Abstract: The invention concerns a device for positioning an instrument introduced in the arterial system by endoscopic process, consisting of a tubular element with an asymmetrical lateral extension for angular positioning of the instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical instrument having at least one surgical element, such as a knife or the like disposed at the distal end thereof, a motor disposed at the proximal end thereof, and a shaft which connects the shaft of the motor to the shaft of the surgical instrument in such a manner that the surgical element is rotated. According to the invention either the motor is detachably connected to said shaft of the said surgical element in an as such known manner so that a bend can be inserted between the motor shaft and said shaft disposed in the instrument or that a flexible bend is inserted between the motor and the shaft in such a manner that the motor shaft and the shaft disposed in the instrument includes an adjustable angle.

Abstract: Guide means direct a cutting tool into the interface between a prosthesis and surrounding bone are provided to bring about a more controlled separation and removal thereof for revision or other purposes. Such guides may be placed on the prosthetic element itself or, alternatively, on a separate component aligned with the prosthesis. In the particular case of a stemmed prosthesis such as a proximal femoral component, the invention preferably provides one or more tracks, channels, grooves or slots longitudinally oriented along the stem of the implant, enabling an osteotome, for example, to be inserted thereinto and tapped down along the side of the implant between the prosthesis and the surrounding bone to bring about a cleaner and more controlled separation.

Abstract: A spinal implant assembly includes an elongated spinal implant, such as a rod, implanted adjacent the spine, and a bone fastener, such as a bone screw, engaged within a vertebra. A connection assembly includes a first member having a first opening for receiving the rod, and a second member having a second opening for receiving an elongated stem of the bone fastener. The two members are connected to permit relative rotation between the two members to accommodate variable angular orientations of the bone screw relative to the rod. A single washer is provided that has an opening for positioning over a portion of both the first member and the second member. One face of the washer is configured to engage the rod, while the opposite face of the washer is configured to engage the stem of the bone screw. In one embodiment, the opposite face of the washer defines a plurality of radial splines.

Abstract: The handle body (A) constitutes one of the branches of a T, of which the other branch is formed by its attachment piece (2) which is continued by the interchangeable element (B), and this body includes, on the side toward the interchangeable element (B), indentations (26) for positioning the fingers of the hand, said indentations (26) being arranged on either side of the attachment piece, and of which one (26a), for positioning the index finger, is equipped with a bore through which there protrudes the push-button (14) for activating the pneumatic distributor (11).

Abstract: A bone screw (1) having a threaded shaft portion (2) and a head (3) is provided. In order to ensure a good fastening capability of the bone screw even in soft bone material the bone screw has a longitudinal bore (5) extending along the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft portion (2) and having a portion (7) which flares towards the free end (6) opposite to the head (3). Slits (8) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis are provided in this portion of the threaded shaft portion. An expanding member (20) comprises a top portion (22) forming the top (22) of the bone screw (1) and a shaft (21) adjacent thereto extending into the longitudinal bore (5). The threaded shaft portion is provided with notches at its inner wall adjacent to the flared portion (7) of the longitudinal bore (5), the notches surrounding the longitudinal bore (5) in a defined region thereof.

Abstract: A drill bit is dimensioned to be received within a bone joint. The bit is oriented and retained in position by a removable fixation device to permit a drill drive shaft to be secured to, or removed from, the drill bit. By securing the drive shaft within a cavity at the end of the bit which performs the drilling function, retrograde drilling of bone from within the joint can be achieved. When the drive shaft is secured within a cavity at the opposite end of the drill bit, antegrade drilling of bone is possible from within the joint.

Abstract: A method for using a circular stapling instrument for the removal of hemorrhoids is disclosed. The circular stapling instrument has a stapling end effector having a stapling head assembly and an anvil assembly movable from an open position spaced away from the stapling head to a closed position adjacent to the stapling head. A first inner chamber and a second inner chamber communicate within the stapling head assembly wherein the second inner chamber has an open distal end when the anvil is in an open position. A substantially unobstructed passageway extends from an exterior casing surface of the stapling head assembly through the first inner chamber, through the second inner chamber, and through the open distal end of the second inner chamber. A suture is placed into the hemorrhoid of a patient and the open stapling end effector is placed into the anus of a patient.

Abstract: A vertebral spacer apparatus includes an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal axis and a vertebral spacer which is releasably mounted to the elongated member. The vertebral spacer includes an insertion end portion and a trailing end portion. The insertion end portion is configured to at least span an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae. The trailing end portion defines a dimension greater than a corresponding dimension of the insertion end portion and is sized to prevent entry thereof within the intervertebral space.The insertion end portion preferably includes first and second opposed support surfaces wherein a dimension defined between the first and second support surfaces at least spans the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for implanting a fusion implant with the vertebral spacer apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A morcellator for removing large masses of tissues during laparoscopic procedures includes a rotationally fixed, axially movable inner tube disposed within a rotating cutting member. The cutting member is often disposed in the annular space between the inner tube and an outer tube. A laparoscopic grasping instrument is inserted through the lumen and draws the tissue proximally through the morcellator. As the cutting member severs tissue, the tissue is drawn into the fixed lumen of the inner tube. This prevents the cutting member from twisting the severed tissue, thereby preventing any degradation of the surgeon's control. A novel valve is provided to prevent loss of insufflation gas when no instrument traverses the lumen. The inner tube can be translated distally to protect tissues and/or other surgical implements against inadvertent contact with the cutting edge of the cutting member.

Abstract: An odor desensitizing intra-nasal clip for dental patients includes a bendable arcuate band extending between distal ends. The ends have odor-emitting pads affixed thereon. The band has an inner surface coextensive with the band, wherein the inner surface contacts the respective right and left sides of a user's nasal septum when the outer distal ends are inserted into a user's right and left nostrils, with the band wrapped around the lower distal end of the nasal septum. Preferably, the band has a pair of reverse curvatures near its outer distal ends, so that the reverse curvatures separate the ends from contact with the surface of the user's nasal septum. To mask dental odors during dental procedures, the intra-nasal clip has odor-emitting absorbent pads attached to its distal ends; with odorant absorbed therein.

Abstract: A locking nail for placement in the marrow space of tubular bones for the care of bone fractures, with an elongate, essentially cylindrical shank with a number of essentially radial openings for accommodating locking screws. At least one radial, elongate opening extends in the longitudinal direction of the shank and at least two sliding blocks are unrotatably guided within the shank and are secured against a movement away from one another so that at least one opening at an angle to the longitudinal direction is formed from at least one intermediate space between the sliding blocks. This opening is aligned to the elongate opening for accommodating a locking screw. In another embodiment, only one such sliding block is used (and can be selected from any of a suitable set, for example a set in which the blocks of the set all have substantially the same length but have transverse bores positioned at a variety of different positions and at different angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the nail).

Abstract: An umbilical cord cutting and clamping device includes a pair of opposed jaws with a blade mounted in one jaw, and the other jaw has teeth spaced along the inner surface for grasping the umbilical cord. The jaw carrying the blade include two grasping teeth on each side of the blade and at its inner end, so that the upper surface can be smoothly cut as the device is closed secondary to flattening the cord.

Abstract: The invention is an expandable box-shaped spinal implant used to fuse adjacent vertebra in the patient's spine. The implant includes three interlocking parts, which are the superior section, the inferior section, and the U-shaped expander cap. The Box-shaped expandable spinal implant is formed by mating the superior section and the inferior section. The superior section has a top, a pair of mirror image vertical sides, and an upper proximal face. The inferior section has a bottom, a pair of mirror image vertical sides, and a lower proximal face. The pair of mirror image vertical sides on the superior section and the pair of mirror image vertical sides on the inferior section overlap each other and have guide way means and locking means to allow the upper section and the lower section to slideably expand transversely relative to each other. The superior and inferior sections form a closed end and an open end. A pair of exterior longitudinal channels are formed where the pair of vertical sides overlap.

Abstract: A self-locking and threaded bone tack screw device (10) for fixing and retaining tissue grafts and synthetic membranes directly to a maxillofacial bone graft site. The tack has an oversized cylindrical dome shaped head (14) for retaining the tissue and synthetic membrane to the bone graft site and a hexagonal recess (14a) for easy insertion and removal of the device. The tip of the device incorporates a sharp pin point (12a) to easily pierce the tissue and membrane and initially penetrate into the bone graft site. A locking flange (12c) locks into the bone graft site in a single direction. A self-tapping screw thread (12f) is provided for driving the pin point tip into the bone graft site. Incorporation of the self-locking pin point tip in series with the self-tapping thread allows the hexagonal tool driven bone tack to be easily inserted and removed from the graft site without compromising its fixation.

Abstract: A screw removal system is provided that can be used to remove a broken screw piece, which is embedded in a bone. The screw removal system includes an internally-threaded outer tube and a T-handled shaft which screws into the tube. The outer tube includes at one end two flange legs that engage the second or third thread of the broken screw piece and a bonding component sized to engage the broken screw piece. With the outer tube held in a stationary position by a wrench, the T-handled shaft is rotated downwardly to force the flange legs, and the bonding component into a locking engagement with the broken screw piece. After this locking engagement is achieved, the outer tube wrench is held so that it can rotate with the T-handled shaft and the broken screw piece can be unscrewed out of the bone upon continued rotation of the T-handled shaft, which causes the rotation of both the outer tube and the engaged screw piece.

Abstract: An astigmatism reducing device includes an alignment tool having a bore, extending through said alignment tool, for enabling centering of said alignment tool by observation of a cornea limbus. A handle is provided for enabling placement of said alignment tool onto a cornea and sclera of an eye and a bottom curvature on the alignment tool engages and conforms to the cornea. A lid retractor including a channel adjacent said bottom curvature is provided for separating eyelids from said cornea and sclera and enabling a portion of the bottom curvature to be disposed thereunder. Tubular cornea cutter, having an outside diameter sized for insertion into the alignment tool bore means is provided for supporting at least one cutting blade for rotation within the alignment tool bore, the cutting blade being disposed with a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cornea cutter.

Abstract: An improved fixation assembly for orthopedic applications. The fixation assembly includes a screw having an upper shank portion, a middle section with a recessed area, and a lower threaded section. A locking ring surrounds the recessed area of the screw, with the diameter of the locking ring being greater than the diameter of the recessed area of said screw and less than the diameter of the shank and threaded sections of the screw. The screw and locking ring combination is used to attach an orthopedic plate to a bone. The orthopedic plate includes a hole for receiving the screw and the locking ring. The hole includes an upper section and a lower section, wherein the width of the upper section is less than the width of the locking ring so that the locking ring is compressed while in the upper section of the hole. The width of the lower section is greater than the width of the locking ring so that the locking ring is not compressed while in the lower section of the hole.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongate tubular member, an end effector at the distal end of the tubular member, a linkage rod slidably disposed within the tubular member, a distal connector fixed to the proximal end of the tubular member, a proximal connector fixed to the proximal end of the linkage rod, at least one resiliently flexible actuating member, and a lever pivotally to the proximal connector. The lever generally overlies and contacts the actuator member. Pivoting of the lever toward the flexible actuator member causes the linkage rod to move a movable jaw of the end effector. The surgical instrument has a relatively larger actuator surface for easier manipulation, and better balance. The actuator member also has a point of maximum leverage closer to the distal end, than other surgical instruments of the same general type.

Abstract: Umbilical surgical scissors to cut and clamp the umbilical cord following birth comprising a scissor assembly including a first and second scissor member selectively movable between a first and second position relative to each other having a clamping assembly detachably mounted thereon by a clamp assembly holder, the clamping assembly comprises a pair of clamping clips each including a first and second clamping element movable between a normally open position and a closed clamping position such that when the first and second scissor members are moved from the first position to the second position the umbilical cord is severed and the responding first and second clamping elements clamp the umbilical cord therebetween.