A tissue cutting probe includes an outer sleeve assembly, an inner sleeve assembly, a burr and an electrode. Each of the inner and outer sleeves has a proximal end, a distal end, and central passage extending therebetween. The inner sleeve assembly is coaxially and rotatably received in the central passage of the outer sleeve assembly, and the burr has a plurality of metal cutting edges carried on a first side of the distal end of the inner sleeve assembly. The electrode is carried a second side of the distal end of the inner sleeve assembly.

A number of improvements are provided relating to computer aided surgery. The improvement relates to both the methods used during computer aided surgery and the devices used during such procedures. Some of the improvement relate to controlling the selection of which data to display during a procedure and/or how the data is displayed to aid the surgeon. Other improvements relate to the structure of the tools used during a procedure and how the tools can be controlled automatically to improve the efficiency of the procedure. Still other improvements relate to methods of providing feedback during a procedure to improve either the efficiency or quality, or both, for a procedure.

Disclosed are devices and methods for creating a bore in bone. The devices and methods described involve driving a rotating bit in an axial direction such that both rotation and linear movement are controlled and measurable. The instrument is useful for a surgeon to control and simultaneously measure the travel of the tool into the bone and prevent injury to surrounding structures.

Apparatus for securing an object to bone, the apparatus including an anchor assembly comprising an anchor and an actuation element extending from the anchor, wherein applying a force to the actuation element when the anchor is disposed in a hole formed in a bone secures the anchor to the bone; and an inserter for deploying the anchor assembly in a hole formed in a bone, the inserter including a shaft for releasably engaging the anchor; and a force delivery mechanism mounted to the shaft and connected to the actuation element, the force delivery mechanism being constructed so as to receive an input force from an external source and to selectively apply an output force to the actuation element, with the force delivery mechanism being constructed so that the magnitude of the output force is limited regardless of the magnitude of the input force.

A robotic surgery method for cutting a bone of a patient includes characterizing the geometry and positioning of the bone and manually moving a handheld manipulator, the handheld manipulator operatively coupled to a bone cutting tool having an end effector portion, to cut a portion of the bone with the end effector portion. The handheld manipulator further comprises a manipulator housing and an actuator assembly movably coupled between the manipulator housing and the bone cutting tool. The method further includes causing the actuator assembly to automatically move relative to the manipulator housing to maintain the end effector portion of the tool within a desired bone cutting envelope in response to movement of the manipulator housing relative to the bone.

A robotic surgery method for cutting a bone of a patient includes characterizing the geometry and positioning of the bone and manually moving a handheld manipulator, the handheld manipulator operatively coupled to a bone cutting tool having an end effector portion, to cut a portion of the bone with the end effector portion. The handheld manipulator further comprises a manipulator housing and an actuator assembly movably coupled between the manipulator housing and the bone cutting tool. The method further includes causing the actuator assembly to automatically move relative to the manipulator housing to maintain the end effector portion of the tool within a desired bone cutting envelope in response to movement of the manipulator housing relative to the bone.

A surgical device may include a tube and a cutting blade movable between a first position in which the cutting blade is concealed inside the tube and a second position in which the cutting blade is exposed through a sidewall of the tube.

A surgical device may include a tube and a cutting blade movable between a first position in which the cutting blade is concealed inside the tube and a second position in which the cutting blade is exposed through a sidewall of the tube.

Devices and methods for placing an implant between two bone portions are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises disposing a portion of a flexible member through a first bone portion, through an aperture in a trial implant, and through a second bone portion. The trial implant can be withdrawn to enable an implant to be coupled to the flexible member. The method includes applying tension to the flexible member to urge the implant into the space between two bone portions. In some embodiments, the two bone portions are facets.

Measurement of a leading edge of an instrument passing from a first medium having a first density to a second medium having a second density using a displacement sensor alone. In particular, a displacement signal, a velocity signal, and an acceleration signal measured from or derived from a displacement sensor are analyzed to determine when the leading edge of the instrument passes from the first material to the second material as the leading edge of the instrument is advanced relative to the material. For instance, the measurement may be used to output an occurrence signal that indicates to a user that the instrument has passed from the first medium to the second medium. Additionally, a length measurement of the path of the instrument when passing from the first medium to the second medium may be recorded, and/or the instrument may be controlled (e.g., the instrument may be stopped).