Abstract: A multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade which permits a retractor blade to be rotated into the wound and retracted at the same time to duplicate the natural "toe-in" method of retraction achieved with the hand. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet holder to which is pivotally attached a ratchet pivot housing. The retractor blade is mounted in an opening projecting through ratchet pivot housing and held in position by a retractor pawl attached to the ratchet pivot housing. The ratchet pivot housing also has a curved ratchet which depends into a cooperating slot in the ratchet holder and engages a ratchet release bar which is mounted on the ratchet holder and spring biased into the ratchet slot. One end of ratchet release bar is positioned under an actuating surface of the retractor pawl. The application of pressure on the actuating surface will release both ratchets to allow adjustment of the retractor blade.

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.

Abstract: A surgical head clamp having two arms, one with a single head engaging pin and the second with two head engaging pins mounted on a bracket. The bracket is capable of being rotated to reposition the head. The operating knob which releases the bracket to allow rotation has a safety locking pin which prevents the inadvertent rotation of the bracket when the pin is in a locked position.

Abstract: A swivel ring surgical retractor in a generally circular form is disclosed. The retractor has a fixed portion which is attached to the operating table or other support and a portion which can swivel in relationship to the fixed portion. The swivel portion is attached to the fixed portion of the retractor with a threaded shaft which forces two sunburst clamping inserts into engagement to secure the swivel portion to the fixed portion. The swivel portion can be adjusted or removed from the fixed portion by unthreading the shaft to disengage the sunburst clamping inserts to adjust the position of the swivel portion or to remove the swivel portion from the fixed portion.

Abstract: A head clamp which includes a frame with two arms, a bracket on one of the arms capable of rotation to adjust the position of head engaging pins affixed at the ends of the arms. The bracket is rotatable but held in position by a plurality of index pins fixed in apertures in a plate and the bracket is capable of being rotated by moving the pins out of the apertures and rotating the bracket when the head engaging pins have been removed from the patient.

Abstract: A surgical headrest which comprises two arcuate base segments and a pad affixed to each of the base segments. Each of the pads has a cavity in the surface which is affixed to the base in a shape to accept the base segment, thereby securing the pad to the base segment.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier includes a pair of pivotal housing sections on which are provided a pair of clip actuating jaws. An elongated clip sleeve which receives a plurality of surgical clips arranged front to back in a row is mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement between the housing sections. The clip sleeve includes a pair of clip retaining jaws adjacent to its open front to receive and hold a surgical clip advanced from the clip sleeve between the clip actuating jaws on the housing sections. A pusher is mounted on the clip sleeve for engaging the rearmost clip in the row. The surgical clip applier includes a ratchet mechanism which is operable each time the clip sleeve is reciprocated to advance the pusher and the row of clips by one step corresponding to the length of one surgical clip in the row. The ratchet mechanism includes a first ratchet on the clip sleeve and a second ratchet on one of the housing sections which are engaged by pawls on opposite sides of the pusher.

Abstract: A pin assembly for use in a skull clamp having a cylindrical non-metallic housing and a metallic rigid pin with a conical point fitted in the non-metallic housing. The non-metallic housing has fingers extending from a cavity in the surface of the housing and are positioned at an angle towards the pin end of the housing to hold the pin assembly in the skull clamp.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for forceps including first latch portion on one forcep handle and a second latch portion on the other forceps handle and a bias spring for placing the handles, and thus the jaws, in a first predetermined spacing. The first latch portion has a cam surface, a shelf and a slot. The second latch portion has a transverse projection which engages the cam surface as the handles close and then engages the shelf and upon further closing of the handles and then springs through the slot to disengage the latching mechanism and return the handles to the original position controlled by the bias spring. The first position allows a surgical assistant to load an aneurysm clip into the jaws of the forceps. The second predetermined position allows the surgical assistant to partially close the handles sufficient to hold the aneurysm clip firmly in place. The surgeon then takes the forcep and inserts the aneurysm clip by further closing the handles and releases the latching mechanism by relaxing the grip.

Abstract: A low wear bearing system for a surgical retractor including usually four bearings recessed in the retractor housing, each bearing having a generally rectangular projection extending into a corresponding slot in the rack of the rack and pinion type retractor. There are two bearings on each side of the rack spaced longitudinally along the rack. The bearings provide an enlarged buffer area of contact between the rack and the housing to distribute the relatively high internal retraction forces that can be experienced during tissue retraction.

Abstract: A container and dispenser for an aneurysm clip adapted to receive many different sizes of aneurysm clips and to hold them in a position which facilitates easy removal of the clip from the container. The holder has a generally rectangular body, a detent projecting from its bottom surface and a platform extending from its front surface. the front surface also includes a recess in which is placed a number of projections for supporting various size aneurysm clips.

Abstract: A rongeur with special features applied to the footplate area to prevent the intersection of stress fields to allow the rongeur to be reduced in size and mass without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur. A transverse groove is used at the intersection of the anvil surface of the base plate and the shank base plane. Also the base of the footplate recess is offset from the shank base plane and the inside wall of the recess meets the recess base in a gentle curve. These features can be used individually or together to prevent the intersection of stress fields in the footplate area and thus allow the size of the footplate to be reduced without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur.

Abstract: A torsion spring with a coil portion having extensions extending from the ends of the coil for receiving forces for torquing the spring. The spring provides a more balanced stress distribution about the coil which in the preferred embodiment include a region of increased cross-sectional area on one side of the coil and a region of decreased cross-sectional area across the coil from the region of increased cross-sectional area and smooth contouring of the coil between these two regions. A particular use of the torsion spring of the present invention is in a torsion spring-type aneurysm clip for providing more uniform stress distributions about the coil portion of the aneurysm clip and for permitting the aneursym clip to open wider so that it may be used on larger aneurysms.

Abstract: A container and dispenser for aneurysm clips is shown which allows the aneurysm clips to be magnified as they are displayed to the user to facilitate easy removal of the clip from the container. The container includes a base preferably made of silicone or some other rubber like material with slits for holding the jaws of an aneurysm clip and a platform for raising the coil and arms of a clip above the top surface of the base. The container also includes a generally disc shaped magnifier housing for a containing a plurality of magnifying lenses and a shaft extending into a corresponding bore in the base. A locking ring attached to the shaft is used to control the distance the magnifier housing can be moved above the top surface of the base so that the clips will be in focus for the user.

Abstract: A biomedical implantable shunt is provided having an enlarged generally circular pump body and a perforated distal and proximal catheter attached to said body. The catheters are intended to have excess length so they can be cut to proper length as necessary to fit a specific patient. The pump body includes a vestibule at the outlet end directly connected to the distal catheter. A pair of one-way miter valves are provided within the pump body. The inlet valve is directly connected to the entrance provided for the proximal catheter while the outlet valve is positioned within the vestibule which is connected to the distal catheter. A longitudinal ridge is provided in the base member of the pump body with one end of the ridge positioned directly under the inlet valve to eliminate the possibility of the valve becoming sealed in the closed position during the pumping operation.

Abstract: A cranial perforator with an internal clutch which is engaged when the drill is placed against a bone surface for drilling and which will automatically release when the drill penetrates the skull. The components of the drill are held together by a plastic sleeve and a retaining ring which is ultrasonically welded to the interior surface of the plastic sleeve.

Abstract: A device for closing jaws of an aneurysm clip. The device includes a central spring portion. Body members are mounted on the central spring portion to be urged toward a closed position by the central spring portion. Heads carried by the body members are pivotally mounted on jaw members which engage the jaws of the aneurysm clip to urge the jaws to closed position. The body members are spaced to receive the aneurysm therebetween. The jaw members can move along the jaws to selected position, and a main portion of the device can be swung about pivots on the jaw members to selected angular position.