Abstract: A treating instrument for an operation includes an elastic ring for reducing a load on an operator's fingers which contact first and second rings of first and second handle elements. The elastic ring is provided on a section of at least one of the first and second rings which contacts the operator's fingers.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an embolectomy catheter for the removal of an embolus within a vessel of a patient, including a catheter shaft having a distal end with a diametrically adjustable hinged compartment thereat. The catheter shaft has a proximal end with a handle attached thereon. A longitudinally displaceable cannula is connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft and to a slidable tab in the handle, to permit controlled adjustment of the diametric size of the hinged compartment arranged adjacent the distal end of the catheter when the slidable tab is moved relative to the handle, to allow a physician to open the compartment to any desired size relative to a patient's vessel. The compartment may then be pulled through the vessel via a pull on the handle, to collect any embolus therewithin.

Abstract: A cannula includes a tubular body having proximal closed end and distal blunt end, at least one lumen extending the length of the body, an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the body, and a transparent, tissue separating member substantially covering the distal end of the body. The tissue separating member has a blunt tip disposed from and of the end distal to the body. A method of using such a cannula separates tissue to form an elongated cavity along the course of a small blood vessel and subsequently harvesting the blood vessel.

Abstract: A surgical drill (1), comprising a rotating head (2) having a drill bit (3) suitable to bore a body (4) and support means (7) to which the head (2) is pivotally connected. An actuating unit (10) of the movement of the drill bit (3) with respect to the body to bore (4) is provided for, comprising a first support (11) comprising the head (2) and a second support (12), suitable for resting directly upon the body (4) and translating with respect to the first support (11) parallel to the drill bit (3). The movement between drill bit (3) and body (4) is caused by the relative movement between drill bit (3) and second support (12). Means (21) for the detection of the force acting on the drill bit and means for the control of the drill bit displacement in function of the drilling force are provided for. The drill, manually holdable, presents both a reference with respect to the patient body and allows a precise control of the drill bit displacement.

Abstract: The invention is devices and techniques which use a negative (suction) pressure or vacuum, applied through a surgical instrument, to fix the position of a portion of the surface of a beating heart so that a surgical procedure can be more easily performed. The devices apply a negative pressure at several points on the outer surface of the heart such that a portion of the heart is fixed in place by the suction imposed through the surgical instrument. Because the instrument fixes the position of the tissue, and because the instruments remain at a constant distance from the particular portion of the heart where the surgery is being performed, the device may also serve as a support or platform so that other surgical instruments or devices can be advantageously used at the site.

Abstract: The present invention includes a bone fixation apparatus comprising a bone fixation element, a linking member, and a coupling member. The coupling member has a first channel for receiving a portion of the bone fixation element and a second channel for receiving a portion of the linking member. The first and second channels are configured within the coupling member so as to allow communication of a securing force from the bone fixation element to the linking member such that the bone fixation element is rigidly secured with respect to the linking member. The bone fixation element may incorporate a conical load bearing surface which contacts the linking member through a third channel in the coupling member. Upward axial movement provided by nut tightening forces the load bearing surface of the bone fixation element against the linking member, thereby securing both within the coupling member.

Abstract: An orthopedic fixation device in which two or more translation members are secured to adjacent tissue segments for reorientation relative to each other. The device includes telescopically adjustable struts that can be secured to base members by connectors that permit movement of the struts relative to the base members. Rotation of the struts is possible about three axes that intersect at a single coincident point of universal rotation.

Abstract: Connector and methods for attachment to hollow anatomical structures. The connector consists of an annular rigid body and multiple holding members affixed along its opening. The opening and the inner surface and of the annular body correspond respectively to the opening and the external surface of a hollow anatomical structure. The holding members are deformed by an applied force in a manner that the deformed holding members protrude into the opening of the hollow structure and press it towards the annular rigid body, thus attaching the connector to the hollow anatomical structure. Various embodiments of connectors and methods are provided for attaching the connectors to hollow anatomical structures with different external surfaces.

Abstract: A leg length gauge for use during hip joint replacement surgery to insure that the overall length of the patient's leg subsequent to the surgery is substantially the same as it was prior to the surgery. A first pin is inserted into a patient's ilium and a second pin is inserted into the patient's femur. A removable gauge including an adjustably coupled pair of members having pin receiving apertures for receiving the first and second pins is positioned on the pins. One member includes a base portion provided with one of said pin receiving apertures and having an elongated leg extending from the base portion. The other member is provided with the other pin receiving aperture and includes a transverse aperture for receiving the elongated leg. The elongated leg is selectively adjustably secured within the transverse aperture by tightening a thumbscrew.

Abstract: An external minisplint device comprises an elongated body (2; 2'; 2"; 2'"; 2.sup.iv ; 101, 102) supporting at least one pair of clamps (3, 4; 3', 4'; 3", 4"; 3'", 4'"; 3.sup.iv, 4.sup.iv ; 103, 104) each of which is capable of securing at least one pair of transverse bone bolts (F, F', F", F'", F.sup.iv, F1). A longitudinal guide (5; 5'; 5"; 5'"; 5.sup.iv ; 105, 106) associated with the elongated body guides the longitudinal translational movement of at least one of the clamps (4; 4'; 4"; 4'"; 4.sup.iv ; 103, 104). The minisplint device further comprises at least one longitudinal adjustment screw (6; 6'; 6"; 6'"; 6.sup.iv ; 107, 108) which can rotate within the elongated body and which engages a corresponding threaded hole (13; 13'; 13"; 13'"; 13.sup.iv ; 135, 136) formed in the clamp capable of translational motion for selectively positioning it along the longitudinal guide. The screw has a head (7; 7'; 7"; 7'"; 7.sup.iv ; 111, 112) which partly projects from the end of the elongated body.

Abstract: A drill bit configured for maximum bone penetration harvests and morselizes bone fragments from a harvest site for use in reparative bone grafting. A suction port on a removable harvest cap enables the bone fragments and irrigation fluids to be drawn into a distal end of a cannula portion of a collection reservoir. A filter screen mounted within the chamber of the collection reservoir enables the irrigation fluids to be removed while the bone fragments are retained in the reservoir. A retention plug can be inserted into the distal end of the cannula to allow the removable cap and drill to be removed. The reservoir can be transported to a reparation site, the retention plug removed and a plunger inserted into the open upper end of the collection reservoir to deliver morselized bone fragments out of the distal end of the cannula to the site to be restored.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for releasing the press fit of a joint insert in a joint socket is characterized by at least two supports which are positionable on the edge of the joint socket and are connected to a striking surface which is arranged centrally in relation to the joint socket and is oriented away from the open side of the joint socket.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for treating spinal conditions by moving or spatially fixing at least one vertebra relative to another vertebra. The invention includes a link member the ends of which are configured to be secured to adjacent vertebrae and which are offset from a central portion of the link member. The link members can be in the form of a C-shaped or V-shaped rod or plate to form the offset. The offset provides increased bone volume that can be used for grafts or fusion. Attachment structure in the form of bone screws, bolts, or hook members are provided to secure the link members to respective vertebrae or other bones. A plurality of link members can be connected in chain-like fashion to connect multiple points on a plurality of vertebrae or other bones even though those points are nonlinear. In another aspect of the invention, a multi-directional attachment member is provided and may be used with the link members to form a spinal implant or external bone fixation system.

Abstract: A method of performing angular distraction osteogenesis by drilling bone-pin holes into the first and second sides of a segmented bone, inserting bone-pins into the bone-pin holes, attaching the bone-pins in each side of the segmented bone to a distraction device and adjusting the distraction devise so that the bone portion of the first side of the segmented bone angularly adjusts, rotates or pivots its position relative to the bone portion on the second side of the segmented bone in precise, gradual and predetermined incremental amounts over a period of time so that the bone tissue remains healthy and the blood vessels and nerve endings remain intact during the bending distraction process.

Abstract: A wire locking sleeve and a wire. The sleeve has a bore and a deformation recess adjacent the bore. The sleeve includes a locking stud positioned adjacent the deformation recess and bore. The locking stud is deformable toward the bore interlockingly to engage a portion of the wire disposed therein. Deformation of the sleeve around the bore is achieved by applying a transverse compressive force to the locking stud.

Abstract: A wedge for insertion to a rectilinear slot in bone fastens tissue for continuous refastening of separated tissue from bone. When viewed in plan toward the proximal truncated top, the wedge is sinusoidal in shape defining a series of prominences and depressions relative to the elongate slot. At the proximal end, suture fastening apertures--preferably elongate parallel to the proximal end--are placed for looping tissue fastening sutures prior to wedge insertion. A plurality of barbs--preferably placed at the prominences--together with the compression of the wedge within a rectilinear slot cause anchoring to bone upon wedge insertion to the rectilinear slot prepared within the bone. Skewering tips at the end of the wedge enable skewered tissue to be entrained with the wedge into the bone upon insertion of the bone within a previously prepared rectilinear slot. The wedge is mounted to an inserting probe and any optional sutures organized along the length of the probe.

Abstract: A method for establishing a surgical port for endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery is disclosed. A trocar is initially provided, and the obturator of the trocar includes a flat cutting blade, a shield that moves proximally and distally from a precock position to an extended position, a precock lever to move the shield proximally to expose the flat cutting blade, and a shield retaining assembly to constrain the shield in the proximal position. "Precocking" the trocar of the present invention moves the shield from the distal position wherein the flat blade is covered, to a proximal position wherein the flat blade is exposed, and the shield is constrained by the shield retaining assembly. Once the flat cutting blade is exposed, the skin of the patient is incised with the flat cutting blade of the obturator. The flat blade of the trocar is inserted into the incision and a penetrating force is applied so that the flat blade penetrates into the internal body cavity of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for treating spinal conditions by moving or spatially fixing at least one vertebra relative to another vertebra. The invention includes a link member the ends of which are configured to be secured to adjacent vertebrae and which are offset from a central portion of the link member. The link members can be in the form of a C-shaped or V-shaped rod or plate to form the offset. The offset provides increased bone volume that can be used for grafts or fusion. Attachment structure in the form of bone screws, bolts, or hook members are provided to secure the link members to respective vertebrae or other bones. A plurality of link members can be connected in chain-like fashion to connect multiple points on a plurality of vertebrae or other bones even though those points are nonlinear. In another aspect of the invention, a multi-directional attachment member is provided and may be used with the link members to form a spinal implant or external bone fixation system.

Abstract: A device for sealing an opening or puncture in the wall of a blood vessel or other percutaneous openings. The device includes a shaft section member of a small diameter, with an expandable balloon and atraumatic tip at its distal end. The proximal end of the device has an inflation/deflation port which is utilized to inflate the balloon once it is in place within the blood vessel or other body cavity. The entire device is placed through a hemostasis vascular introducer or sheath, which is used during invasive percutaneous vascular procedures. The balloon is inflated and withdrawn until it engages the inner surface of the blood vessel. A procoagulant is injected via the introducer to the puncture. After a predetermined time period, the balloon is deflated and the device is withdrawn.

Abstract: A securing device for bone fastener is provided, which allows the bone fastener to be more securely fixed in position in the fractured bone. The securing device includes a bolt having an elongated portion and a head portion, with the head portion being formed with a threaded through hole which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. Moreover, the securing device includes a set screw having a threaded portion which can screw into the threaded through hole in the bolt and which is greater in length than the threaded through hole. In use, the elongated portion of the bolt is inserted through the implantation hole and the opening in the fractured bone; then a hole is drilled through the inclined through hole in the head portion of the bolt; and finally the set screw is screwed through the inclined hole in the head portion of the bolt into the hole in the fractured bone.