Abstract: Certain embodiments of the surgical instruments provided according to the invention utilize a channel positioned adjacent to and downstream of a liquid jet-forming nozzle such that at least a portion of the liquid jet passes at least one of within the channel and adjacent to and along the length of at least a portion of a longitudinally-oriented opening in the channel, when the instrument is in operation. The use of such channels in certain embodiments of the inventive surgical instruments can enable the instruments to provide enhanced control over the depth and degree of cutting and/or ablation of tissue; and/or can provide improved and enhanced functionality for cleaning, debriding, and/or trimming and cutting a tissue/surface; and/or can provide longer effective liquid jet beam cutting/ablation lengths by reducing the degree of dispersion of the jet along its length.

Abstract: The invention provides a variety of surgical instruments for forming a liquid jet, which are useful for performing a wide variety of surgical procedures. In some embodiments, the invention provides surgical liquid jet instruments having a pressure lumen and an evacuation lumen, where the pressure lumen includes at least one nozzle for forming a liquid jet and where the evacuation lumen includes a jet-receiving opening for receiving the liquid jet when the instrument is in operation. In some embodiments, the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen of the surgical liquid jet instruments are constructed and positionable relative to each other so that the liquid comprising the liquid jet, and any tissue or material entrained by the liquid jet can be evacuated through the evacuation lumen without the need for an external source of suction.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the surgical instruments provided according to the invention utilize a channel positioned adjacent to and downstream of a liquid jet-forming nozzle such that at least a portion of the liquid jet passes at least one of within the channel and adjacent to and along the length of at least a portion of a longitudinally-oriented opening in the channel, when the instrument is in operation. The use of such channels in certain embodiments of the inventive surgical instruments can enable the instruments to provide enhanced control over the depth and degree of cutting and/or ablation of tissue; and/or can provide improved and enhanced functionality for cleaning, debriding, and/or trimming and cutting a tissue/surface; and/or can provide longer effective liquid jet beam cutting/ablation lengths by reducing the degree of dispersion of the jet along its length.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a series of surgical instruments utilizing liquid jets for cutting, ablating, debriding, washing, etc., tissues and/or other materials from the interior and/or exterior surface of the body of a patient. Certain embodiments of the surgical instruments provided according to the invention utilize a channel positioned adjacent to and downstream of a liquid jet-forming nozzle such that at least a portion of the passes at least one of within the channel and adjacent to and along the length of at least a portion of a longitudinally-oriented opening in the channel, when the instrument is in operation.

Abstract: The invention provides a variety of surgical instruments for forming a liquid jet, which are useful for performing a wide variety of surgical procedures. In some embodiments, the invention provides surgical liquid jet instruments having a pressure lumen and an evacuation lumen, where the pressure lumen includes at least one nozzle for forming a liquid jet and where the evacuation lumen includes a jet-receiving opening for receiving the liquid jet when the instrument is in operation. In some embodiments, the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen of the surgical liquid jet instruments are constructed and positionable relative to each other so that the liquid comprising the liquid jet, and any tissue or material entrained by the liquid jet can be evacuated through the evacuation lumen without the need for an external source of suction.

Abstract: The invention provides a variety of surgical instruments for forming a liquid jet, which are useful for performing a wide variety of surgical procedures. In some embodiments, the invention provides surgical liquid jet instruments having a pressure lumen and an evacuation lumen, where the pressure lumen includes at least one nozzle for forming a liquid jet and where the evacuation lumen includes a jet-receiving opening for receiving the liquid jet when the instrument is in operation. In some embodiments, the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen of the surgical liquid jet instruments are constructed and positionable relative to each other so that the liquid comprising the liquid jet, and any tissue or material entrained by the liquid jet can be evacuated through the evacuation lumen without the need for an external source of suction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of devices for performing surgical procedures utilizing electrodes for performing electrocautery on a tissue of the body of a patient. The invention includes, in one aspect, a series of devices comprising surgical instruments providing at least one electrode for performing electrocautery, and, in another aspect, provides a method for cutting and cauterizing tissue with a surgical instrument. In yet another aspect, the invention involves a method for detecting the location of a bleeding vessel in a liquid-filled, visually monitored surgical field of a patient and for electrocauterizing the vessel to stop the bleeding before visualization of the surgical field is compromised. Preferred surgical instruments according to the invention also include operable components for forming a liquid cutting jet for cutting or ablating tissue of a patient and/or for providing a rotating, tissue contacting component for cutting, grinding, ablating, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of devices useful for surgical procedures utilizing rotatable components for grinding, cutting, ablating, polishing, drilling, screwing, etc., tissues of the body of a patient. The invention includes, in one aspect, a series of devices comprising surgical instruments including rotatable shafts, and surgical components drivable by the shafts that can be utilized for contact with tissue in a surgical operating field. Some preferred surgical instruments provided by the invention utilize a liquid jet-driven rotor mechanism for driving rotation of the rotatable shaft. Some preferred instruments provided by the invention include both a liquid jet-driven rotor mechanism and a nozzle at the distal end of the instrument for forming a liquid cutting jet for cutting or ablating tissue of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of devices useful for surgical procedures utilizing rotatable components for grinding, cutting, ablating, polishing, drilling, screwing, etc., tissues of the body of a patient. The invention includes, in one aspect, a series of devices comprising surgical instruments including rotatable shafts, and surgical components drivable by the shafts that can be utilized for contact with tissue in a surgical operating field. Some preferred surgical instruments provided by the invention utilize a liquid jet-driven rotor mechanism for driving rotation of the rotatable shaft. Some preferred instruments provided by the invention include both a liquid jet-driven rotor mechanism and a nozzle at the distal end of the instrument for forming a liquid cutting jet for cutting or ablating tissue of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a series of devices for performing surgical procedures utilizing electrodes for performing electrocautery on a tissue of the body of a patient. The invention includes, in one aspect, a series of devices comprising surgical instruments providing at least one electrode for performing electrocautery, and, in another aspect, provides a method for cutting and cauterizing tissue with a surgical instrument. In yet another aspect, the invention involves a method for detecting the location of a bleeding vessel in a liquid-filled, visually monitored surgical field of a patient and for electrocauterizing the vessel to stop the bleeding before visualization of the surgical field is compromised. Preferred surgical instruments according to the invention also include operable components for forming a liquid cutting jet for cutting or ablating tissue of a patient and/or for providing a rotating, tissue contacting component for cutting, grinding, ablating, etc.

Abstract: The invention provides a variety of surgical instruments for forming a liquid jet, which are useful for performing a wide variety of surgical procedures. In some embodiments, the invention provides surgical liquid jet instruments having a pressure lumen and an evacuation lumen, where the pressure lumen includes at least one nozzle for forming a liquid jet and where the evacuation lumen includes a jet-receiving opening for receiving the liquid jet when the instrument is in operation. In some embodiments, the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen of the surgical liquid jet instruments are constructed and positionable relative to each other so that the liquid comprising the liquid jet, and any tissue or material entrained by the liquid jet can be evacuated through the evacuation lumen without the need for an external source of suction.

Abstract: Xenogeneic tissue implants prepared by precrosslinking proteins in xenogeneic tissue using, for example, glutaraldehyde, and thereafter irradiating the crosslinked tissue with high energy radiation, e.g. gamma radiation, to sterilize, reduce the immunogenicity and improve the compliance and physical properties of the tissue are disclosed.