Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument is powered by a pressurized fluid and includes a rotatable shaft connected to a dissection tool. The instrument includes a housing member comprising a one-piece base. A rotor housing chamber is defined by the base, and the rotatable shaft is located in the rotor housing chamber. A first hearing housing is defined by the base, located adjacent the rotor housing chamber, and houses a first bearing that engages the rotatable shaft. A second bearing housing is defined by the base, located on an opposite side of the rotor housing chamber from the first bearing housing, and houses a second bearing that engages the rotatable shaft. A passage is defined by the base and operable to direct a pressurized fluid through the base to the rotor housing chamber in order to rotate the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A blade coupling mechanism for a hand-held surgical cutting instrument includes a first coupling member including a first blade-contacting surface and a first outer perimeter sidewall adjacent the first blade contacting surface. It also includes a second coupling member including a second blade-contacting surface facing the first blade-contacting surface of the first coupling member. The second coupling member includes a second outer perimeter sidewall adjacent the second blade contacting surface. The second blade-contacting surface and the second outer perimeter sidewall meet to define an outer edge. The second coupling member including a bore through the second blade contacting surface. The bore and the second blade contacting surface meeting to define an inner edge. Blade-engaging protrusions project from at least one of the first and second blade-contacting surfaces. The protrusions are spaced closer to the outer edge than the inner edge.

Abstract: A hand-held surgical cutting instrument for cutting bone material with a surgical micro-saw blade has a plurality of openings formed therein. The surgical cutting instrument includes a hand-graspable body for manipulating the cutting instrument and a blade coupling mechanism attached to the body and being configured to attach to the surgical micro-saw blade. The blade coupling mechanism includes a first coupling member including a first blade-contacting surface. The first blade-contacting surface has at least one first protrusion extending therefrom and is configured to engage a first opening in the surgical saw blade. The blade coupling mechanism includes a second coupling member including a second blade-contacting surface facing the first blade-contacting surface of the first coupling member. The second blade-contacting surface having at least one second protrusion extending therefrom and configured to engage a second opening in the surgical saw blade.

Abstract: A blade coupling mechanism for a hand-held surgical cutting instrument includes a first coupling member including a first blade-contacting surface and a first outer perimeter sidewall adjacent the first blade contacting surface. It also includes a second coupling member including a second blade-contacting surface facing the first blade-contacting surface of the first coupling member. The second coupling member includes a second outer perimeter sidewall adjacent the second blade contacting surface. The second blade-contacting surface and the second outer perimeter sidewall meet to define an outer edge. The second coupling member including a bore through the second blade contacting surface. The bore and the second blade contacting surface meeting to define an inner edge. Blade-engaging protrusions project from at least one of the first and second blade-contacting surfaces. The protrusions are spaced closer to the outer edge than the inner edge.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a body, a reservoir, a filter, and a tab. The body is configured to be held in a fixed relationship relative to a stem, wherein the body comprises an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to receive a fluid from a surgical instrument via the stem. The outlet is configured to output a first portion of the fluid from the cartridge. The reservoir is configured to receive the fluid from the inlet. The filter is configured to filter the first portion of the fluid as the first portion of the fluid is directed from the inlet, through the filter, and to the outlet. The tab connected to the body and configured to engage with the stem. The tab is configured to, when the cartridge is moved to disengage from the stem, at least one of break away from the body and become functionally inoperable.

Abstract: A hand-held surgical cutting instrument for cutting bone material with a surgical micro-saw blade has a plurality of openings formed therein. The surgical cutting instrument includes a hand-graspable body for manipulating the cutting instrument and a blade coupling mechanism attached to the body and being configured to attach to the surgical micro-saw blade. The blade coupling mechanism includes a first coupling member including a first blade-contacting surface. The first blade-contacting surface has at least one first protrusion extending therefrom and is configured to engage a first opening in the surgical saw blade. The blade coupling mechanism includes a second coupling member including a second blade-contacting surface facing the first blade-contacting surface of the first coupling member. The second blade-contacting surface having at least one second protrusion extending therefrom and configured to engage a second opening in the surgical saw blade.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument is powered by a pressurized fluid and includes a rotatable shaft connected to a dissection tool. The instrument includes a housing member comprising a one-piece base. A rotor housing chamber is defined by the base, and the rotatable shaft is located in the rotor housing chamber. A first hearing housing is defined by the base, located adjacent the rotor housing chamber, and houses a first bearing that engages the rotatable shaft. A second bearing housing is defined by the base, located on an opposite side of the rotor housing chamber from the first bearing housing, and houses a second bearing that engages the rotatable shaft. A passage is defined by the base and operable to direct a pressurized fluid through the base to the rotor housing chamber in order to rotate the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a body, a reservoir, a filter, and a tab. The body is configured to be held in a fixed relationship relative to a stem, wherein the body comprises an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to receive a fluid from a surgical instrument via the stem. The outlet is configured to output a first portion of the fluid from the cartridge. The reservoir is configured to receive the fluid from the inlet. The filter is configured to filter the first portion of the fluid as the first portion of the fluid is directed from the inlet, through the filter, and to the outlet. The tab connected to the body and configured to engage with the stem. The tab is configured to, when the cartridge is moved to disengage from the stem, at least one of break away from the body and become functionally inoperable.

Abstract: A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.

Abstract: A sound attenuating system is provided for pneumatically powered surgical instruments. In one aspect, the exhaust hose is formed of at least two dissimilar materials to impede the transmission of vibrations or audible noise. In an alternative form, the exhaust hose has proximal and distal portions of dissimilar internal diameters.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool. The cavity may define a drive portion and a tool receiving aperture. One or more alignment projections may extend from the drive portion into the tool receiving aperture.

Abstract: A sound attenuating system is provided for pneumatically powered surgical instruments. In one aspect, the exhaust hose is formed of at least two dissimilar materials to impede the transmission of vibrations or audible noise. In an alternative form, the exhaust hose has proximal and distal portions of dissimilar internal diameters.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument includes a motor assembly, a collet, a locking nut, and an attachment. The motor assembly includes a cavity having a groove on an inner surface that corresponds to a groove on an outer surface of the collet. The corresponding grooves form an aperture when the collet is inserted into the cavity. The insertion of a pin into the aperture prevents rotation of the collet relative to the cavity. The locking nut is placed over the collet and fastened to the motor assembly to secure the collet to the motor assembly. The attachment is fastened to the collet by placing protuberances on the attachment into corresponding apertures on the collet. The consistent alignment provided by the locking and indexing system enables the motor assembly and attachment to receive alignment markings before the surgical instrument is assembled.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument includes a motor assembly, a collet, a locking nut, and an attachment. The motor assembly includes a cavity having a groove on an inner surface that corresponds to a groove on an outer surface of the collet. The corresponding grooves form an aperture when the collet is inserted into the cavity. The insertion of a pin into the aperture prevents rotation of the collet relative to the cavity. The locking nut is placed over the collet and fastened to the motor assembly to secure the collet to the motor assembly. The attachment is fastened to the collet by placing protuberances on the attachment into corresponding apertures on the collet. The consistent alignment provided by the locking and indexing system enables the motor assembly and attachment to receive alignment markings before the surgical instrument is assembled.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument includes a motor assembly, a collet, a locking nut, and an attachment. The motor assembly includes a cavity having a groove on an inner surface that corresponds to a groove on an outer surface of the collet. The corresponding grooves form an aperture when the collet is inserted into the cavity. The insertion of a pin into the aperture prevents rotation of the collet relative to the cavity. The locking nut is placed over the collet and fastened to the motor assembly to secure the collet to the motor assembly. The attachment is fastened to the collet by placing protuberances on the attachment into corresponding apertures on the collet. The consistent alignment provided by the locking and indexing system enables the motor assembly and attachment to receive alignment markings before the surgical instrument is assembled.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool. The cavity may define a drive portion and a tool receiving aperture. One or more alignment projections may extend from the drive portion into the tool receiving aperture.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the dissection of bone and other tissue includes a spindle, a dissection tool and a male member carried by the spindle. The spindle includes a cavity. The dissection tool is releasably received in the cavity. The dissection tool extends along an axis and includes a first end and a second end with the first end having a cutting element and a second end having a generally cylindrical cross-section and a centrally located aperture partially extending along the axis. The male member is carried by the spindle and extends into the aperture of the dissection tool.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a motor which rotates a tubular shaft about an axis. The shaft drives an implement and has an aperture which contains a ball. When the implement is installed, the ball extends through the aperture to engage the implement and lock it in. The tool has an actuation sleeve which is axially movable between locked and released positions for engaging and disengaging the ball to the implement. The actuation sleeve has an axial slot and a safety sleeve located radially outward from the actuation sleeve. The safety sleeve has a pin which extends radially inward and a cylinder extending radially outward. The cylinder contains a ball which is biased inward. The outer surface of the tool has a pair of detents for receiving the ball. The safety sleeve has locked and unlocked positions. In the unlocked position, the pin is aligned with the slot and the ball engages the first detent to permit the actuation sleeve to move between the locked and released positions.

Abstract: A pneumatic surgical tool for cutting bone during surgical procedures includes a pneumatic motor having a rotary shaft, a resecting tool having a cutting element rotated by the motor, a sleeve to surround and support the resecting tool, anti-friction bearings for further rotatably supporting the resecting tool, and a chuck for connecting the resecting tool to a spindle of the rotary shaft. The motor housing, rotor, spindle, and chuck are created from titanium. The bore of the housing and the cutting tip of the resecting tool have thin hard metal cases, such as titanium nitride, titanium aluminum nitride, or titanium carbon nitride.