A human or animal joint is treated by introduction of a device between the suitably prepared articulating surfaces of the joint, and the device is anchored in both these articular surfaces with a material having thermoplastic properties. For allowing at least limited articulation of the joint after implantation, the device includes two articulating portions, wherein one of the articulating portions is anchored in each articulating surfaces of the joint. On implantation a proximal face of the device is contacted with a vibrating tool and the vibration is transmitted through parts of the device to locations in which the material having thermoplastic properties is near the bone tissue of the articulating surfaces of the joint and in which liquefaction is desired. The liquefied material penetrates the bone tissue and, on re-solidification forms a positive fit connection between the device and the bone tissue.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue and particularly spinal tissue. The device and method may include insertion of at least one elongated member and an augmenting member to form a structure between the tissues to be distraction, such that a dimensional aspect of the structure is augmented upon movement of the augmenting structure.

A torsional-mode ultrasonic vibration generator is manufactured with longitudinal slots extending along its horn which damp unwanted vibrational modes and allow it to be made significantly smaller than previous apparatus. The torsional-mode ultrasonic generator is operable with a suite of surgical tools, to perform portions of an orthopaedic arthroplasty revision procedure. Three of the tools are for removing bone cement from within a bone cavity on a prosthesis cemented into the bone cavity. Three other tools are for separating an uncemented prosthesis from ingrown bone by cutting the bone between the prosthesis and walls of the bone cavity. The seventh tool is provided with sensors to determine a separation between a bone-cutting tool head and a metal prosthesis, feedback from the sensors being used to control servo motors of an articulated mounting for the seventh tool, to maintain the separation at a desirable value.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue and particularly spinal tissue. The device and method may include insertion of at least one elongated member and an augmenting member to form a structure between the tissues to be distraction, such that a dimensional aspect of the structure is augmented upon movement of the augmenting structure.

An anchorage in tissue is produced by holding a vibrating element and a counter element against each other such that their contact faces are in contact with each other, wherein at least one of the contact faces includes a thermoplastic material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration. While holding and then moving the two elements against each other, the vibrating element is vibrated and due to the vibration the thermoplastic material is liquefied between the contact faces, and due to the relative movement is made to flow from between the contact faces and to penetrate tissue located adjacent to outer edges of the contact faces. For liquefaction of the thermoplastic material and for displacing it from between the contact faces, no force needs to act on the tissue surface which is to be penetrated by the liquefied material.

A system and method for improving installation of a prosthesis. Devices include prosthesis installation tools, prosthesis assembly tools, site preparation systems, and improved power tools used in implant site preparation, the tools including a secondary motion that preferably includes an ultrasonic vibration.

A system and method for allowing any surgeon, including those surgeons who perform a fewer number of a replacement procedure as compared to a more experienced surgeon who performs a greater number of procedures, to provide an improved likelihood of a favorable outcome approaching, if not exceeding, a likelihood of a favorable outcome as performed by a very experienced surgeon with the replacement procedure, including installation and orientation of a prosthesis into tissue of a patient as well as construction of a prosthetic assembly to be installed into such tissue.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue and particularly spinal tissue. The device and method may include insertion of at least one elongated member and an augmenting member to form a structure between the tissues to be distraction, such that a dimensional aspect of the structure is augmented upon movement of the augmenting structure.

An apparatus and method for inserting a broach or stem into a bone, the broach and stem having an associated handle for impaction. The apparatus includes: a closed loop impactor configured to provide a series of impacts on the handle: at least one sensor configured to sense the series of impacts, including sensing the bone stress and to provide real-time feedback of a condition of the bone to the impactor's impact force, displacement and impact frequency; and a processor operably connected to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the real-time feedback therefrom, and operably connected to the impactor to control the rate and force of the impacts that the impactor applies to the broach.

Disclosed herein are an implant with an attachment feature and a method for attaching to the same. The implant may include a cavity with a porous layer disposed within a non-porous layer wherein the non-porous layer defines a chamber. The chamber may receive and confine liquefiable material and direct liquefiable material to permeate through the porous layer. A method of attaching a device to the implant may include liquefying a liquefiable portion of the device and allowing the liquefied material to interdigitate with the second layer and then solidify to prevent pullout.