POWER UP There's no substitute for solid, reliable support from power tool manufacturers.

When you're purchasing power tools for the ortho docs who bring surgeries to your ASC or hospital, price is often a leading factor in your decision. While it's certainly important to keep costs as low as possible, there are 4 other considerations that may be just as important in making sure your power tool purchase suits your cases' needs.

Have you budgeted for repairs? Hopefully the tools you choose will work flawlessly for years, but managers should always plan ahead for trouble. Ask the vendor about its warranties. Are service and maintenance included for the life of the products? If a product is only supported by a 1-year warranty, the cost of repairs later in its life can add up quickly. These extra service costs might even wind up totaling higher than a more expensive product backed by a comprehensive repair plan.

How available is your backup option? The ability to quickly substitute temporary replacements for out-of-service tools is critical. What can the vendor's representative do for you when your equipment needs repair? Does he have the connections to borrow tools on a moment's notice from a nearby facility? Or will he have to ship it from the factory, forcing your surgeons to use the old, suboptimal equipment you have on hand?

Does the rep put you first? Likewise, a good relationship with the vendor's rep is key. How quickly does he respond to the questions you leave on his voicemail? Does he come to your center the same day to inspect the tool? A reliable and responsive rep can easily justify the higher cost of a more expensive power tool purchase.

Are your surgeons open to new options? Surgeons' input is important, since they'll be the ones depending on the tools. But it's possible that they only have experience with one product, or prefer a brand solely due to a good working relationship with a rep. Price out the preferred tool alongside a competitor or 2 and ask your docs if they'd be willing to participate in a demonstration or trial period. The pros: Surgeons might be willing to use the less expensive options, and might even prefer them. The cons: There are none.

Aesculap Implant Systems
Acculan 3Ti
aesculapimplantsystems.com
(800) 234-9179
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: A battery-operated system intended for use in orthopedic, cardiothoracic, dermatologic and trauma cases, the Acculan 3Ti delivers 250 watts of consistent power. The non-sterile, high-capacity, long-lasting battery has built-in electronics for sustained durability and can be refurbished at a fraction of the cost of replacement. The lightweight, ergonomic design is easy to operate and incorporates a quick-connect coupling mechanism for exchanging attachments and blades. Its storage system and titanium shell make mechanical cleaning, even with alkaline cleaning media, a convenient reprocessing solution.

Arthrex
300 Power System
arthrex.com
(800) 933-7001
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: The Arthrex 300 Power System's modular design consists of a handpiece drive and a range of attachments for drilling, reaming, burring, sagittal sawing and reciprocal sawing or burring in small-bone procedures, small joint arthroplasties and ostomies. The lightweight, cordless PEEK handpiece is driven by lithium-ion battery technology, which provides the pencil-style tool with enough power to compete with electrical devices. The system includes a 1-year warranty on all system components, including the battery pack.

Bojin America
Bojin 4300 System
bojinamerica.com
(631) 388-1982
Pricing: $6,600 to $15,200
FYI: Designed as a budget-conscious solution for joint surgery, Bojin's 4300 System consists of a sagittal saw handpiece and a dual-function, acetabulum-reaming drill handpiece, along with a battery, charger, and battery sterilization container. A K-wire driver is available as an additional option, and blade and drill accessories may be customized to the user's specifications. The 4300 System comes with a 2-year warranty.

Brasseler USA Surgical Power & Accessories
BSPRAZR 100 High Speed Drill System
brasselerusamedical.com
(800) 535-6638
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Brasseler's BSPRAZR 100 High Speed Drill is a lightweight, compact, pneumatically powered, foot-controlled handpiece that is ideal for spine, craniotomy, oral/maxillofacial and general surgical procedures. Rotating at 100,000 revolutions per minute, the drill's motor delivers smooth and precise cutting and minimal operational noise with control at the user's fingertips. Its slim design enables easy access to and visibility of small surgical sites, and its ergonomic, balanced handpiece minimizes wrist fatigue. Brasseler offers a wide range of attachments and cutting accessories.

ConMed
Hall 50 Powered Instruments System
poweredinstrumentssystem.com
(800) 448-6505
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Built on 50 years of dependable power and engineering expertise, the Hall 50 System combines precise performance, reliable power and simplified sterilization into a single solution, says ConMed. Unlike systems that require the purchase of 2 sets of equipment to handle small and large bone procedures, Hall universal handpieces can perform both types. This means less equipment to train, maintain and repair. The handpieces deliver consistent power, improved control and surgeon comfort.

DePuy Synthes
Battery Power Line II
synthes.com
(800) 523-0322
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: DePuy Synthes' Battery Power Line II includes 3 dedicated, heavy duty handpieces — an oscillating saw (pictured), a reciprocating saw and a reamer/drill — designed for power, torque, precision and speed in orthopedic and trauma applications. Their high-capacity lithium-ion batteries and wide selection of saw blades and attachments meet the performance demands of total hip and knee replacement surgeries. Their single-handed mode switch makes powering on and off and changing direction easy and immediate. And their space-saving sterile field layout and shorter sterilization time make for efficient setup and turnaround.

Gateway Medical
De Soutter MBU Battery Powered System
gatewaymed.com
(866) 655-9040
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Whether your facility is adding total joints or just looking for an all-in-one tray to serve your power tool needs, Gateway Medical's de Soutter MBU power system is adaptable to arthroplasty, sports medicine and trauma. The modular system allows for drilling, sawing, reaming and wire-driving. Its microprocessor-controlled handpiece delivers torque and the lithium batteries (available in small- or large-sized options) provides power to support long-lasting cases.

Insurgical
Single-Use Orthopedic Power Tools
insurgical.com
(512) 318-2980
Pricing: $395
FYI: Insurgical's line of single-use oscillating saws, drills and reamers enable orthopedic surgeons to keep cutting and shaping even in the event that their facility's reusable tools break down, require sterilization, run out of juice or otherwise become unavailable in the midst of a case. Each handheld, cordless device is sterile packaged with a 5-year shelf life to provide reliable, cost-effective backup performance on demand for total joint replacements, sports medicine procedures and other large bone surgeries. Made in the U.S., Insurgical's tools are powered by reusable, 13.2 volt, lithium batteries to let cases continue at a moment's notice.

Stryker Instruments
System 7 Heavy Duty Power Tools
stryker.com
(800) 253-3210
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Stryker's cordless System 7 power tools for total joint procedures have been re-engineered based on user feedback to make them lighter, more powerful and more efficient. The System 7 line features a quieter sagittal saw than previous generations. Its SmartLIFE lithium-ion batteries run longer and more reliably (the small battery provides 220% more power, the large battery 183%). A 29% reduction in overall weight and increased torque in the rotary handpiece offers an improved power-to-weight ratio. Sealed sterilization containers minimize reprocessing time and reduce the need for blue wrap. And integrated remote device management allows Stryker's service support team to monitor usage for ongoing maintenance recommendations.

Zimmer
Zimmer Universal Power System
zimmer.com
(800) 613-6131
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: The modular design of Zimmer's Universal Power System means a single handpiece — with a range of available attachments from which you can customize your facility's set — does all the sawing, drilling and reaming your surgeons need for their cases. A modular approach also means you no longer have to sacrifice clinical demands due to financial constraints. The handpiece's lithium battery technology provides long run times and increased cycle life for reliable power on demand and consistent performance throughout surgeries.