Abstract: A surgical punch including an upper jaw and lower jaw that are coupled at their proximal ends. The jaws have cutting edges at their distal end configured to cut in a direction from the distal ends of the jaws towards the proximal ends of the jaws. The center of rotation of the cutting trajectory can be located above the initial cutting point of the lower jaw. The upper jaw can include a reversed slope leading edge. The jaws can be slidably coupled to each other. The coupling member can include a pin and slot to couple the movable jaw to an actuating rod.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing minimally invasive osteotomies to correct angular deformities of bones in and about the knee are disclosed. A method includes locating a plane in which the angle exhibited by the deformity is situated. An oblique cut is then made along a surface of the bone, such that the cut is transverse to the plane in which the angle is situated. Thereafter, the bone pieces are rotated about the cut relative to one another until a desired alignment between the bone pieces is achieved. To maintain the bone pieces in alignment, a device having an elongated body for extending into a tunnel between the bone pieces is provided. The system also includes a rigid member fixedly positioned at one end of the body. The rigid member is transverse to the body to engage one bone piece. The system further includes a locking mechanism at an opposite end of the body to engage the other bone piece.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing minimally invasive osteotomies to correct angular deformities of bones in and about the knee are disclosed. A method includes locating a plane in which the angle exhibited by the deformity is situated. An oblique cut is then made along a surface of the bone, such that the cut is transverse to the plane in which the angle is situated. Thereafter, the bone pieces are rotated about the cut relative to one another until a desired alignment between the bone pieces is achieved. To maintain the bone pieces in alignment, a device having an elongated body for extending into a tunnel between the bone pieces is provided. The system also includes a rigid member fixedly positioned at one end of the body. The rigid member is transverse to the body to engage one bone piece. The system further includes a locking mechanism at an opposite end of the body to engage the other bone piece.

Abstract: A femoral guide for precisely positioning a guide wire on a femur bone surface. A lumen allows a guide wire extending through the lumen to contact the bone surface at a location spaced a predetermined distance from an edge of the bone surface. With the guide wire driven into the bone, a bone tunnel can be formed substantially concentrically along the guide. Methods of precisely forming bone tunnels include the steps of engaging a bone surface edge with a tongue of the femoral guide, insertion of a guide wile through a femoral guide lumen, driving the guide wire into the bone through the lumen and forming a bone tunnel along the guide wire where a bone tunnel longitudinal axis is disposed from the edge engaged by die tongue a distance substantially equal to the distance that the tongue is disposed from the longitudinal axis of the lumen.

Abstract: A femoral guide for precisely positioning a guide wire on a bone surface of the femur includes a body having a lumen for receiving a guide wire and a tongue protruding from the body for engaging an edge or reference point on the bone surface with the tongue being spaced a predetermined distance from a longitudinal axis of the lumen. The lumen includes an opening allowing a guide wire extending through the lumen to contact the bone surface at a location spaced from the edge substantially the predetermined distance with the tongue engaging the edge. A stylus on the body can be driven into the bone to secure and stabilize the femoral guide prior to driving the guide wire into the bone through the lumen. With the guide wire driven into the bone, a bone tunnel can be formed substantially concentrically or coaxially along the guide wire such that a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel will be disposed from the edge substantially the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A device for harvesting a tendon for cruciate ligament surgery includes an elongated outer member and an inner member disposed within the outer member, such that the outer and inner members are reciprocally movable relative to one another. The outer member has, at its distal end, a cutting edge for cutting connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon. The inner member is provided with a distal end and pathway into which the tendon is received during the harvesting procedure. The device further includes an actuator for moving the outer member and inner member between a non-actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member and the distal end of the inner member are at least in substantially even alignment, and an actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member is advanced beyond the distal end of the inner member, so as to expose the cutting edge for separating connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon.

Abstract: A femoral guide for precisely positioning a guide wire on a bone surface of the femur includes a body having a lumen for receiving a guide wire and a tongue protruding from the body for engaging an edge or reference point on the bone surface with the tongue being spaced a predetermined distance from a longitudinal axis of the lumen. The lumen includes an opening allowing a guide wire extending through the lumen to contact the bone surface at a location spaced from the edge substantially the predetermined distance with the tongue engaging the edge. A stylus on the body can be driven into the bone to secure and stabilize the femoral guide prior to driving the guide wire into the bone through the lumen. With the guide wire driven into the bone, a bone tunnel can be formed substantially concentrically or coaxially along the guide wire such that a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel will be disposed from the edge substantially the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A device for harvesting a tendon for cruciate ligament surgery includes an elongated outer member and an inner member disposed within the outer member, such that the outer and inner members are reciprocally movable relative to one another. The outer member has, at its distal end, a cutting edge for cutting connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon. The inner member is provided with a distal end and pathway into which the tendon is received during the harvesting procedure. The device further includes an actuator for moving the outer member and inner member between a non-actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member and the distal end of the inner member are at least in substantially even alignment, and an actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member is advanced beyond the distal end of the inner member, so as to expose the cutting edge for separating connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon.

Abstract: Devices and methods for producing minimally invasive osteotomies to correct angular deformities of bones in and about the knee are disclosed. The method includes locating a plane in which the angle exhibited by the deformity is situated. An oblique cut is then made along a surface of the bone, such that the cut is transverse to the plane in which the angle is situated. Thereafter, the bone pieces are rotated about the cut relative to one another until a desired alignment between the bone pieces is achieved. To maintain the bone pieces in alignment, a device having an elongated body for extending into a tunnel between the bone pieces is provided. The device also includes a rigid member fixedly positioned at one end of the body. The rigid member is transverse to the body to engage one bone piece. The device further includes a locking mechanism at an opposite end of the body to engage the other bone piece.

Abstract: A device for harvesting a tendon for cruciate ligament surgery includes an elongated outer member and an inner member disposed within the outer member, such that the outer and inner members are reciprocally movable relative to one another. The outer member has, at its distal end, a cutting edge for cutting connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon. The inner member is provided with a distal end and pathway into which the tendon is received during the harvesting procedure. The device further includes an actuator for moving the outer member and inner member between a non-actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member and the distal end of the inner member are at least in substantially even alignment, and an actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member is advanced beyond the distal end of the inner member, so as to expose the cutting edge for separating connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon.

Abstract: A coring reamer for use in removing a bone core for use in a graft. A cylindrical tunnel is aimed at a bone. The coring reamer is inserted through the cylindrical tunnel and operated to form a bone tunnel. The bone core is removed from the coring reamer and a ligament replacement is attached to form the graft. The coring reamer includes a cylindrical hollow tube with a series of cutting teeth projecting from its distal end. At least one opening is provided in the wall of the coring reamer tube so that the bone core may be more easily removed from the reamer.

Abstract: A surgical screwdriver for inserting bone screws in bone tunnels in ligament reconstruction has, in a preferred embodiment, a cannulated flexible shaft portion. The flexible shaft portion is formed by a plurality of linkage members disposed in series. Each linkage member is joined to an adjacent linkage member so as to permit adjacent linkage members to be pivotally movable with respect to one another about a pivot axis. The screwdriver is used in methods of arthroscopic cruciate ligament reconstruction including the steps of introducing the screwdriver along a guide wire through a portal that is offset from the longitudinal axis of a bone tunnel and driving an interference screw mounted on the driver in the bone tunnel to fixate a bone block in the bone tunnel.

Abstract: A suturing jig for attaching strands of tissue for use as a ligament replacement in cruciate ligament reconstruction. The suturing jig is provided with two pivotally attached arms having at their respective distal ends a clamping member. Each clamping member includes a plurality of openings. Each opening on one clamping member is aligned with a corresponding opening on the other clamping member for providing a path through which a needle may pass.

Abstract: A graft preparation table including a bone block drill guide and a suturing station. The bone block drill guide has a central tunnel and first and second parallel tunnels intersecting opposite sides of the central tunnel and parallel to the central tunnel. A bone plug is longitudinally inserted into the central column so that parallel grooves may be formed in the bone plug by drilling through the first and second parallel tunnels. The suturing station includes a tensioning track and a pair of suture blocks separated along the track. Each suture block includes a chamber for accommodating a bone plug and suture openings on opposite sides of the suture block. The distance between the suture blocks on the tensioning track may be adjusted to achieve the desired tension on the ligament replacement looped about the bone plugs. A stop pin is inserted into each suture block to hold the bone plug in its respective chamber.

Abstract: A bone-cutting guide having a base with a cylindrical tunnel for guiding a cutting instrument therethrough. The guide is anchored to the bone in at least three locations. A positioning arm having a distal end anchors the guide within a joint. An anchoring pin is insertable through the base alongside the cylindrical tunnel to stabilize the guide against the bone being drilled. An embodiment of the invention includes two anchoring pins on either side of the cylindrical tunnel through the base. The positioning arm can be stabilized within a joint due to stabilizing spikes extending from the distal end of the arm. A curve is provided in the positioning arm between two spikes to provide an opening through which a reamer guided through the cylindrical tunnel maybe operated.

Abstract: A method of ligament reconstruction in which at least one ligament replacement is extended between two bone plugs and fixed within each of two bone tunnels in the bones of a joint using interference screws. The bone plugs are given two substantially parallel grooves longitudinally in which the ligament replacements are seated. The ligament replacement may be a semitendinosus tendon attached to itself to form a loop attached to each of the two bone plugs. The bone plugs may be autogenous by using a coring reamer when forming the bone tunnels. A bone block drill guide having three parallel columns can be used to form the substantially parallel grooves in the bone plugs. A trefoil rasp has three cutting lobes, two opposite each other and one approximately equidistant from the other two. The rasp forms three channels in the bone tunnels, two for the looped tendon and one for the interference screw. A tibial drill guide directs a coring reamer without use of a guide wire.

Abstract: A versatile, water-resistant trailer interface device that is capable of adaptation to a variety of connector assemblies. The mechanical and electrical apparatus is comprised of versatile connectors, a circuit board, indicator lights, resistors, a test circuit, wires and a casing. The user can test and connect each pin separately without the need for special tools. The large resistor prevents the destruction of automobile or trailer fuses.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable toilet which is disposable after use. The apparatus is comprised of sturdy biodegradable, environmentally safe corrugated paper board which is capable of being incinerated or buried in the earth's surface after use. The disposable toilet is comprised of a seat member which is placed over the top of a substantially rectangular base member. The seat member contains a rounded rectangular opening. The bottom of the base member is open so as to allow human waste excretions to fall into a pre-excavated hole in the earth's surface located directly underneath the toilet. After use, the toilet can be moved to a new location or disposed of and the hole covered with soil.

Abstract: A femoral guide for precisely positioning a guide wire on a bone surface of the femur includes a body having a lumen for receiving a guide wire and a tongue protruding from the body for engaging an edge or reference point on the bone surface with the tongue being spaced a predetermined distance from a longitudinal axis of the lumen. The lumen includes an opening allowing a guide wire extending through the lumen to contact the bone surface at a location spaced from the edge substantially the predetermined distance with the tongue engaging the edge. A stylus on the body can be driven into the bone to secure and stabilize the femoral guide prior to driving the guide wire into the bone through the lumen. With the guide wire driven into the bone, a bone tunnel can be formed substantially concentrically or coaxially along the guide wire such that a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel will be disposed from the edge substantially the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A surgical screwdriver for inserting bone screws in bone tunnels in ligament reconstruction has, in a preferred embodiment, a flexible cannulated operating shaft. The shaft is formed by concentric coils including at least one clockwise helical coil and at least one counterclockwise helical coil. The screwdriver is used in methods of arthroscopic cruciate ligament reconstruction including the steps of introducing the screwdriver along a guide wire through a portal that is offset from the longitudinal axis of a bone tunnel and driving an interference screw mounted on the driver in the bone tunnel to fixate a bone block in the bone tunnel.