Abstract: A surgical screw driver for inserting bone screws in bone tunnels in ligament reconstruction has, in a preferred embodiment, a rotatable operating shaft disposed at an angle to a drive shaft. A mechanism is on the drive shaft for retaining a bone screw. Methods of arthroscopic cruciate ligament reconstruction include the steps of introducing a surgical screw driver through a portal that is offset from the longitudinal axis of a bone tunnel and driving a bone screw mounted on the driver in the bone tunnel to fixate a bone block in the bone tunnel.

Abstract: A patellar tendon harvester having a two-tined fork connected to a handle. A pair of blades are supported in side-by-side relationship from the two-tined fork. Each blade has a concave cutting edge. A bent stem portion may be provided between the handle and the two-tined fork. The patellar tendon harvester may be used to harvest a patellar tendon through incisions of less than three centimeters in length.

Abstract: A method of inserting a guide pin into tissue including inserting into the tissue a device having a cannula disposed longitudinally therein, a shank, and a tip. A guide pin movably disposed in the cannula and having a shank end proximal to the shank of the drill bit and a tip proximal to the tip of the drill bit. A retaining means associated with at least one of the drill bit and the guide pin for permitting the releasable retention of the guide pin in the cannula by means of adjustable force exerted on the guide pin by the drill bit.

Abstract: A bone block drill guide and a method for preparing a bone plug and tendon graft in which the bone block drill guide is used in drilling a hole through the bone plug. A harvested bone plug and tendon graft is inserted into a trough in a bone block drill guide. A drill bit is inserted through a hole in a drill guide member to accurately drill a hole in the bone plug supported in the trough below. The bone block drill guide may have a plurality of troughs of different widths. A drill guide member has a hole therethrough for guiding a drill bit. The drill guide member is aligned with a trough so that the hole in the guide member is aligned with the hole in the bottom surface of the trough.

Abstract: A system for the insertion of an object into biological tissue, has in one embodiment a pin and a pin passer, wherein the pin passer has an elongate body and first and second ends, and includes a receiving means for removably receiving the pin and an attachment means for removable attachment of the object. In one embodiment, the attachment means on the pin passer may be located at the second end and the receiving means may be include a notch that has a blind channel for insertion of the pin. The passer may further include a slot, for receiving the pin, extending from the notch proximal to the second. The slot is suitably configured to engage the pin securely, so that the pin may be removably inserted into the blind channel in the slot and secured into place in the slot. In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the system of the invention may be utilized, in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, to insert a bone-tendon-bone autograft into the knee.

Abstract: A cannulated interference screw (10) and process for human implantation in an arthroscopic surgical procedure for replacement of a ligament, or the like. The interference screw is provided with a drill end (11) that extends longitudinally from an end of a cylindrical body (14), which drill end includes equally spaced flutes (12) therearound. The flutes extend into first and second cutting threads (15a) and (15b), respectively which cutting threads and threads (15) are formed around the cylindrical body. A center longitudinal passage (16) is formed through the interference screw drill end and cylindrical body, which passage is stepped outwardly within the cylindrical body into a hexagonal sided section (18) that is for receiving a sided end (20) of a driver (19) that is fitted therein.

Abstract: A cannulated interference screw (10) and process for human implantation in an arthroscopic surgical procedure for replacement of a ligament, or the like. The interference screw is provided with a drill end (11) that extends longitudinally from an end of a cylindrical body (14), which drill end includes equally spaced flutes (12) therearound. The flutes extend into first and second cutting threads (15a) and (15b), respectively which cutting threads and threads (15) are formed around the cylindrical body. A center longitudinal passage (16) is formed through the interference screw drill end and cylindrical body, which passage is stepped outwardly within the cylindrical body into a hexagonal sided section (18) that is for receiving a sided end (20) of a driver (19) that is fitted therein.