Thermal bone cement removal system with tissue protector

An instrument assembly for removing, as single segments, a mass of previously formed thermoplastic bone cement from a bone in a patient, comprising:

• an assembly of first and second separate components and first and second coupling means for releasably and operatively coupling said two components together;
• said first component comprising an elongate probe having proximal and distal ends, a heater tip assembly forming the distal end of the elongate probe, said heater tip assembly being constructed and configured to be inserted proximate a bone of a patient from which a mass of thermoplastic bone cement is to be removed, said heater tip assembly including an electrical heater tip rigidly mounted on said distal end of said elongate probe, and said first coupling means at said proximal end thereof;
• said first coupling means including a first electrical connecter and means for conducting electricity from said first electrical connecter to said heater tip for effecting a heating of said heater tip;
• said second component comprising an electrical system for supplying electricity to said heater tip assembly for effecting a heating of said heater tip, said second component having said second coupling means thereon, said second coupling means including a second electrical connecter and means for selectively conducting electricity from said electrical system to said second electrical connecter, said first and second electrical connecters being configured to be electrically coupled and uncoupled when said first and second coupling means are respectively coupled and uncoupled;
• and
• a third component separate from said first and second components, said third component including an elongate rod having thereon a striker at one end and a third coupling means at another end for releasable connection to said first coupling means when said second coupling means is disconnected therefrom, and a hammer means mounted for movement along the length of said elongate rod, when said instrument is in use, for impacting said striker, the striker being so constructed and secured as part of the instrument assembly that force applied to the striker is applied through the instrument assembly to said heater tip assembly, said hammer means being constructed and configured for applying a removal force to the striker and through the instrument to said heater tip assembly.

An instrument assembly for removing, as single segments, a mass of previously formed thermoplastic bone cement from a bone in a patient, comprising:

• an assembly of first and second separate components and first and second coupling means for releasably and operatively coupling said two components together;
• said first component comprising an elongate probe having proximal and distal ends, a heater tip assembly forming the distal end of the elongate probe, said heater tip assembly being constructed and configured to be inserted proximate a bone of a patient from which a mass of thermoplastic bone cement is to be removed, said heater tip assembly including an electrical heater tip rigidly mounted on said distal end of said elongate probe, and said first coupling means at said proximal end thereof;
• said first coupling means including a first electrical connecter and means for conducting electricity from said first electrical connecter to said heater tip for effecting a heating of said heater tip;
• said second component comprising an electrical system for supplying electricity to said heater tip assembly for effecting a heating of said heater tip, said second component having said second coupling means thereon, said second coupling means including a second electrical connecter and means for selectively conducting electricity from said electrical system to said second electrical connecter, said first and second electrical connecters being configured to be electrically coupled and uncoupled when said first and second coupling means are respectively coupled and uncoupled;
• and
• wherein said heater tip includes a wedge surface means at a distal end thereof to facilitate a forced insertion of a heated heater tip into the thermoplastic bone cement melted by contact with a heated said heater tip.