Abstract: By implanting two prosthetic disc capsules side-by-side into a damaged disc of a human spine, both height and motion, including front-to-back bending, can be maintained. The prosthetic disc capsules have an outer layer of strong, inert fibers intermingled with a bioresorbable material which attracts tissue ingrowth, a bladder enveloped by the layer, and a thixotropic gel filling the bladder. The prosthetic disc capsules can be surgically implanted by (1) jacking apart the vertebrae adjacent a damaged disc, (2) forming a substantially sagital bore in the damaged disc near each of its lateral edges, and (3) inserting one of the capsules axially into each bore.

Abstract: For face-down operations, a head and chin rest can stand on the flat bed of an operating table and has a frame including cushioned forehead and chin supports, the frame being pivotable to raise or lower the chin support relative to the forehead support. The forehead and chin supports are spaced to make the patient's face almost fully accessible, and that spacing is adjustable to allow for heads of various sizes. Preferably the base which supports the frame has a rocker base, thus permitting the patient to pivot the head and chin rest with his head to the most comfortable attitude, after which the rocker base can be wedged, such as with a small towel.

Abstract: A surgical retractor can be used in conjunction with an electro-surgical instrument without ensuring against the two coming too close together or touching when the surface of the tip of the retractor is electrically and thermally nonconductive and has a Rockwell C hardness of at least 55. The tip of the retractor may have a metal core which is provided with a hard, electrically insulating surface by sintering a ceramic such as aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide. Instead, the tip can be a piece of ceramic which is mounted onto a broad metal band by means of a short length of metal tubing.

Abstract: A caliper that can be operated with one hand to provide accurate direct readings of dimensions within a surgical incision has a fixed jaw at the end of a shaft and a movable jaw at the end of a tube slidably mounted on the shaft. The slidable tube is normally locked in position, but by pressing a button, the user can release the lock, whereupon a coil spring biases the tube and its jaw toward the fixed jaw until their relative movement is stopped by the object being measured. The user then reads the distance between the jaws by the position of a protuberance on the slidable tube relative to a scale etched in the handle.

Abstract: For operations in the prone sitting position, the novel kneeling attachment has a lower-leg platform from which one or a pair of posts project downwardly to rest against the floor to support the lower portion of the patient's body while his or her upper body is moved up or down relative to the buttocks by vertically moving the operating table. After thus adjusting the attitude of the patient's backbone, the lower-leg platform is locked, and the operating table can be moved to whatever height is most comfortable to the surgeon. The lower-leg platform of the kneeling attachment includes cushioning which is formed with two longitudinal channels that conform to the lower legs of a patient. A spacing between the lower-leg platform and the foot of the operating table leaves the kneecaps substantially unsupported, so that the patient's weight primarily rests on the tibial plateaus.

Abstract: A bone impactor consists of a single piece of lightweight metal which has a handle and a smooth shank, across the tip of which extends a working surface that forms a symmetrical cylindrical concavity that may be fitted against an excrescence, followed by striking the butt end of the handle to compress the excrescence into the bone to relieve pressure on a nerve. The edges of the working surface are radiused to minimize cutting. That bone impactor preferably is one of a set of four, the working surface of the second impactor being rectangular and that of the third being circular, while the handle and shank of the fourth impactor have a uniform, rectangular cross section.

Abstract: A Taylor-type force-fulcrum retractor has a broad malleable band which is readily shaped by hand to fit any situation and yet holds that shape against forces that may be applied to pull the muscles away from the center of an incision. The force-fulcrum retractor is particularly useful in spinal surgery and may have a claw-like spike or spikes which penetrate the surface of a bone within the incision to establish an extraordinarily secure fulcrum.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a brain lead within a cranial burr hole while closing that hole. A socket is provided with an aperture defining a lead passage and is engageable with the cranial burr hole to secure the socket to the cranium with the lead passage aperture in general alignment with the burr hole. A plug is configured to cooperate with the socket lead passage aperture for mutual engagement of a lead within the aperture while closing that aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the socket includes a split grommet portion formed of a flexible material that is biased to maintain the grommet split open. The socket aperture has a neck portion of reduced size with the plug being configured to engage that neck portion and resist removal of the plug from the socket aperture. The socket is also provided with a flange surrounding the grommet portion with holes in the flange being engageable by a tool to facilitate closure of the grommet split for insertion of the socket in a cranial burr hole.

Abstract: A seismic data generation and collection system is described for use in a exploration vessel for determining the subsea structure of the earth. A plurality of acoustic energy sources are towed behind the boat and acoustic waves are emitted therefrom by conventional means. The reflection at the subsea interfaces of the acoustic waves are picked up by the energy detectors which produce analog signals. These analog signals are then converted to digital data; multiple computers are used to reformat the data into a desired format. A real time monitor computer and monitor plotter may also be provided to assist the operator in evaluation of the operation of the system. The desired record format includes header information relating to the parameters under which the seismic shot was made, which may be written directly onto the magnetic tape containing the seismic data.

Abstract: An anchor for a body stimulation lead. A first body member is provided with an aperture while a second body member has a post extending from a surface thereof into the first body member aperture. At least the proximal portion of the post is slightly larger than the aperture to establish a press fit therein. Grooves are provided within one of the body members and are adapted to accept a body stimulation lead of known generally circular cross section. In a preferred embodiment, the groove opening is no greater than the lead diameter and the groove depth is at least as great as the lead radius. Suture cooperating elements are provided to facilitate securement of the anchor to body tissue.

Abstract: A structure is provided for protecting a depth control device used on a marine seismic cable where the device is of the type having a hull formed in two parts and a pair of wings pivotably mounted thereon. The protective structure is comprised of a pair of framelike structures and a ring structure. A framelike structure is mounted on the hull just forward of each wing and extends outward at an angle greater than the angle formed by the leading edge of the wing. This provides an unbroken path from the hull to the wing along which an obstacle, e.g., buoy line, can slide over the control device without becoming lodged in the gap normally existing between the wing and the hull. The ring structure is positioned on the seismic cable just forward of the control device to protect the device against a buoy line or the like becoming lodged in the gap which is inherently present when the two parts of the hull are joined about a seismic cable.

Abstract: A seismic exploration system employs a seismic energy source, a plurality of seismic energy detectors, and a seismic recording system. The recording system employs amplifiers, a multiplexer, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog seismic reflection signals resulting from repetitive firings of the seismic energy source to a serial output of multiplexed digital samples. These digital samples are sequentially strobed into selected storage locations in core memory, such storage locations being selected such that the multiplexed samples are reoriented serially by channel in successive ones of the storage locations. The digital samples are next sequentially strobed out of core memory by such successive storage locations to produce prior to each firing of the seismic source a serial-by-trace record of the detected seismic reflection signals resulting from the previous firing of the seismic source.