Abstract: A vertebral prosthesis locates between vertebral bodies of a human body. The prosthesis has tubular inner and outer bodies that telescope relative to each other. Each body has a platform on its end. The platform secures to adjacent vertebral bodies. Sharp pins on the platform pierce the vertebral bodies to stabilize the prosthesis. A bracket slides laterally and secures by screws to sides of the vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A device for resecting a bone utilizes a pattern to control the cutting tip for the resection. The device has a frame with a pattern holder and a bone holder. A tool holder mounts to the frame by means of a four bar linkage assembly. The tool holder has a cutting tool and a probe mounted to it. The four bar linkage allows three-dimensional movement of the tool holder, but constrains the tool holder to always be in parallel with a line extending through the pattern holder and bone holder.

Abstract: An instrument includes a main housing, carrying laterally adjustable eyepieces, and a probe housing which is connected to the main housing by means of a flexible joint or coupler. This flexible joint allows relative articulation and rotation of the two housings, and is provided with locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the joint. The joint area is enclosed with a liquid sealing boot; and operation levers for the lock may be actuated through the boot. The optics include left and right proximal lens systems disposed in respective eyepieces, distal left and right lens systems disposed at the distal end of the probe housing, and inter-connecting elongated flexible image conducting fiber bundles which pass through the flexible coupling. The distal lens systems are mounted with their optical axes converging toward each other to enable depth perception of the area to be viewed.

Abstract: An instrument includes a main housing, carrying laterally adjustable eyepieces, and a probe housing which is connected to the main housing by means of a flexible joint or coupler. This flexible joint allows relative articulation and rotation of the two housings, and is provided with locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the joint. The joint area is enclosed with a liquid sealing boot; and operating levers for the lock may be actuated through the boot. The optics include left and right proximal lens systems disposed in respective eyepieces, distal left and right lens systems disposed at the distal end of the probe housing, and inter-connecting elongated flexible image conducting fiber bundles which pass through the flexible coupling. The distal lens systems are mounted with their optical axes converging toward each other to enable depth perception of the area to be viewed.

Abstract: A drill assembly includes a handle carrying a mount for a pneumatic drill motor, and an elongated tubular support enclosing an extended motor shaft which carries a drill bit chuck projecting from the end of that support. The drill assembly coacts with a drill guide assembly including an elongated tubular guide for receiving the tubular support in sliding relation, and having a rotary bearing at its lower end for rotationally supporting the drill bit. The lower end face is concave to enable seating on the prosthesis tip to be drilled. The drill guide assembly includes an offset handle and a stop clamp and depth gauge for coaction with the drill assembly handle to control the depth of drilling.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus for attachment to a rotary motor includes a flexible shaft confined in an elongated tubular sheath. The sheath is formed from a semi-rigid material which is bendable to a desired curvature, at the use site to select the curvature of the drilled hole, and which is rigid enough to retain that curvature in use. A drilling bit is fixed to one end of the flexible shaft, and includes a shank coacting with the distal end of the sheath to rotationally guide the drilling bit. The flexible shaft projects from the sheath at the proximal end so that both components may be secured to a drilling motor which is manipulated to guide the sheath while rotating the cutting bit. The sheath may remain in the drilled hole temporarily as a liner to guide the passage therethrough of a relatively stiff wire or other filamentary member.

Abstract: An elongated dissecting tool adapted to be driven by a rotary motor is confined within an elongated tool guide which is attached to the rotary motor. A tool is coupled to the motor by means of a suitable chuck; and the tool guide includes bearings for rotationally supporting the elongated dissecting tool. The dissecting tool includes a specially engineered cutting tip at its distal end having at least one longitudinal cutting edge; and this tip is partially enclosed within a shroud formed at the distal end of the guide. The shroud provides an opening for access of the cutting tip to the tissue to be dissected protects adjacent anatomical structures from inadvertent injury, and provides a cutting edge coacting with the cutting edge of the cutting tip for the dissection of soft tissue.

Abstract: A drill assembly includes a handle carrying a mount for a pneumatic drill motor, and an elongated tubular support enclosing an extended motor shaft which carries a drill bit chuck projecting from the end of that support. The drill assembly coacts with a drill guide assembly including an elongated tubular guide for receiving the tubular support in sliding relation, and having a rotary bearing at its lower end for rotationally supporting the drill bit. The lower end face is concave to enable seating on the prosthesis tip to be drilled. The drill guide assembly includes an offset handle and a stop clamp and depth gauge for coaction with the drill assembly handle to control the depth of drilling. An extractor assembly, for coaction with an undercut drilled hole in the prosthesis, includes an extractor having an externally threaded body and a tubular internally threaded T handle for that body. The body includes an axial shaft to be received in the hole with a lateral toe at the distal end defining a ledge.