerus. The first portion or member can be configured to rest in a complementary manner on the portion of the proximal humerus. The humeral guide can be configured with apertures defining trajectories through bone, the pin trajectories being diverging in some case and in some cases being selected to enhanced support. A second portion or member and a third portion or member of the humeral guide are configured to be positioned on first and second lateral portions of the humerus distal to a location intended for resection, e.g., between an anatomical neck and a distal end of the humerus. The second and third portions or members or portions are configured to rest in a complementary manner on the first and second lateral portions of the humerus. The humeral guide can be configured to avoid soft tissue between a bone facing side and the humerus. The humeral guide can have a removeable jig portion.