Abstract: A driving system and method for endoscopically inserting threaded suture anchors. The driving system incorporates a tubular guide adapted to receive a cylindrical drive shaft having a drive portion at its distal tip for engaging a threaded anchor and a stop member at its proximal end for enabling rotational motion of the drive system relative to the drill guide while limiting longitudinal motion beyond a predetermined point. The stop member is, in the preferred embodiment, an annular shoulder which prevents the drive shaft from advancing the anchor into the bone more than a desired amount sufficient to countersink the anchor below the bone surface. The invention facilitates use of a drive shaft having a minimized shaft diameter. The invention also comprises a method of using the driving system, the method comprising the steps of both turning and longitudinally limiting the motion of the driver from the proximal side of the driver.

Abstract: The surgical saw blade and hub of this invention includes a saw blade and instrument hub which connect the saw blade to the instrument such that no portion of the instrument extends beyond the blade. The blade includes a washer having a plurality of radially extending slots in communication with the central bore of the washer. Alternating slots of the washer are truncated or otherwise do not fully extend through the washer. The truncated slots form shoulders or lans within the washer. The center opening of the washer is in alignment with a base opening in the blade and accommodates a hub from the powered instrument. The hub of the powered instrument includes a plurality of radial fins extending outwardly therefrom. The fins abut against the shoulders of the washer to lock the blade to the hub. A helical spring is provided to maintain pressure against the blade and thereby retain the blade and hub in a locked configuration.

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 tip having a cutting edge formed therein. The elongated tubular body of the inner member is mechanically joined at its proximal end to the hub and at its distal end to the cutting tip. The mechanical connection enables the transmission of torque from the proximal end of the inner member to the distal end while sufficiently holding the tip, tube and hub assembly together to enable insertion and removal of the assembly into and from the outer member.

Abstract: An oscillating surgical blade formed such that the thickness of the blade adjacent the side edges is reduced relative to the effective thickness of the body of the blade. Therefore, when the side edges of the blade mushroom due to contact with a saw guide slot, the resultant thickness of the mushroomed edges is less than or equal to the effective thickness of the blade body.

Abstract: A suture retriever and method for manipulating suture during endoscopic surgical procedures. The suture retriever has an elongated housing provided with a needle tip and a lateral opening situated near the tip. A suture engaging hook is extendable through the lateral opening and away from the axis of the housing in order to snare a suture. The hook is situated at the distal end of an elongated flexible support which is pre-formed in order to enable the hook to be laterally displaced from the axis of the needle tip when the support is moved distally relative to the lateral opening. When a suture is engaged by the hook, the latter is retracted proximally in order to place and hold the suture adjacent the lateral opening.

Abstract: A blade and clamp obtain a motion free coupling while remaining easily operable. The clamp comprises first and second clamping faces. The second clamping face includes a plurality of tapered lugs arranged in a radial pattern. The blade comprises a plate-like body having a primary U-shaped slot and a plurality of radial U-shaped slots which engage the tapered lugs of the clamp to produce a tight motion free coupling between the blade and clamp.

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.

Abstract: A blade and clamp obtain a motion free coupling while remaining easily operable. The clamp comprises first and second clamping faces. The second clamping face includes a plurality of tapered lugs arranged in a radial pattern. The blade comprises a plate-like body having a primary U-shaped slot and a plurality of radial U-shaped slots which engage the tapered lugs of the clamp to produce a tight motion free coupling between the blade and clamp.

Abstract: An irrigation/aspiration pump system capable of operating in a plurality of different modes suitable for a variety of different endoscopic surgical procedures. The irrigation/aspiration pump system operates with a selected one of a plurality of tubing sets, each tubing set being adapted to provide irrigation and aspiration for a particular surgical procedure and coded to define the type of procedure for which the tubing set is designed. Each tubing set is adapted to be received by the irrigation/aspiration pump console in a way which enables the code associated with the tubing cassette to be automatically read by a code detecting means associated with the system. The code detecting means supplies appropriate control signals to different parts of the irrigation/aspiration pump system in order to assure that the parameters with which the system will be operating, when the chosen tubing set is being used, are those for which the tubing set is designed.

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 single size, universal-type container capable of receiving any one of a variety of elongated medical devices such as rotatable arthroscopic shaver blades, drills, pins, wires and the like. The container has a generally trapezoidal transverse cross-section tapering inwardly from an open end at which a cover or lid may be heat-sealed. The trapezoidal shape enables the container to receive elongated cylindrical devices having different diameters. The container is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced locking stations, each provided with a plurality of opposed arcuate wall sections for engaging opposite sides of the elongated medical device. The arcuate wall sections of each locking station vary in size from the bottom opening of the container such that the smallest diameter elongated medical devices are retained deep within the container while the largest diameter medical devices are retained closer to the opening of the container.

Abstract: A pair of endoscopic scissors having an actuating means at the proximal end and a pair of pivotable scissor blades at the distal end. The actuating means is adapted to be squeezed to a predetermined point when the scissor blades are fully closed, at least one of the blades being provided with a stop surface adjacent its proximal end in order to prevent the blade tips from crossing over each other in their fully closed position. The gap between the actuating means at the proximal end of the instrument enable the application of additional force between the pivotable scissor blades without causing the blades to cross-over each other.

Abstract: A target for use in white balancing video cameras and, in particular, video cameras suitable for endoscopic use. The target is molded from an elastomeric material having the ability to diffuse a substantial portion of light incident upon the target from a video camera. A user may use the target to white balance a video camera by placing the camera directly on the target and adjusting the light intensity of the camera's light source. In the case of an endoscopic camera, the distal tip of the scope (extending from the camera) is placed directly on the target. The user need not be concerned about aiming the camera at a selected white target and holding it a certain distance from the target.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument which is able to be disassembled in order to facilitate cleaning of the instrument or replacement of certain components. The instrument comprises a handle portion at the proximal end of an elongated rotatable shaft, the handle portion including a pair of handles biased into a normally open position and movable between the normally open position and a closed position. Movement of the handles within the normal range serves to axially move an elongated working element situated within the hollow interior of the elongated sleeve, the proximal end of the working element shaft having a stud adapted to be received within a stud recess in one of the handles. The stud recess has a front slotted wall and an open top end. A spring means is provided in order to bias the handles during normal operation and a latch means is provided in order to disengage the spring.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying a ligating device to a surgical work site. The instrument is provided with a power subassembly which provides the power by which the ligating device is placed into proper position for being applied to the work site. In one embodiment, the instrument is a hemostatic clip applier and the power subassembly feeds the clips into position between the jaws of the applier which are then closed by squeezing the applier handles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping a solid antiperspirant stick composition. The antiperspirant composition is produced in a generally cylindrical form having an oval or elliptical cross-section and the method and apparatus disclosed herein form the exposed end of the stick into a domed shape. A shaping mechanism comprises three shaped and heated cutting edges, each of which is arcuately oscillated with respect to the end of the stick within the plane of the major axis of the oval or ellipse. One pre-cut cutting edge is oscillated in one direction and makes a cut partially into one side of the exposed end of the stick. Rough cut and finish cut cutting edges are then arcuately passed through the end of the stick in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A retractable surgical instrument having a transversely preformed, curved operative element extendible from a straight, linear sheath. The operative element is retained in the retracted position until the distal tip of the instrument has been positioned at a work site. Cutting edges on the curved operative element may be formed in a variety of styles, one such style being embodied as an arthroscopic knife wherein the tip of the knife blade is preformed such that it maintains a transverse curve when it is extended to an operating position. The cutting edges of the transverse knife blade may extend longitudinally from the protective sheath in which case the edges are spaced from the inside surfaces of the linear sheath by the cooperative action of a raised bearing surface on the knife and the edge of the sheath adjacent the concave side of the curve as well as by laterally extending edge protection projections.

Abstract: An endoscopic tissue retractor capable of being inserted through an endoscopic tube and subsequently capable of forming a T-shaped bar at its distal end. The legs of the "T" may be aligned with the axis of the tissue retractor for insertion within an endoscopic tube and situated transversely to the longitudinal axis for actual use. In use, the legs extend to diametrically opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the tissue retractor and are rotatable in a plane passing through the axis of the endoscopic tube. A transversely slidable locking mechanism is provided to lock the components of the tissue retractor in a desired position.