Smith + Nephew

Conformis, Inc.

Hydrocision, Inc.

Ernest Allen Dion

David P Hesketh

Bob Miller

Philipp K Lang

James J Frassica

Kevin Patrick Staid

Sean J Albert

Ed McLean

Fred Boussu

Manuel J Salinas

Joseph A Meranda

Manny J Salinas

Joop Frans Hoekstra

John L O'Brien

Ronald A Mayville

Disclosed are nozzles and nozzle assemblies of liquid jet-forming surgical instruments, surgical instruments employing such nozzles and/or nozzle assemblies, and methods of fabricating the nozzle assemblies in forming surgical instruments. Also, disclosed are liquid jet-forming surgical instruments including both liquid jet-forming nozzles and optional evacuation lumens, which when provided can be configured to receive the liquid jet and evacuate the liquid forming the liquid jet. Certain embodiments of such surgical instruments include inventive nozzle alignment component(s) to facilitate alignment of the nozzles and evacuation lumen upon assembly. In certain embodiments, surgical instruments are provided that include a nozzle that is shaped to form a liquid jet, which has surfaces that are optically smooth. In certain embodiments, the nozzle has a configuration enabling the nozzle to form a liquid jet that has the ability to remain collimated over longer distances than is typically achievable with conventional liquid jet surgical instrument nozzles having the same ratio of nozzle length to minimum inner diameter of the jet opening. In certain embodiments, nozzle assemblies comprising an operative assembly of at least two subcomponents, which together provide a nozzle are provided. In certain embodiments, the at least two sub-components may comprise a nozzle-providing component, such as a nozzle ring, and a holder that is configured to retain and position the nozzle-providing component in the nozzle assembly. In certain embodiments, the nozzle-providing component can comprise a liquid flow passage having a diameter that continuously decreases along at least a portion of its length.

Nozzle assemblies for liquid jet surgical instruments and surgical instruments for employing the nozzle assemblies

A blank for use in manufacturing a surgical implant is provided. The blank includes a shape based, at least in part, on one or more features common to a specific type of patient-adapted implants. The blank has dimensions that are equal to or larger than corresponding dimensions of each patient-adapted implant included in the specific type of patient-adapted implants.

Systems and methods for manufacturing, preparation and use of blanks in orthopedic implants

Methods, system, devices, processes and techniques are disclosed for manufacturing orthopedic implants utilizing blanks and/or fixtures.

Devices, systems and methods for manufacturing orthopedic implants

A method of manufacturing a plurality of orthopedic implant components is provided. The method includes providing a design for a first implant component having at least one dimension that is based on patient-specific information and a design for a second implant component having at least one dimension that is based on patient specific information. A build plan is created that includes a position and orientation for at least each of the first and second implant components within a build chamber of a solid freeform fabrication machine and with respect to a platform of the build chamber. The implants included in the build plan are produced by executing a build run of the solid freeform fabrication machine based on the build plan, wherein the plurality of implant components are positioned and oriented in an interleaved build configuration according to the build plan.

Methods and systems for optimizing design and manufacture of implant components using solid freeform fabrication

Nozzle assemblies for liquid jet surgical instruments and surgical instruments employing the nozzle assemblies

A coupling system for receiving a push rod includes a housing defining an internal channel having a sloped wall, and a piston received within the internal channel. The piston includes at least one flexible member arranged within the channel to be acted upon by the sloped wall to engage the push rod. The only external force required to couple the push rod is an axial force on the piston in a direction. The only external force required to de-couple the push rod is an axial force on the piston in an opposite direction.

Disposable pumping system and coupler

Techniques are described for making one-piece tubes for surgical instruments in which an inner tube that carries a cutting implement is disposed for movement within an outer tube having a cutting window that exposes the cutting implement to tissue. Swaging is performed to close an end of a tubular member that is to serve as either the inner tube or the outer tube. Other processing steps are also performed. For example, a selected amount of a protrusion formed by the swaging is cut away, the tube material is fused together at a seam formed by the swaging, and the closed distal end of the tubular member is formed into a selected shape. For example, the selected shape is rounded so that the distal end defines convex (e.g., substantially hemispherical) interior and exterior distal surfaces. This renders the tube suitable for use in full-radius surgical instruments. Alternatively, the selected shape is flattened so that the distal end defines flattened interior and exterior distal surfaces. In this case, the tube can be used in end cutting surgical instruments.

Making closed end tubes for surgical instruments

A surgical instrument comprises an inner tube which rotates within an outer tube and carries a surgical tool that includes a burr for cutting tissue exposed to the burr through an opening in the outer tube. The instrument includes several features which enhance the efficiency at which tissue fragments severed by the burr are aspirated through the inner tube, and which enable the burr to effectively cut relatively soft tissue as well as harder tissue such as bone. For example, the burr includes a proximal shank having a wall that has an aperture therein with a substantial width relative to an outer diameter of the wall for conveying tissue fragments cut by the burr into an interior chamber of the shank, and thence into a passage in the inner tube. The opening in the outer tube is axially elongated sufficiently to expose a major portion of the aperture. The large aperture and its exposure by the outer tube opening reduce the risk of clogging by admitting larger tissue fragments into the inner tube for aspiration. Additionally, the burr includes a plurality of grooves that are axially elongated and inclined transversely to the flutes, and the grooves define a plurality of axially spaced notches in each of the cutting edges. The notches divide the cutting edges into relatively small segments that produce correspondingly small tissue fragments (even when the burr is used to cut soft tissue) to further reduce the risk of clogging. In addition, the cutting edges are preferably provided with a positive rake that makes the cutting edges sharper and suitable for effectively cutting, rather than tearing or shredding, relatively soft tissue.

Growing community of inventors

Danvers, MA, United States of America

Ernest Allen Dion