A system and related method for eliminating microbes from a metal orthopedic appliance includes a counter electrode and working electrode used for applying treatment, and a reference electrode used for monitoring safety parameters. The working electrode is the implanted appliance. Electrical current is applied between the counter electrode and the working electrode to create electrochemical current through the system and create electrochemical reactions on the surface of the working and counter electrode. The chemical species created at the working electrode provide a mechanism to disrupt and kill microbes on that surface, including bacterial biofilms commonly found on infected orthopedic implants. Circuitry connected to the electrodes keeps the applied current constant and allows the voltage between the working and counter electrode to vary. The reference electrode monitors the voltage at the working electrode in order to provide feedback to a processor as part of a feedback mechanism. The processor is programmed with software logic, preventing the voltage from drifting to ranges that correlate with metal immunity or corrosion regions by limiting or altering the applied current.

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations for inductive heating of a foreign metallic implant are disclosed. A foreign metallic implant may be heated via AMF pulses to ensure that the surface of the foreign metallic implant heats in a uniform manner. As the surface temperature of the foreign metallic implant rises, acoustic signatures may be detected by acoustic sensors that may indicate that tissue may be heating to an undesirable level approaching a boiling point. Once these acoustic signatures are detected, the AMF pulses may be shut off for a time period to allow the surface temperature of the implant to cool before applying additional AMF pulses. In this manner, the surface temperature of a foreign metallic implant may be uniformly heated to a temperature adequate to treat bacterial biofilm buildup on the surface of the foreign metallic implant without damaging surrounding tissue. The AMF pulse treatment can be combined with an antibacterial/antimicrobial treatment regimen to reduce the time and/or antibacterial dosage amount needed to remove the biofilm from the metallic implant.

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations for inductive heating of a foreign metallic implant are disclosed. A foreign metallic implant may be heated via AMF pulses to ensure that the surface of the foreign metallic implant heats in a uniform manner. As the surface temperature of the foreign metallic implant rises, acoustic signatures may be detected by acoustic sensors that may indicate that tissue may be heating to an undesirable level approaching a boiling point. Once these acoustic signatures are detected, the AMF pulses may be shut off for a time period to allow the surface temperature of the implant to cool before applying additional AMF pulses. In this manner, the surface temperature of a foreign metallic implant may be uniformly heated to a temperature adequate to treat bacterial biofilm buildup on the surface of the foreign metallic implant without damaging surrounding tissue. The AMF pulse treatment can be combined with an antibacterial/antimicrobial treatment regimen to reduce the time and/or antibacterial dosage amount needed to remove the biofilm from the metallic implant.

A method and apparatus to autonomously analyze the surface area and alloy composition ratios of a metallic implant, such as an orthopedic implant, so that an optimal voltage for biofilm disruption can be selected and make treatment easier based at least in part upon the autonomous detection of a hydrogen evolution reaction threshold.

The present invention describes a cleaning device used for cleaning an implant or for the debridement of an implant surface 1 comprising two combined main parts 2, 3, the first main part 2 being a handle shaft 2 which is stiff, plastic deformable or elastic deformable, the second main part 3 being at least one cleaning element 4 comprising a base part 5 and several bristles 6, bristle loops 7 or a cam 8 of spikes 9, wherein the base part 5 is joined together with the handle shaft 2 so as to form a cleaning device 1 with a handle.

A surgical instrument system includes a commonly-sized orthopaedic surgical instrument assembly for use in implanting a femoral component, along with a number of orthopaedic surgical instrument assemblies having varying sizes of instruments of use in implanting a tibial tray component and a patella component.

A method for debriding an infected implant area using a robotic-assisted surgery system. The method includes determining, by a processing circuit associated with a computer, an area to be debrided, the debridement area including at least a surface of an implant or patient tissue, and generating, by the processing circuit, a plan for debriding the debridement area. The method further includes controlling a debridement tool, by the robotic-assisted surgery system, while the debridement tool is used to carry out the debridement plan, and monitoring the debridement by the processing circuit.

A system for irrigating an infected implant area, the system comprising an irrigation tool, and a navigation system for tracking movement of the irrigation tool. The system also includes a processing circuit programmed to determine an area to be irrigated, the irrigation area including at least a surface of an implant and patient tissue, and control the irrigation tool to automatically adjust a speed of a spray of irrigation fluid from the irrigation tool to provide a first speed when debridement is of the surface of the implant and a second speed when the debridement is of the patient tissue.

The present invention is directed to a debridement and/or implant cleaning tool 1 in which the means for cleaning 4 is made of a biodegradable material. Thus, if parts of the means for cleaning 4 come loose during use, these will be degraded by natural processes in the body and will not remain in the body and cause negative body reactions.

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations for inductive heating of a foreign metallic implant are disclosed. A foreign metallic implant may be heated via AMF pulses to ensure that the surface of the foreign metallic implant heats in a uniform manner. As the surface temperature of the foreign metallic implant rises, acoustic signatures may be detected by acoustic sensors that may indicate that tissue may be heating to an undesirable level approaching a boiling point. Once these acoustic signatures are detected, the AMF pulses may be shut off for a time period to allow the surface temperature of the implant to cool before applying additional AMF pulses. In this manner, the surface temperature of a foreign metallic implant may be uniformly heated to a temperature adequate to treat bacterial biofilm buildup on the surface of the foreign metallic implant without damaging surrounding tissue. The AMF pulse treatment can be combined with an antibacterial/antimicrobial treatment regimen to reduce the time and/or antibacterial dosage amount needed to remove the biofilm from the metallic implant.