Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument comprising:an outer tube sized for insertion through an opening in a patient, the outer tube having a peripheral wall, an end wall and a longitudinal axis;a plurality of spaced apart openings in the end wall, one of the openings being larger than the other of the openings and extending proximally into the peripheral wall, each of the openings having at least one cutting edge; anda cutting member moveable within the outer tube and having a cutting edge cooperable with the cutting edges of the openings for cutting material from within the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for applying a traction force from a traction force system to a limb of a patient comprising:an elongated tubular member having an open first end and an opposing second end, sized and adapted to receive a substantial portion of a limb of a patient through the first open end, and being constructed so as to contract around at least a portion of the received limb upon the application of a traction force on the second end;an elongated hollow element having an open end and a sidewall which is microbially impermeable, sized and adapted to receive the received limb through the open end, at least a portion of the elongated hollow element substantially surrounds or is substantially surrounded by the elongated tubular member; andan attachment assembly secured to the elongated tubular member and acting to connect the elongated tubular member to the traction force system.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing torn animal body tissue in a single procedure features a suture, anchor attached at one end of the suture to prevent the suture from being pulled through the tissue, and clenching device adapted to grip the suture on the opposite side of the tissue from where the anchor device is disposed so that the torn tissue may be held together by cooperating between the anchor device and the clenching device within the body, all of which are formed of a biodegradable material so that they will all be absorbed into the body over time thereby eliminating the need for another surgical procedure to remove them from the body. The installer is used to install the clenching device with one hand so that the other is free to pull on the suture.