Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Innovative Surgical Devices, Inc.

Bioconcepts, Inc.

Karen M Roche

Robert M Eyerly

Devices and methods are provided for surgical lavage including pumping liquid to a bone or other tissue surface with a reciprocating pump mechanism operated by pressurized gas wherein pressurized exhaust gas is further utilized to accelerate the pulsed liquid. A first valve arrangement is provided to bypass the pumping mechanism to direct pressurized gas directly onto the bone/other tissue surface without the presence of liquid from the device. A second valve arrangement is provided for optionally venting at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the atmosphere instead of directing it to the bone/other tissue surface. An additive line delivers additive to the gas bypass line for delivery of the additive to the bone/other tissue surface with the flowing gas stream.

Devices and methods for bone/tissue preparation

Methods are provided for surgical lavage including pumping liquid to bone and other tissue surfaces with a reciprocating pump mechanism operated by pressurized gas wherein pressurized exhaust gas is further utilized to accelerate the pulsed liquid. A first valve arrangement is provided to bypass the pumping mechanism to direct pressurized gas directly onto the tissue surface without the presence of liquid from the device. A second valve arrangement is provided for optionally venting at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the atmosphere instead of directing it to the tissue surface. An additive line delivers additive to the gas bypass line for delivery of the additive to the tissue surface with the flowing gas stream.

Methods for bone and other tissue preparation

An improved modular prosthetic joint has a stem portion embedded in a bone with a removable bearing head frictionally mounted on the stem portion. The bearing head has a bore which mates with a tapered shaft of the stem portion. The bearing head has a generally thin wall defining its continuous and unbroken bearing outer surface, with a wall portion extending directly over the tapered shaft which is thinner than the remainder of the bearing head wall. A puller engages an annular shoulder of the bearing head to pierce through the thinner wall portion of the bearing head, engage the tapered shaft and urge the bearing head away from the tapered shaft. Thus, the bearing head is pierced and removed from its associated stem portion, and second replacement bearing head is then mountable on the tapered shaft by impaction.

Modular joint prosthesis assembly and method of removing

Apparatus for positioning a prosthetic acetabular cup within an acetabulum during total hip replacement surgery. The apparatus includes a pusher ball, a pusher arm affixed to the pusher ball, a positioner arm, and a positioner flange affixed to the positioner arm. The apparatus also includes a slot within the flange dimensioned to receive a part of the pusher arm so that the flange can be faced with the pusher ball. The apparatus can affix the flange facing the ball to define a predetermined angle between the pusher arm and the positioner arm. This apparatus also releasably secures the ball generally mated with the acetabular cup, so that the positioner flange and the positioner arm can be released and removed from the remainder of the apparatus while the pusher ball remains within the acetabular cup to maintain uninterrupted pressure on the acetabular cup via the pusher arm.

Acetabular cup positioning apparatus

An integral prosthetic acetabular cup assembly and a method for making the same including an inner liner contacting an outer backing and a plurality of spacers mechanically entrapped between the inner liner and the outer backing. The spacers may be made of a material different from that of the inner liner and of the outer backing.

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Karen M Roche