Abstract: A rotatable shaver having inner and/or outer non-metallic elongated blades for use in endoscopic surgical procedures. In one embodiment a rotatable, elongated non-metallic inner tubular member is disclosed for use with a non-rotatable elongated metallic outer tubular member, the inner member having a flexible, non-metallic tubular body, a proximal hub and a distal tip provided with a cutting edge. The elongated tubular body of the inner member may be extruded or molded from a polymeric or composite material and may be bonded to or integrally formed with either the hub, the distal cutting tip or both. In one embodiment, the entirety of the rotatable inner tubular member (i.e. hub, tubular body and cutting tip) may be integrally formed as a single unit. In another embodiment, the outer tubular member is formed with a non-metallic tubular sheath within which a metallic or non-metallic inner member may rotate.

Abstract: A positioning system for controlling the orientation of the movable elongated inner member relative to the fixed elongated outer member of a surgical instrument. An endoscopic rotatable shaver instrument incorporates a shaver blade assembly adapted to be received in and driven by a handpiece. The movable component of the shaver blade assembly is provided with a position indicator which is read by a sensor in the handpiece in order to control the position at which the inner member is stopped relative to the outer member. The invention is embodied in an apparatus and method enabling use of a shaver blade assembly as an aspirating device or as a probe without any aspirating function.

Abstract: A wrenchless collet for attaching a surgical saw blade to an oscillating handpiece. The collet is provided within a housing attached to the handpiece and contains a clamping means for holding the blade and a bi-stable operating mechanism capable of holding the clamping means in either an open position to receive the blade or in a closed position to hold the blade for use with the handpiece. The bi-stable operating mechanism is activated into either position by simply being pushed in one direction or another. In one embodiment, the bi-stable operating mechanism comprises a shaft which may be positioned to one axial extreme or the other and which is held in the chosen position by a spring which frictionally engages the collet housing to maintain the clamping means in either an open or closed position.

Abstract: A ring blade and drive system, and method of using same, for harvesting bone-tendon-bone ligament grafts having substantially cylindrical bone plugs. The ring blade disclosed is a circular ring having a predetermined arcuate gap formed in its periphery. The drive system includes a blade holder to peripherally hold the ring blade and a fixed-center oscillating mechanism to oscillate the ring blade about its axis within a predetermined arcuate range of motion. The ring blade structure enables the production of a substantially cylindrical bone plug of unlimited length. Harvesting of a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft is facilitated with the ring blade and method disclosed which enables the ring blade to be placed partially around a tendon segment to create bone plugs aligned with the tendon fibers included in the defined tendon segment. The cuts into the bone may be initiated into the bone at either end of the tendon segment from the tendon side through to the exterior of the bone to which the tendon is attached.

Abstract: A single surgical instrument capable of being used as a powered resection instrument or a conventional liposuction cannula. The instrument is elongated and may be used in either open or closed (endoscopic) lipectomy procedures, with or without visualization. The instrument comprises a stationary elongated outer tube having a side-facing window near its distal tip and a rotatable elongated inner tube situated within the outer tube and having a cutting edge juxtaposed adjacent the window of the outer tube. The method of using the device comprises the steps of utilizing it as a powered resecting instrument, in which the uniquely shaped surfaces of the inner edge and outer window cooperate to resect tissue, or as a liposuction cannula in which the inner member is stopped in alignment with the outer window.

Abstract: A multi-function control system to control a variety of operations associated with a powered surgical device such as an arthroscopic surgical shaver. The system has an ergonomically designed foot switch which has a plurality of discrete force sensitive transducers arranged in an arcuate pattern. The transducers have no moving parts and have a force sensitive element which produces a variable output which is a function of the force applied by a user. The foot switch is used in conjunction with a control console which enables a user to adjust the force sensitivity threshold of the transducers. The foot switch additionally has physically discrete and tactilely sensible areas enabling a user to activate selected functions with a minimal amount of foot movement.

Abstract: A shaver blade assembly useable in either an irrigation-only mode, an aspiration-only mode or an irrigation/aspiration mode. The shaver blade assembly has a stationary elongated outer tube and a movable (e.g. rotatable) elongated inner tube, both inner and outer tubes having hubs attached to their proximal ends for attachment to a handpiece which provides power to move the inner blade relative to the outer blade. The inner and outer tubes are provided with cutting windows at their distal tips and the relative movement between these cutting windows acts to cut tissue during surgical procedures. The outer tube is provided with a fluid inlet port at the proximal end of its tubular surface and a fluid adapter is selectively attachable to the outer tube so as to provide a means for introducing irrigating fluid into the fluid port. The adapter is integrally formed with sealing surfaces which obviate the need for O-rings and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating use of a threaded suture anchor in combination with a reusable cannulated anchor driver. The device enables a suture anchor to be preassembled with a suture so that a user need not assemble a suture anchor with suture immediately prior to use. The preassembled anchor/suture is provided with a suture stiffening or support means by which the free ends of the suture may be easily threaded into the axial bore of a cannulated driver. The stiffening means may comprise an elongated rod abuttingly joined to the free ends of suture (threaded through a suture anchor) and secured thereto by a length of shrinkable tubing frictionally engaging the free ends of the suture and one end of the rod.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating use of a threaded suture anchor in combination with a reusable cannulated anchor driver. The device enables a suture anchor to be preassembled with a suture so that a user need not assemble a suture anchor with suture immediately prior to use. The preassembled anchor/suture is provided with a suture stiffening or support member by which the free ends of the suture may be easily threaded into the axial bore of a cannulated driver. The support member may comprise a length of shrinkable tubing frictionally engaging at least a portion of the free ends of the suture extending from the anchor. In another embodiment, the support means may comprise an elongated non-shrinkable material such as a rod attached to the suture and enabling the anchor/suture/rod assembly to be threaded into a cannulated driver simply by the force of gravity acting upon the rod.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously shaping and sharpening a cutting widow at the distal end of a tubular member of a rotary blade assembly. The assembly is provided with a stationary elongated outer tube, having a cutting window at its distal tip and includes a rotatable elongated inner tube having a cutting member at its distal tip. The window in the outer tube has a curvilinear profile defined by a peripheral rim surrounded entirely by a land surface which is inclined relative to the rim. The inclination of the land produces an area which tapers from a full thickness, where the land is adjacent to the cylindrical wall of the outer tube, to a sharp edge around the periphery of the window. The curvilinear window is produced by a manufacturing process which creates the window opening with a sharpened periphery at the same time that the land surrounding the opening is inclined.

Abstract: A flexible surgical screw retainer and method for holding a surgical screw within a sterilizable package and dispensing the screw in a controlled manner at a selected site. The retainer has an elongated recess into which a surgical screw may be placed in order to be retained by frictional engagement with the side walls of the recess. The recess is sized to any of a variety of screw sizes. When the package is opened, the surgical screw retainer may be removed and grasped by a user and squeezed in order to disengage the screw from the recess and enable it to fall to a selected surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use as a wenchless and adapterless collet system for attaching an elongated surgical cutting blade to an oscillating surgical saw. The system comprises a collet adapted to mate with a particularly shaped blade hub. The collet has a transverse clamping head attached to a longitudinally slidable, axially aligned shaft which is adapted to slide axially along the axis of the handpiece. The handpiece has an annular anchor sleeve having an annular groove proximally adjacent to the collet clamping head. The hub at the proximal end of the blade is provided with a radially inwardly extending locking flange adapted to engage the clamping head and a radially inwardly extending anchor flange adapted to engage the annular groove in the anchor sleeve. The longitudinal spacing between the hub flanges enables the hub to be received adjacent the anchor groove in an interdigitating mating of complementarily shaped surfaces.

Abstract: A positioning system for controlling the orientation of the movable elongated inner member relative to the fixed elongated outer member of a surgical instrument. An endoscopic rotatable shaver instrument incorporates a shaver blade assembly adapted to be received in and driven by a handpiece. The movable component of the shaver blade assembly is provided with a position indicator which is read by a sensor in the handpiece in order to control the position at which the inner member is stopped relative to the outer member. The invention is embodied in an apparatus and method enabling use of a shaver blade assembly as an aspirating device or as a probe without any aspirating function.

Abstract: A single surgical instrument capable of being used as a powered resection instrument or a conventional liposuction cannula. The instrument is elongated and may be used in either open or closed (endoscopic) lipectomy procedures, with or without visualization. The instrument comprises a stationary elongated outer tube having a side-facing window near its distal tip and a rotatable elongated inner tube situated within the outer tube and having a cutting edge juxtaposed adjacent the window of the outer tube. The method of using the device comprises the steps of utilizing it as a powered resecting instrument, in which the uniquely shaped surfaces of the inner edge and outer window cooperate to resect tissue, or as a liposuction cannula in which the inner member is stopped in alignment with the outer window.

Abstract: A graft protection device suitable for protecting a bone-tendon-bone graft used during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The graft protection device comprises a distal blocking member, a proximal releasable holding sleeve and an elongated connecting portion connecting the blocking member with the holding sleeve. A radially extending handle is attached to the holding sleeve in order to enable a user to longitudinally and rotationally position the graft protection device along the shaft of an elongated driver when the device is inserted through an opening into a joint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use as a wrenchless and adapterless collet system for attaching an elongated surgical cutting blade to an oscillating surgical saw. The system comprises a collet adapted to mate with a particularly shaped blade hub. The collet has a transverse clamping head attached to a longitudinally slidable, axially aligned shaft which is adapted to slide axially along the axis of the handpiece. The handpiece has an annular anchor sleeve having an annular groove proximally adjacent to the collet clamping head. The hub at the proximal end of the blade is provided with a radially inwardly extending locking flange adapted to engage the clamping head and a radially inwardly extending anchor flange adapted to engage the annular groove in the anchor sleeve. The longitudinal spacing between the hub flanges enables the hub to be received adjacent the anchor groove in an interdigitating mating of complementarily shaped surfaces.

Abstract: A surgical cutting device having a powered handpiece adapted to receive a cutting blade. The cutting blade is locked to the drive shaft by a locking ball holding member which is locked in place by a cylindrical cam ring which urges the balls of the locking device into corresponding notches in the blade. A second locking ball holding member is provided on the housing of the handpiece to lock the cylindrical cam ring itself. A blade guard extends from the cylindrical cam ring to produce a surgical cutting device having an improved safety feature which prevents its operation without the guard in proper position.

Abstract: A threaded bone anchor retriever and method for retrieving threaded bone anchors and the like from an implantation site. The anchor retriever is particularly suitable for retrieving threaded suture anchors during endoscopic surgical procedures. The retriever comprises an elongated shaft having an anchor engaging means at its distal tip for engaging the drive portion of the threaded anchor and for turning it in a direction to remove it from the implantation site. A concentric anchor engaging sleeve is adapted to move longitudinally relative to the elongated shaft in order to engage the threaded body of the anchor as it is removed from the implantation site. The invention includes a method for using the anchor retriever, particularly during endoscopic procedures, to remove anchors which may or may not have tissue growth overlying the implantation site.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument having an elongated rotatable inner member provided with a cutting edge at its distal tip, the inner member adapted to rotate within an elongated outer tube having a window adjacent its distal end adapted to cooperate with the cutting edge of the inner member. The outer tube is provided with a portion thereof adjacent its distal end which enables the distal tip of the outer tube to be bent at an angle relative to the proximal portion of the outer tube. The outer tube may be bent by a user into a selected angular position with the aid of a tool calibrated in a plurality of discrete positions. The tool is adapted to enable the outer tube to be rotated to any selected position prior to being bent so that the window at the distal tip of the outer tube may be caused to face in any desired direction relative to the bend in the outer tube.

Abstract: A rotatable surgical shaver handpiece having a rotating elongated inner member within a fixed outer member is provided with a means for varying the cutting window orientation of the outer tubular member. The window orientation is adjusted by providing a rotatable collet assembly which has a hollow, outer, longitudinally movable body to which the outer hub member is keyed. The outer collet member is concentrically situated about an inner collet body and is fixed to an annular, toothed locking surface which is movably biased against an identical toothed locking surface fixed to the inner collet body. The teeth have sloped sides and are shallow such that the pre-loaded force compressing the two locking surfaces together is easily overcome by rotating the outer collet body to cause the teeth of one locking surface to slide along the teeth of the mating locking surface.