Abstract: A fully conformable, full contact orthopedic cast is shown for an affected area of a patient such as a limb or appendage requiring immobilization. A method for installing the cast on a patient is also shown. The cast includes an initially flexible bladder which is filled with a curable compound. The bladder may be conformably installed on the limb to be immobilized. Once the bladder is conformed to the limb, the curable compound is cured, as by the use of LED light, or UV-irradiation. The cast is easy to remove simply by unzipping a cross-linked closure strip, eliminating the need to use a saw to remove the cast.

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 chuck sleeve to surround and support the resecting tool, and anti-friction bearings for further rotatably supporting the resecting tool. The rotor and chuck sleeve are formed of an electrically nonconductive material. The resecting tool is formed of titanium. The bearings are formed of a ceramic, composite or plastic material.

Abstract: A disposable irrigation device for a motorized surgical tool comprises a cannula with a cylindrical clip bonded near one end. The clip has a C-shaped cross-section with a slot. Both the cannula and the clip are formed from malleable material which may be manually formed into a resilient desired shape. The surgical tool has a rotatable tool implement extending from a cylindrical guide member. The device is attached to the tool by inserting the guide member into the clip so that one end of the cannula is located near the implement. The malleable clip clamps around and frictionally engages the guide member. The malleable cannula may be bent to precisely direct the flow of irrigation fluid relative to the implement. For implements of greater length, the device may be inverted and attached in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A surgical tool for resecting bone has a pneumatic motor within a tool body which rotates a coaxial tool implement. The tool implement is provided with irrigation fluid from a fluid reservoir. The reservoir and the motor are charged with pressurized air from a pressurized air source. A fluid control valve is located between the reservoir and the tool, and an air control valve is located between the air pressure source and the motor. The air control valve is controlled by a variable foot pedal or hand valve so that the speed of the motor is variably actuated by the foot valve.

Abstract: A surgical resection tool of the type having a rotary motor, a dissecting tool and a bearing tube is provided with dual quick releases for quickly releasing and latching dissecting tools and bearing tubes to expedite tooling changes during surgical procedures. The surgical resection tool preferably has a canted centerline in which the centerline for the rotary motor is canted with respect to the centerline for the dissecting tool and the bearing tube to provide an ergonomic shape for holding the resection tool. In a preferred embodiment, the two quick releases are provided by collet type latches having latching balls and slidable sleeves. The slidable sleeves are coupled together for selectively moving to a latching position where latching balls are pressed into grooves formed into dissecting tools and bearing tubes to latch a dissecting tool and a bearing tube into the resection tool.

Abstract: A surgical tool for resecting bone includes a pneumatic motor to which a bearing tube is secured for rotatably supporting a resecting tool. The bearing tube is eccentrically disposed within an attachment tube, with a flow channel defined between an interior of the attachment tube and an exterior of the bearing tube. Irrigation fluid is passed through the flow channel to maintain a constant flow of irrigation fluid about a cutting end of the resecting tool. Optical fibers extend within the attachment tube for passing light to lenses disposed at the specimen end of the attachment tube for providing illumination. At least one optical fiber extends from a lens at the specimen end, through the attachment tube, and to an optical viewer for providing a means for inspecting the bone being resected. The attachment tube is slidably adjustable along the bearing tube for selecting a distance between the specimen end of the attachment tube and the cutting end of the resecting tool.