An orthopaedic implant comprising: a body portion for replacing a missing joint or bone, or for supporting a joint or bone within a patient's body; a slot antenna for effecting wireless communication between the implant and an external device, wherein the slot antenna comprises a first surface in which is arranged a slot for receiving and/or transmitting wireless communication signals; wherein the slot antenna is comprised within the body portion, such that the slot is exposed to the environment outside of the implant.

Systems, methods and a sensor alignment mechanism are disclosed for medical navigational guidance systems. In one example, a system to make sterile a non-sterile optical sensor for use in navigational guidance during surgery includes a sterile drape having an optically transparent window to drape the optical sensor in a sterile barrier and a sensor alignment mechanism. The alignment mechanism secures the sensor through the drape in alignment with the window without breaching the sterile barrier and facilitates adjustment of the orientation of the optical sensor. The optical sensor may be aligned to view a surgical site when the alignment mechanism, assembled with the sterile drape and optical sensor, is attached to a bone. The alignment mechanism may be a lockable ball joint and facilitate orientation of the sensor in at least two degrees of freedom. A quick connect mechanism may couple the alignment mechanism to the bone.

A surgical instrument for releasable connection to a surgical tool having two or more sections that are able to articulate 360 degrees in differing increments and directions. The articulation of the sections allows for the distal end to be spatially offset from the proximal, yet maintain parallel longitudinal axes. The surgical instrument includes a force disc at the proximal end upon which a surgeon can exert a linear force which is transmitted to the distal end having a second tool such as a broach firmly attached thereto.

An impactor according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an adapter detachably coupled to a rotary power tool, wherein the adapter includes: a case part; a tool coupling part receiving a rotational force from the rotary power tool; a first rotating part rotating in association with rotation of the tool coupling part in only one direction among rotation directions of the tool coupling part; a striking part transfer part rotating in association with rotation of the first rotating part; a striking part which is moved, while compressing a first spring, in a first direction by rotation of the striking part transfer part and then moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a restoring force of the first spring; and a force transfer part moved in the second direction by contact with the striking part.

A process and system for performing orthopedic surgery to create a series of channels with a subject's bone to allow a reduced pressure system to be applied directly to the bone-implant interface to enhance bone healing is provided. The process for to promote healing of a bone of a subject includes creating a three-dimensional model of the bone; preoperatively planning a location of an implant relative to the model; creating a plan for the location of precision channels that reach the bone-implant interface based on the model and the implant; resurfacing the bone to fit the implant into or onto the bone based on the preoperative plan; and milling the precision channels into the bone in the location to promote healing of the bone and/or bone implant interface; and applying a pressure reduction system at the bone-implant interface to promote bone healing.

An end effector for a computer-assisted surgical system includes a mount configured to be coupled to an arm and a housing coupled to the mount and configured to interchangeably support a first operating member and a second operating member. When the housing supports the first operating member, the housing is configured to prevent translation of the first operating member relative to the mount. When the housing supports the second operating member, the housing is configured to allow translation of the second operating member relative to the mount along a first axis.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer-readable storage media, for surgical alignment using references. In one general aspect, a method includes coupling a guide to a joint, the guide defining an axis and having an outer contour formed to substantially conform to a portion of the joint. The first reference is attached at a fixed position relative to the joint. A positioning system is used to determine a position of the axis relative to the first reference, where the position of the axis is determined based upon the position of the guide while the guide is coupled to the joint. The guide is removed from the joint, and after the guide is removed from the joint, an instrument is positioned relative to the axis based on a position of a second reference relative to the first reference.

A tensioner tool for assessing joint laxity is disclosed. The tensioner tool comprises a pair of pivotally coupled arms, each arm comprising a proximal handle portion, a distal portion, and an insertion tip selectively coupled to the distal portion. The pair of arms pivot between a compressed configuration for insertion within the joint and an expanded configuration for distraction of the joint by applying a force to the handles, thus spreading the insertion tips. The tensioner tool also comprises a force sensor configured to measure the force applied to the handle portion and a positional sensor configured to measure a separation distance between the pair of arms. The tensioner tool also comprises a processor configured to calculate a distraction force at the insertion tips based on the measured force and to calculate a tip distance between the insertion tips based on the measured separation distance.

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for navigational arrays for attaching to surgical tools, the arrays comprising a frame comprising fiducials for detection by an optical navigation system, and a body having a first end for supporting the frame and a second end defining an opening, wherein the opening is aligned with a first axis of the surgical tool, wherein the opening engages a stationary surface adjacent to the surgical tool, and wherein the opening engages features disposed at predetermined even intervals on the stationary surface adapted to allow repositioning of the array from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is at least one of a rotational offset or an axial offset from the first position. The stationary surface may be a step disposed on an adapter inserted into the surgical tool. The stationary surface may be a sheath covering a rotatable shaft inserted into the surgical tool. The stationary surface may be a sleeve disposed on the surgical tool. The arrays may be part of a computer-assisted surgical system.

In an artificial joint that includes a head assembly attached by taper fit to a proximal portion of a surgically implanted stem, it may become necessary to surgically remove the head assembly. A puller can simultaneously apply a force distally to a non-peripheral portion of a proximal side of the head assembly and proximally to several locations spaced apart around a circumference of the distal side of the head assembly. In some examples, the proximal side of the head assembly includes a plug disposed at the non-peripheral portion. The puller can force the plug into contact with the proximal end of the stem, then apply the distal force through the plug to the stem. In other examples lacking a plug, the non-peripheral portion of the head can deform or break in response to the applied distal force, so that the distal force can apply to the stem.