Abstract: Suture anchor assembly for attaching soft tissue to bone. The assembly (10) includes an elongated member (12) having a continuous self-tapping threaded anchor portion (14) having a self-drilling contour at its proximal end, and an integral eyelet (18) for receiving a suture (30) at its distal end. The distal end further includes a receiver for a rotating driver device (20), such as a cannulated drill. The assembly (10) is designed for endoscopic insertion of the anchor (14), with the suture (30) extending along the central axis (X.sub.1) of the driver (20).

Abstract: A graft fixation device for positioning and anchoring a bone graft within a bony channel. The fixation device generally comprises a rigid cylindrical member extending about a central axis, the member including an eccentric bore extending about an axis which is substantially parallel to, and radially offset from, the central axis. The fixation device is adapted to receive a rotational force applied to it. Rotation of the fixation device causes a bone plug installed and secured therein to move laterally within a bony channel, thus bringing the bone plug in contact with a portion of the channel wall. Preferably, the cancellous bone regions of the bone plugs and the bony channel are brought into abutting contact for optimum bone ingrowth opportunity and maximum graft fixation strength.

Abstract: A self-threading suture anchor assembly and kit includes a suture anchor having an anchor portion at one end and a drive portion with an eyelet at an opposite end, and an elongated suture threading loop with an elongated, substantially rigid gripping member attached thereto. The threading loop is collapsible, yet it maintains a loop shape. The elongated gripping member acts as a wand for manipulation of the loop. Both the threading loop and the elongated gripping member are adapted to be encased in a removable elongated sheath which extends beyond the ends of the loop and gripping member. The assembly is inserted into a cannulated shaft of a rotatable driver which includes a bone-cutting drive bit adapted for gripping the suture anchor at its drive end and for cutting into bone. The distal portion of the elongated sheath extends through a port in the shaft and is frictionally engageable with the shaft by means of an annular retaining element slidably disposed on the shaft.

Abstract: Suture anchor assembly for attaching soft tissue to bone. The assembly (10) includes an elongated member (12) having a continuous self-tapping threaded anchor portion (14) having a self-drilling contour at its proximal end, and an integral eyelet (18) for receiving a suture (30) at its distal end. The distal end further includes a receiver for a rotating driver device (20), such as a cannulated drill. The assembly (10) is designed for endoscopic insertion of the anchor (14), with the suture (30) extending along the central axis (X.sub.1) of the driver (20).

Abstract: An instrument and kit for harvesting a bone-patella tendon-bone (BTB) graft having substantially cylindrical bone plugs, and a method for harvesting a BTB graft. The instrument comprises two cylindrical shell portions extending along an axis from a drive end to a cutting end. One of the shell portions, which is positionable around a portion of the tendon, includes an axial slot which permits the graft portion of the tendon to extend therethrough. The shell portions interlock together in a hinged and mutually biased engagement to form a cylindrical tube around the graft portion, with a cutting edge that extends a full 360 degrees about the axis of rotation. Bone plugs obtained using the instrument are fully circular in cross-section for substantially their entire length.

Abstract: Suture anchor assembly for attaching soft tissue to bone. The assembly includes an elongated member having a self-tapping threaded portion at one proximal end, and an integral eyelet for receiving a suture at its distal end. The distal end further includes a receiver for a rotating driver device, such as a cannulated drill. The assembly is designed for endoscopic insertion of the anchor, with the suture extending along the central axis of the driver.

Abstract: Suture anchor assembly for attaching soft tissue to bone. The assembly includes an elongated member having a self-tapping threaded portion at one proximal end, and an integral eyelet for receiving a suture at its distal end. The distal end further includes a receiver for a rotating driver device, such as a cannulated drill. The assembly is designed for endoscopic insertion of the anchor with the suture extending along the central axis of the driver.

Abstract: The mount disclosed herein facilitates the mounting of a radar antenna on a sailboat subject to heeling. A pivotable bracket providing a single horizontal axis of rotation only is supported on the upper end of a tube which surrounds the lower portion of the usual sailboat backstay, the tube preventing rotation around the backstay. The antenna is mounted with its center of gravity below the pivot axis and viscous damping is provided to prevent uncontrolled swinging of the antenna.

Abstract: An arthroscope cannula including inner and outer intimately engaged concentric tubes with the inner tube having a longitudinally extending wall depression defining, in conjunction with the outer tube, a pressure passage. The inner tube receives the scope which is restrained therein by the wall depression to define an inflow fluid passage. The outer tube is selectively removable from about the inner tube with both tubes mounting on and projecting from a flow controlling and directing bridge assembly.

Abstract: A tubing set, the major portions of which are defined from a trilumen section of tubing, comprises three lines including an inflow line, an outflow line and a pressure sensing line. The inflow line includes a header portion engageable about the rollers of a peristaltic pump, a delivery tube mounting a male luer fitting for engagement with a patient cannula, and a pair of clampable supply tubes with bag spikes for communication with saline bags. The pressure sensing line includes a pressure transmitting elongate tubular diaphragm mounted within a fluid chamber directly adjacent the patient end of the line. The pressure transmitting diaphragm communicates with an elongate dry or air tube which, at the remote end, communicates with an appropriate pump-mounted pressure transducer or the like.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a reusable handle and a removable sheathed blade assembly comprising an elongate sheath with a plurality of elongate surgical blades longitudinally received within said sheath and selectively projectable therefrom along guided paths for exposure of the working heads of the blades. The working heads define, respectively, a cutting head and a gripping head. The sheathed assembly is introduced an operating site whereat the gripping head is exposed and engaged with tissue to be cut. The cutting head is subsequently moved into cutting engagement with the gripped tissue, after which both blades are retracted into the sheath and the sheathed blades removed from the operating site.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an elongate reusable handle and disposable, interchangeable sheathed blade modules. Each sheathed blade module including an elongate tubular sheath having a laterally arced blade guiding forward end portion of either a cylindrical or tubular configuration. The arced portion defines a guide path for a blade received within the sheath. The blade, through interconnection with a slide member on the handle module, is selectively moved between a first protected position entirely within the sheath and a second position wherein the surgical tip portion of the blade is exposed. Outward movement of the blade tip portion is directed along a predetermined path by the curved forward end portion of the sheath, while at the same time providing for a complete exposure of the blade tip portion beyond the structure of the sheath. The slide member of the sheath is controlled by a single finger of the one hand used to hold the handle module.

Abstract: An irrigation system for use in arthroscopic surgery including a variable RPM pump for introducing irrigation fluid from a fluid supply to a body irrigation site, a pressure control valve in the outflow from the irrigation site, a pressure sensor and associated controller for sensing pressure at the site and adjusting the pressure control valve for maintenance of the pressure within predetermined parameters, an override controller responsive to an inability to maintain pressure within the set parameters and responsive thereto to vary the flow rate of the pump, and associated display and signal components. The flow rate and pressure are individually and independently controllable.

Abstract: A microsurgical scissors uses a rotary cutting action and biased blades that intersect in a travelling point of contact. One blade is situated on the end of a tubular shaft and a second blade is on a rod that is rotatable within the shaft. The blades are angled so their cutting edges intersect each other. To assure a precise shearing relationship, the rod is biased rearward in order to bear the cutting edge of the rod blade against the cutting edge of the shaft blade. An actuating mechanism in the handle translates linear finger motion into rotary motion of the rod. The blades cut cleanly and surely without imparting undue tissue trauma.