An antibiotic delivery system including an intramedullary stem that is adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone. The stem includes a body having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of liquid-borne antibiotic and a plurality of outlets disposed along the stem. A channel extends between the inlet and the plurality of outlets for delivering a fluid-borne antibiotic from the inlet to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the antibiotic along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion. A method of treating an infected joint during a two-stage re-implantation of an orthopedic implant is also disclosed.

A detachable vertical cutter for insertion into a cylinder or tube is formed as a single unitary structure. The single blade has a pair of tool attachment end portions and a cutting blade extending in a loop between the attachment ends. The cutting blade is inclined vertically relative to a longitudinal axis of a cylinder or tube into which the attachment ends can slide into. The cutting blade has a cutting edge, a portion of which when extended free of the cylinder or tube will extend a distance greater than the tube outside diameter. The cutting edge when pushed inwardly and pulled outwardly between adjacent vertebrae scrapes and cuts disc material. When retracted the cutting blade deflects into the cylinder or tube for insertion or extraction into or from the disc space.

A system for the amelioration of a recess (56) in a porous material, said system comprising an element (2) for coupling in mechanical energy, and a cylindrical collar (4, 40) having a central recess (44,45) for a guide pin (8), wherein the pin (8), having a cannulation (35), is provided to be inserted as far as the bottom of the recess (56) using a wire (52), wherein the pin (8) is surrounded by an amelioration sleeve (7), wherein the external cylindrical jacket surface of the sleeve (7) has substantially the same external diameter as the collar (4, 40), and wherein the pin (8) is received movably in the central recess (44,45) such that, when mechanical energy is applied, the collar (4,40) can be moved relative to the guide pin (8) in the direction toward the bottom of the recess (8) while liquefying and displacing the material of the sleeve (7).

A system for the amelioration of a recess (56) is disclosed, particularly of a recess in a porous, perforate material having cavities freed by the recess, said system comprising an element (2) for generating or coupling in mechanical energy, and a cylindrical collar (4, 40) having a central recess (44,45) for receiving a guide pin (8), wherein the guide pin (8), having a cannulation (35), is provided to be inserted substantially as far as the bottom of the recess (56) under positioning using a wire (52) before mechanical energy is applied, wherein the guide pin (8), in the area of the end thereof directed toward the bottom of the recess (56), is surrounded by an amelioration sleeve (7), wherein the external cylindrical jacket surface of the amelioration sleeve (7) has substantially the same external diameter as the collar (4, 40), and wherein the guide pin (8) is received movably in the central recess (44,45) such that, when mechanical energy is applied, the collar (4,40) can be moved relative to the guide pin (8) in the direction toward the bottom of the recess (8) while liquefying and laterally and/or longitudinally displacing the material of the amelioration sleeve (7).

Systems and methods for facilitating treatment are disclosed that can include the use of imaging techniques in conjunction with one or more non-invasive techniques for modifying tissue, e.g., tissue in or around the spine. Depending on the type of treatment to be performed, various imaging modalities may be suitable for visualizing the tissue. Energy can be applied to tissue from outside of the body such that the tissue is modified in a non-invasive manner. For example, focused ultrasound can be used to dissect body tissues or can be applied to specific regions of tissue to change a characteristic of the tissue, e.g., increase its elasticity. The methods disclosed herein can be stand-alone treatments or can be performed prior to one or more surgical procedures. For example, non-invasive imaging and modification of body tissues can facilitate accessing the spine, preparing an interbody space, and/or surgically correcting the spine.

A method of repairing a fractured bone may include implanting a prosthetic stem into an intramedullary canal of the fractured bone. First and second bone segments of the fractured bone may be robotically machined to include first and second implant-facing surfaces that are substantially negatives of first and second surface portions of the first end of the prosthetic stem. The first and second tuberosities may be machined so that the first and second bone segments have first and second interlocking surfaces shaped to interlock with each other. During implantation, the first and second implant-facing surfaces are in contact with the first and second surface portions of the first end of the prosthetic stem, and the first interlocking surface interlocks with the second interlocking surface.

Systems and methods for facilitating treatment are disclosed that can include the use of imaging techniques in conjunction with one or more non-invasive techniques for modifying tissue, e.g., tissue in or around the spine. Depending on the type of treatment to be performed, various imaging modalities may be suitable for visualizing the tissue. Energy can be applied to tissue from outside of the body such that the tissue is modified in a non-invasive manner. For example, focused ultrasound can be used to dissect body tissues or can be applied to specific regions of tissue to change a characteristic of the tissue, e.g., increase its elasticity. The methods disclosed herein can be stand-alone treatments or can be performed prior to one or more surgical procedures. For example, non-invasive imaging and modification of body tissues can facilitate accessing the spine, preparing an interbody space, and/or surgically correcting the spine.

A detachable vertical cutter for insertion into a cylinder or tube is formed as a single unitary structure. The single blade has a pair of tool attachment end portions and a cutting blade extending in a loop between the attachment ends. The cutting blade is inclined vertically relative to a longitudinal axis of a cylinder or tube into which the attachment ends can slide into. The cutting blade has a cutting edge, a portion of which when extended free of the cylinder or tube will extend a distance greater than the tube outside diameter. The cutting edge when pushed inwardly and pulled outwardly between adjacent vertebrae scrapes and cuts disc material. When retracted the cutting blade deflects into the cylinder or tube for insertion or extraction into or from the disc space.

A detachable vertical cutter for insertion into a cylinder or tube is formed as a single unitary structure. The single blade has a pair of tool attachment end portions and a cutting blade extending in a loop between the attachment ends. The cutting blade is inclined vertically relative to a longitudinal axis of a cylinder or tube into which the attachment ends can slide into. The cutting blade has a cutting edge, a portion of which when extended free of the cylinder or tube will extend a distance greater than the tube outside diameter. The cutting edge when pushed inwardly and pulled outwardly between adjacent vertebrae scrapes and cuts disc material. When retracted the cutting blade deflects into the cylinder or tube for insertion or extraction into or from the disc space.

An antibiotic delivery system including an intramedullary stem that is adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone. The stem includes a body having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with a source of liquid-borne antibiotic and a plurality of outlets disposed along the stem. A channel extends between the inlet and the plurality of outlets for delivering a fluid-borne antibiotic from the inlet to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the antibiotic along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion. A method of treating an infected joint during a two-stage re-implantation of an orthopedic implant is also disclosed.