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.

The present invention relates to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for placing screws in the spine using a robot attached to a passive structure. The present invention also related to a method, such as a surgical method for assisting a surgeon for removing volumes in the body of a patient using a robot attached to a passive structure and to a device to carry out said methods. The present invention further concerns a device suitable to carry out the methods according to the present invention.

Apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration). Some of the present apparatuses and methods are configured to create microfractures with smaller transverse dimensions (e.g., diameters) and greater depths than previously known. Some of the present apparatuses and methods comprise a penetrator removal tab coupled to the penetrator and configured to retract the penetrator relative to the cannula.

Cutting instruments and related methods are disclosed herein in which the diameter of the retrograde cutting blade can be adjusted to any of a plurality of diameter settings, allowing the same instrument to be used to form holes of different diameters. The limit diameter can be preset such that, during the cutting operation, the user need not be concerned with selecting the appropriate diameter, but rather can simply deploy the cutting blade until the preset limit is reached. Cutting instruments are also disclosed in which the retrograde cutting blade is distinct from the forward drilling tip and protected within a cavity formed in the body of the instrument when not in use, as are instruments in which the user is given visual and/or tactile feedback to confirm desired positioning of the cutting blade.

A coil former for an electric motor, in particular a high-speed surgical motor, in which a rotor is surrounded concentrically by the substantially hollow-cylindrical coil former, carries at least one stator winding. To ensure that as narrow an air gap as possible is permanently maintained between the coil former, which is preferably produced using an injection-molding method often with complex shaping, and a rotor, which runs in the coil former, the coil former is formed either by a non-conductive fully ceramic body, or is in the form of a composite body in which at least one dimension-stabilizing frame element is embedded by injection-molding with plastic in a plastic body which is preferably produced by injection molding.

A method and apparatus for preparing a region between adjacent bones for fusion. A first aperture is formed that extends through one of the bones. An undercutting system is inserted into the first aperture. The undercutting system includes an insertion apparatus and a cutting assembly. A first path is cut between the adjacent bones by extending or retracting the cutting assembly with respect to the insertion apparatus.

An alloprosthetic composite implant comprising includes a structural porous scaffold having a pore density profile corresponding to a density profile of bone to be replaced. A plurality of cells are seeded within pores of the porous scaffold and grown by incubation. The cells may include osteoblasts and/or stem cells to form the structure of the implant, and one or more cartilage layers may be grown on top of the scaffold. The pore density profile of the scaffold may be formed based on one or both of the bone density profile of the bone to be removed, and the bone density profile of the native bone that will be in contact with the alloprosthetic implant. A robot may be employed reo resect the native bone and also to shape the alloprosthetic implant to fit into place in the native bone.

The present disclosure provides reaming apparatuses. The reaming apparatuses can comprise a base guide, a reamer, and a reamer driver. The base guide can define a base guide through bore and a base guide articulating surface. The base guide articulating surface can be oriented at an angle relative to the base guide through bore. The reamer can define a reamer articulating surface operable to allow rotation of the reamer on the base guide articulating surface. The reamer driver can operate with the reamer to cause rotation of the reamer when the reamer driver rotates.

A system includes a handpiece and a removable tool assembly including a holder body, a shaft, a medical tool, a guard, and a sleeve. The body engages the handpiece and defines a bore. The shaft extends within the bore and the tool is provided to the distal end of the shaft. The guard is coupled to the body via a snap fit connection at the bore and may be friction fit to a bearing sleeve located between the guard and the shaft, such that longitudinal translation of the guard relative to the body longitudinally displaces the guard. The shaft extends within the bore of the body and the guard. The guard is positioned relative to the body by a distance to define a working length of the tool between the distal end of the guard and the distal tip of the tool. The working length of the tool may be used to cut tissue, without concern that cutting will be deeper than intended.

A tool for cleaning a vertebral disc includes an elongated hollow shaft including a proximal end and a distal end; a first drum rotatably disposed in a housing secured to the proximal end of the shaft, the first drum having a first axis; a second drum rotatably disposed proximate the distal end of the shaft, the second drum having a second axis parallel to the first axis; and a belt extending through the hollow shaft and operatively coupled to the first drum and the second drum, the belt comprising a plurality of teeth configured to cut anatomical tissue, each tooth of the plurality of teeth remaining flush with an outer surface of the belt when a section of the belt comprising the tooth is substantially straight, and projecting beyond the outer surface when the section of the belt bends around the first drum or the second drum.