Abstract: A suture anchor includes a single length of resilient wire bent to form a suture-retaining loop disposed between two proximally diverging coplanar legs having pointed ends. The legs are selectively compressible together to permit the anchor to be inserted, loop first, into a bone tunnel having a diameter smaller than the transverse spacing between the uncompressed legs. Release of the legs inside the bone tunnel permits the pointed leg ends to penetrate the tunnel wall. An insertion tool has pivotable arms distally terminating in respective transversely extending arcuate jaws contoured to engage the anchor legs at a location adjacent the loop and compress the anchor legs upon closure of the jaws. Each jaw has one end fixed to its pivotable arm and juxtaposed with a free end of the opposing jaw. An anchor dispenser includes a plurality of storage slots for retaining respective anchors with the anchor loop radially compressed and the anchor legs diverging forwardly of the slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for anchoring suture to bone includes an anchor formed by twisting a wire to provide a loop with two legs extending distally from the twist. Each leg bends outwardly through 180.degree. to define respective knee segments between inner and outer leg segments, the outer leg segments terminating in sharp points for penetrating a bone tunnel wall. The outer leg segments are initially parallel and define an anchor width smaller than the bone tunnel diameter, thereby permitting the anchor to be inserted into and removed from the tunnel. The anchor is deployed with an insertion tool arranged to deformably pivot the outer leg segments about the knee segments, thereby causing the pointed ends to penetrate the tunnel wall in response to applied withdrawal forces. The anchor wire may be assembled on an anchor sleeve through which the loop projects proximally while the outer leg segments reside in wire relief recesses defined in the sleeve periphery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for anchoring suture to bone includes an anchor formed by twisting a wire to provide a loop with two legs extending distally from the twist. Each leg bends outwardly through 180.degree. to define respective knee segments between inner and outer leg segments, the outer leg segments terminating in sharp points for penetrating a bone tunnel wall. The outer leg segments are initially parallel and define an anchor width smaller than the bone tunnel diameter, thereby permitting the anchor to be inserted into and removed from the tunnel. The anchor is deployed with an insertion tool arranged to deformably pivot the outer leg segments about the knee segments, thereby causing the pointed ends to penetrate the tunnel wall in response to applied withdrawal forces. The anchor wire may be assembled on an anchor sleeve through which the loop projects proximally while the outer leg segments reside in wire relief recesses defined in the sleeve periphery.

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 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 suturing needle is illustrated which can engage a suture to an outer housing, thereby presenting a relatively smooth surface at the distal end of the apparatus to minimize tissue trauma. A lock feature prevents unexpected extension of the needle from the outer housing which could release the suture. A finger switch is used to overcome the locking mechanism when it is desired to release the suture. The distal end of the housing and the needle are a generally similar flat profile to minimize uneven edges which could damage the tissue. The suture is retained in a hook located in the needle, the opening for which is retracted in the housing to retain the suture.

Abstract: A method and bone anchor assembly apparatus for attaching suture material to bone tissue includes a hollow anchor body having a rectilinearly-bounded transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension corresponding to the diameter of the bone tunnel drilled to receive the anchor. A longitudinally displaceable plug received within the anchor body is contoured to interact with inwardly biased bone tissue engaging barbs formed on the sides of the anchor body, defining a first position wherein the barbs are allowed to uninterferingly retract within the anchor body and a second position wherein the plug forces the barbs outward into engaging contact with the bone tunnel sidewalls. Suture material is passed around the anchor assembly, through a transverse slot defined in the assembly distal end and the plug is positioned in the first position with barbs retracted. The assembly is inserted into the bone tunnel and the plug is urged into the second position with barbs engaged in bone tissue.

Abstract: An interference bone fixation screw fabricated from bioabsorbable material includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a screw thread disposed therealong from the proximal end to the distal end. A drive recess is formed in the body to extend longitudinally from the proximal end toward the distal end for receiving a rotatable driver. The drive recess defines a plurality of radial force receiving surfaces for receiving concentric forces from the driver applied perpendicularly to the force receiving surfaces.

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 bone fixation screw employs plural interleaved and axially symmetrical spiral threads. The threads are machined at the screw tip to form symmetrically disposed leading cutting edges. An interference-screw embodiment has a central axial cannula and a female hexagonal drive socket. The plural threads assist in unbiased starting and fast advance of the screw.

Abstract: The present invention allows operating room personnel to easily and expeditiously drape electronic surgical devices, such as video monitors, cameras, lights, and power sources. This invention relates to a disposable, four-sided surgical drape that maintains a protective cover over the equipment. The drape consists of an opaque material on the two side panels and the top panel of the drape. The front panel is preferably formed of a clear, pliable plastic material, with a rectangularly shaped front panel cutout at the top portion of the panel. This front panel cutout and the attached adhesive strip allow surgical personnel to visually access the video monitor and seal the front panel to the monitor. The rear and underside of the cover are open to ensure proper ventilation and easy application.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a disposable probe and a non-disposable focusing ocular. The probe includes a transfer module assembly including one or more relay modules, and an objective element including a distal glass window, a molded plastic prism and three molded plastic lenses. Each of the relay modules contains an entry glass rod, an intermediate glass rod, and an exit rod, each having flat end surfaces and two identical molded plastic doublets. The elements of the ocular are all of glass and include an axially movable focusing doublet and two non-movable doublets. The disposable probe introduces certain aberrations into the image. The non-disposable focusing ocular corrects these aberrations. A single curved surface is formed on the distal glass window of the probe; all other curved optical surfaces of the disposable probe are formed on molded plastic members, thereby reducing the cost of the probe sufficiently to be cost-effective for single patient, disposable use.

Abstract: A suture anchor includes a single length of resilient wire bent to form a suture-retaining loop disposed between two proximally diverging coplanar legs having pointed ends. The legs are selectively compressible together to permit the anchor to be inserted, loop first, into a bone tunnel having a diameter smaller than the transverse spacing between the uncompressed legs. Release of the legs inside the bone tunnel permits the pointed leg ends to penetrate the tunnel wall. An insertion tool has pivotable arms distally terminating in respective transversely extending arcuate jaws contoured to engage the anchor legs at a location adjacent the loop and compress the anchor legs upon closure of the jaws. Each jaw has one end fixed to its pivotable arm and juxtaposed with a free end of the opposing jaw. An anchor dispenser includes a plurality of storage slots for retaining respective anchors with the anchor loop radially compressed and the anchor legs diverging forwardly of the slot.

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: An endoscopic kitner features a delivery tube with a continuous supply of absorbent material. The absorbent material is retractable into a housing as new absorbent material is placed in position for use. The spent absorbing material is movable into a housing for removal of the kitner. A hand-held drive mechanism is employed to advance the absorbent material.

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 method for closing an incision (I) deep within a patient's body (B) with a suture (S). A medical instrument (C) has arms 1 and 2 for openings and closing opposed jaws (3,4). Each jaw has a pair of openings (3A-3B, 4A-4B). A knot (K) is formed using the ends (S1, S2) of the suture. For this purpose, the ends of the suture are withdrawn from the body. This allows the surgeon to form a proper surgical knot. After forming the knot, the suture ends are inserted through the respective Fairs of openings. The surgeon can now draw the knot tightly down on the incision to close it by inserting the jaws end of the instrument into the patient's body while applying a slight pulling force on the ends of the suture. The surgical knot thus made will not thereafter loosen.

Abstract: Angular positional adjustment relative to a handpiece is provided for a cutting window located at the distal end of an outer tube in an endoscopic surgical cutting instrument. A two-member hub assembly for the outer tube includes one hub member having a polygonal socket and a second hub member having a polygonal plug. Axial disengagement of the plug and socket permits relative rotation between them to provide alternative engagement positions. One hub member engages the handpiece while the other has the outer tube secured thereto, whereby changes in the angular engagement position between the hub members results in changes of the angular position of the cutting window relative to the handpiece.