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).

A handheld surgical instrument comprising an energy storage element, wherein the energy storage element is a spring coupled to the impacting mechanism, an impacting mechanism has a tip configured to impact a bone, wherein the tip includes a tapered point, a power transmission mechanism is configured to transmit energy from the energy storage element to the impacting mechanism, wherein the power transmission mechanism includes a semi-flexible metal wire guided by a hollow shaft, wherein the hollow shaft includes a distal end, the semi-flexible metal wire is includes a bend toward the distal end, a trigger mechanism is configured to release energy from the energy storage element, wherein the bend includes an angle between 14 degrees and 46 degrees, wherein the trigger mechanism includes a manual lever which, when actuated, simultaneously retracts the tip and charges the energy storage element.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A saw blade includes a main body having a first surface, a second surface on an opposite side of the main body from the first surface, a proximal edge portion, a distal edge portion, and first and second side portions extending between the proximal and distal edge portions. The proximal edge portion is configured to be coupled to a rotatable hub such that the saw blade is held in a curved shape with the first surface defining an outer radius when the saw blade is coupled to the rotatable hub. The distal edge portion includes a plurality of cutting teeth, and the second surface includes a cutting structure configured such that a radius of an arc swept by the cutting structure when the saw blade is rotated is substantially equal to the outer radius of the first surface.

A medical device for treating hip joint osteoarthritis in a human patient by providing at least one artificial hip joint surface. The medical device comprises a prosthetic part or a bone plug adapted to be placed in a hole in the pelvic bone and a supporting member connected to said prosthetic part or bone plug, wherein the prosthetic part or the bone plug is adapted to be inserted into said hole from the abdominal side of the acetabulum and oriented, during the insertion, such that the concave interior surface is facing in the direction towards the caput femur. Wherein the medical device comprises an artificial caput femur surface or artificial acetabulum surface, and wherein a largest cross-sectional distance of said artificial caput femur or acetabulum surface is smaller than said hole, such that said artificial caput femur surface can pass through said hole.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A system for penetrating the lateral cortex of a long bone includes a tubular cortex penetrator having an inner surface and an outer surface, a proximal end, and a distal end comprising a beveled cutting edge configured to penetrate the lateral cortex. A guide wire is configured to pass over the tubular cortex penetrator, and a guide sleeve is configured to surround the outer surface of the tubular cortex penetrator. A hollow extraction screw with an axial bore, a proximal end, a distal end, and a threaded cutting edge is configured to pass through the axial bore of the hollow extraction screw; and the hollow extraction screw is configured to retract into a distal end of a bore through the tubular cortex penetrator.

A drill guide fixture may be configured to prepare a skull for attachment of a cranial insertion fixture. The drill guide fixture may include a central drill guide and a bone anchor guide at a base of the drill guide fixture. The central drill guide may define a central drill guide hole therethrough, wherein the central drill guide hole has a first opening at a base of the drill guide fixture and a second opening spaced apart from the base of the drill guide fixture. The bone anchor drill guide may define a bone anchor drill guide hole therethrough, and the bone anchor drill guide hole may be offset from the central drill guide hole in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to a direction of the central drill guide hole. Related cranial insertion fixtures, robotic systems, and methods are also discussed.

Powered drivers operable to insert an intraosseous device into a bone are disclosed. Some of the present powered drivers include a housing having a distal end and a proximal end. A driveshaft may be located near the distal end of the housing and configured to engage a portion of the intraosseous device. A motor may be disposed in the housing and operable to rotate the driveshaft. A power source may be disposed within the housing and configured to power the motor. The powered drivers may include a lockout operable to prevent activation of the driver for increased safety when handling the driver.

A bone removal device, including an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end; a movable bone borer movably coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the movable bone borer is configured to rotate around the longitudinal axis; and a rotatable bone borer adjuster mounted on a proximal side of the elongated shaft and to the movable bone borer, wherein the adjuster is configured to rotate around an axis which is different from a rotation axis of the movable bone borer.