Abstract: An instrument for applying fasteners such as bioabsorbable skull rivets, having a piston coaxially received within a housing. The piston has a tip at its distal end and the housing has a distal end sized to receive the tip and also to receive a portion of on of the fasteners. A slit in the housing allows it to flex and accommodate the fastener.

Abstract: An acoustic monitoring system that is able to verify the success or failure of the positional adjustment of a valve without the need for additional energy during non-invasive reprogramming is provided. The acoustic monitoring system includes a programmer for generating a sequence of commands to adjust the valve mechanism, and for receiving acoustic signals for analysis, a transmitter to implement the command and adjust the valve, and a sensor for detecting an acoustic signal generated from the valve during execution of the commands. A method for using the acoustic monitoring system is also provided.

Abstract: A catheter is provided having a plurality of fluid entry ports formed therein and in communication with an inner lumen of the catheter. One or more of the fluid entry ports includes a fluid-permeable barrier extending there across. In a preferred embodiment, a set of conductive members is embedded in the wall of the catheter and connects each barrier to a control unit. In the event of blockage in the catheter, an external power source can non-invasively command the control unit to transmit an electric current to one or more of the barriers to dissolve or otherwise remove the barrier, thereby allowing fluid to once again flow through the catheter.

Abstract: A percutaneous access device is provided including a sleeve having an inner lumen extending therethrough that is adapted to slidably receive a catheter, and at least one flange disposed around the sleeve and adapted to be positioned adjacent a tissue surface. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a first flange disposed around the sleeve and adapted to be positioned adjacent a first tissue surface, and a second flange disposed around the sleeve and spaced apart from the first flange such that the second flange is adapted to be disposed adjacent a second tissue surface opposed to the first tissue surface. In use, the flanges 16, 18 are positioned on opposed sides of tissue so that the device 10 is effective to prevent tissue surrounding the percutaneous access device from coming into contact with the catheter as it is introduced through the sleeve 12.

Abstract: An implantable infusion pump for infusing medicine into a patient has a reservoir for holding the medicine, an injection port for injecting medicine into the reservoir and a controllable shield for selectively blocking access to the injection port.

Abstract: A self-centering bone drill comprises a drill bit having a proximal end and a distal end, a cutting surface at the distal end, and a first radially extending flange. A tubular housing coaxially receives the drill bit and a spring is coaxially received within the housing, and coaxially receives the drill bit. The spring is compressed between the first radially extending flange and an interior abutment surface on the housing distal of the first radially extending flange to urge the housing distally along the drill bit. A chamfered surface on a distal end of the housing engages a chamfered surface on a work piece to center the drill bit.

Abstract: An acoustic monitoring system that is able to verify the success or failure of the positional adjustment of a valve without the need for additional energy during non-invasive reprogramming is provided. The acoustic monitoring system includes a programmer for generating a sequence of commands to adjust the valve mechanism, and for receiving acoustic signals for analysis, a transmitter to implement the command and adjust the valve, and a sensor for detecting an acoustic signal generated from the valve during execution of the commands. A method for using the acoustic monitoring system is also provided.

Abstract: A rongeur has a detachable crossbar to enhance cleaning and sterilization. A pin in a slot on one of the rongeur's handles is moveable out of the slot to permit extended retraction of the crossbar to a position in which it may disengage from the shank of the rongeur.

Abstract: A rongeur has one or more drainage holes through its shank into a space between its shank and crossbar to allow drainage of fluid therefrom and to enhance cleaning and sterilization.

Abstract: A three-dimensional tilt ratchet mechanism that is able to rotate, pivot, and bend forwards or backwards with ease is provided. The mechanism includes a device for multi-dimensional movement and placement of a retractor blade which comprises a first member adapted to receive a stem of a retractor blade. The first member has a locking mechanism effective to enable selective lateral adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the first member. Also provided is a second member to which the first member is mated. The first member is vertically pivotable with respect to the second member to enable selective vertical pivoting adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the second member. A rotator indexing body is mated to the second member and is adapted to mount onto a rim of a surgical support.

Abstract: An implantable fluid management device includes a catheter with an elongate proximal portion, a flexible distal portion, and a fluid passageway flowing therethrough. The distal portion includes a coil-shaped portion that defines a spiral having at least one turn. The distal portion of the catheter includes at least one pore in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the catheter, which is located on an internal portion of the spiral. The positioning of the pore(s) on the internal portion of the spiral protects the pore(s) from obstruction or occlusion caused by tissue growing into or around the catheter.

Abstract: A retractor systems includes a retractor blade with a blade portion and a handle portion that fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail mounts the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. Preferably, the handle assembly translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue may impede access along a retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The interchangeable blades may have different sizes between approximately 5 and 15 centimeters length, and are manually affixed to the handle to set the reach and scope of the retractor for a particular operation.

Abstract: A guard device with angled cranium guide that can be removably and replaceably attached to an existing craniotome for producing a stable bone flap system includes an elongate stem defining a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and distal end. The proximal end is adapted for attachment to the craniotome. A footplate extends from the distal end of the stem at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stem. The footplate is positioned adjacent to the cutting portion of the craniotome and prevents the cutting portion from penetrating too far into the skull. On one side of the stem between the proximal and distal ends is an angled cranium guide. The dura guard with its angled cranium guide enables the surgeon to rest the guide agains the cranium and the maintain the craniotome at a fixed angle to cut a bone flap at an angle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an introducer element for facilitating the insertion of a medical instrument into a body. The introducer element includes first, second, third and fourth housing areas. The first area contains a first lumen and the second area contains a second lumen. A quantity of peel-away tubing is partially disposed within the second lumen. The first and second lumen are separated from each other in the first and second housing areas, but are merged into one lumen in either the third or fourth housing area by a guide/splitting tube.

Abstract: A retractor blade mounts on a shaft having a controlled degree of rotation and swings down to grip and retract tissue from bone or a hard tissue structure. The retractor blade includes a blade portion and a handle portion which may be integrally joined or may fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail may mount the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. The shaft translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue impedes access along the retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An osteosynthesis plate system is particularly well adapted to securely fuse adjacent cervical vertebrae. The plates are for mounting upon the anterior or posterior surfaces of the vertebrae. Plates for mounting on the anterior vertebral surfaces have a concave bone contacting surface and a bone screw locking mechanism integral with each screw hole. Moreover, the bone contacting surface of the plate has a plurality of bone penetrating protrusions to more securely affix the plate to bone. Plates for mounting on the posterior vertebral surfaces also have bone penetrating protections on their bone contacting surfaces. Such plates are formed so as to have a curved bone contacting surface that is concave in the transverse axis of the plate and convex in the longitudinal axis of the plate. The screw holes of such plates are constructed so as to guide a bone screw along a desired angle to improve the anchoring of the screws in bone.

Abstract: An osteosynthesis plate system is particularly well adapted to securely fuse adjacent cervical vertebrae. The plates are adapted for mounting upon the anterior or posterior surfaces of the vertebrae. Plates for mounting on the anterior vertebral surfaces have a concave bone contacting surface and a bone screw locking mechanism integral with each screw hole. Moreover, the bone contacting surface of the plate has a plurality of bone penetrating protrusions to more securely affix the plate to bone. Plates for mounting on the posterior vertebral surfaces also have bone penetrating protections on their bone contacting surfaces. Such plates are formed so as to have a curved bone contacting surface that is concave in the transverse axis of the plate and convex in the longitudinal axis of the plate. The screw holes of such plates are constructed so as to guide a bone screw along a desired angle to improve the anchoring of the screws in bone.

Abstract: A multistrand surgical cerclage cable having a multistrand leader is disclosed. The cable is very flexible and the leader is more malleable and stiffer than the cable allowing the leader to be shaped to be fed or directed around and between tissue in the patients body.

Abstract: A surgical drill assembly is provided having a clutch mechanism that requires a sufficient axial load on cutting surfaces of the drill to enable rotation of the drill. Rotation of the drill ceases almost immediately upon the axial load falling below the predetermined axial load threshold. In one embodiment the drill assembly is disposable, and is virtually impossible to disassemble and reassemble to an operative form. In another embodiment the drill assembly is reusable. The reusable embodiment includes a drill body that enables quick and easy attachment and detachment of a drill head. The reusable drill body is of a unitary construction that can be sterilized and reused without any disassembly.