A method for producing a spacer for insertion as a placeholder for an articular endoprosthesis, whereby a cement is filled into a compressed hollow space of a flexible compressed hollow mold, whereby the flexible hollow mold is expanded by the cement flowing into it, and the cement is filled into the hollow mold until the hollow space is expanded to a final state, whereby the hollow space in its final state determines the shape of the spacer to be produced, and the cement is then cured in said hollow space, and the spacer produced from the cement is removed from the hollow mold after curing. The invention also relates to the hollow mold, which comprises the compressible hollow space, whereby the hollow mold comprises at least one filling opening through which cement can be filled into the hollow space.

Methods of harvesting cancellous bone and bone marrow include extracting loosened cancellous bone and bone marrow—including a liquid component thereof—to a collection container that has a first cup and a suction port to which a suction source is connected. After extraction, the suction source is disconnected and a lid of the collection container is removed and replaced with a lid having a plunger with a press head that is configured to filter the extracted liquid by depressing the plunger toward a bottom of the first cup. The filtered liquid is poured through a suction port into a second cup while depressing the plunger, thereby separating the liquid from a semi-solid mass of cancellous bone that remains. The bone is extracted through a cortical opening in the femur, tibia, or calcaneus, or from an intermedullary canal that is preferably formed by reaming of the tibia using an orthopedic reamer.

A system for repairing a defect on an articular surface of a patient's trochlear region, the system comprising a guide block comprising a body having an exterior surface configured to engage with the saddle portion and ridge portions of the patient's trochlear region, a protrusion extending generally from the body and configured to be received in a first bore formed in the articular surface along a reference axis, and a first cavity extending through the body configured to establish a first working axis displaced from the reference axis, wherein the exterior surface of the body and the protrusion are configured to secure the location of the guide block about the patient's trochlear region. A method for preparing an implant site in bone, comprising: establishing a reference axis extending from the bone; creating a bore in the bone by reaming about the reference axis; securing a guide block about the articular surface; establishing a first working axis extending from the bone using the guide block, the first working axis is displaced from the reference axis; and creating a first socket in the bone by reaming about the first working axis, wherein the first socket partially overlaps with the bore.

A method of surgically preparing a sacroiliac joint comprising: a) approaching a sacroiliac joint space with a joint preparation tool comprising a cutting element including an exterior having an asymmetric cutting band such that the first side includes a first surface having a first texture and the second side includes a second surface having a second texture, the first and second textures being different such that the first texture is substantially smoother than the second texture; and b) delivering at least a portion of the cutting element non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint space for decortication, the cutting element being oriented in the sacroiliac joint space such that the first surface opposes the generally softer sacrum and the second surface opposes the generally harder ilium in order to more aggressively prepare the surface of the ilium while not over-preparing the sacrum to provide a robust biologic environment for intra-articular fusion.

There is provided herein a cover for a medical implant, the cover comprising a body portion and a seal, the body portion comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end comprising a region adapted for connecting to an introducer and the seal comprising at least one tab extending away in a proximal direction from the body portion. Also disclosed herein are systems incorporating such covers, and methods of manufacturing and using the same. There is also provided an introducer adapted for use with the cover.

An implant for repairing an articular cartilage defect site including an implant fixation portion with an upper segment and at least one bone interfacing segment and a top articulating portion with an articulating surface and an engagement surface. The upper segment includes a supporting plate with a first locking mechanism segment. The engagement surface includes a second locking mechanism segment. The first locking mechanism segment with at least two channels is structured to couple to the second locking mechanism segment with at least two protrusions. The at least one bone interfacing segment structured for insertion into the articular cartilage defect site. An implant including an implant fixation portion, a top articulating portion, and a locking mechanism with a first locking segment coupled to the upper segment and a second locking segment coupled to the at least one engagement surface and structured to couple to the first locking segment.

Methods of harvesting cancellous bone and bone marrow include extracting loosened cancellous bone and bone marrow—including a liquid component thereof—to a collection container that has a first cup and a suction port to which a suction source is connected. After extraction, the suction source is disconnected and a lid of the collection container is removed and replaced with a lid having a plunger with a press head that is configured to filter the extracted liquid by depressing the plunger toward a bottom of the first cup. The filtered liquid is poured through a suction port into a second cup while depressing the plunger, thereby separating the liquid from a semi-solid mass of cancellous bone that remains. The bone is extracted through a cortical opening in the femur, tibia, or calcaneus, or from an intermedullary canal that is preferably formed by reaming of the tibia using an orthopedic reamer.

A surgical collection assembly for filtering material from liquid obtained during surgery has a distal plunger plate that is used to compress collected material that is filtered from liquid and entrained materials gathered during surgery. The distal plunger plate needs to be maintained above the collection jar inlet during collection of the liquid and entrained material. This disclosure teaches several ways to reversibly retain the distal plunger plate above the collection jar inlet. Also taught is a drape clamp that can affix the assembly and related tubing to a drape.

A decompression device and method for removing marrow and other fluid from an intramedullary canal. The decompression device includes a cannula having a channel that allows fatty marrow to pass therethrough. A first port extends from the device and is in operable connection to a vacuum source that creates suction for removing fluid from the intramedullary canal. In some embodiments, one or more fenestrations are disposed along the second end of the cannula to expedite the removal of the fluid. In operation, the cannula is inserted into the intramedullary canal of a femur. Once fatty marrow is removed from the intramedullary canal, the cannula is removed and a reaming device is inserted into the femur. In this way, the fatty marrow is removed prior to the reaming procedure in order to prevent these fluids from traveling to the lungs causing blockage that leads to severe cardiorespiratory and vascular dysfunction.

A device for containing bone graft material comprises a body including an inner sleeve extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve and extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end such that a bone graft collecting space is formed therebetween.