Abstract: A method for fixing a portion of a piece of tissue in a bone tunnel comprising the steps of placing the portion of a piece of tissue in the bone tunnel, advancing spaced-apart first and second metal wires though the bone, transversely of the bone tunnel, so as to intersect the bone tunnel and extend into the portion of a piece of tissue, removing one of the wires and replacing the one removed wire with a first rod, and removing the other of the wires and replacing the other removed wire with a second rod, whereby to retain the portion of a piece of tissue in the bone tunnel with the rods.

Abstract: A method and technique for verifying bus protocol in the design of integrated circuits. A correctness evaluator receives simulation results from a monitor file and prediction information generated from protocol templates. The correctness evaluator operates according to a "clean bus" theory that an error includes those events not specified by the circuit specification, including spurious transitions. Protocol templates define the elements within the circuit, and are provided to a prediction generator which creates a prediction file. The correctness evaluator compares a simulation monitor file to the prediction file, and outputs a pass or fail result. The present invention offers a flexible method to separate protocol-defined timing constraints from implementation-dependent timing constraints. The present invention allows input from a test program to tailor bus signal change predictions and verify that the test program performs as it is programmed to perform.

Abstract: A structure anchor assembly having a suture anchor, a suture attached to the suture anchor, and an inserter for deploying the suture anchor in bone whereby the suture will extend from, and be anchored to, the bone. The suture anchor has a drill portion, a thread portion and a suture attachment portion. The drill portion is disposed on a distal portion of the anchor and is adapted to penetrate the bone. The thread portion extends proximally from the drill portion along the remainder of the length of the anchor and is adapted to draw the anchor through the bone. A proximal portion terminates in a proximal end surface. The thread portion extends along the proximal portion and terminates adjacent to the proximal end surface.

Abstract: A graft ligament anchor comprises a graft ligament engagement member disposed in an opening in a bone, the graft ligament engagement member being arranged to receive a graft ligament alongside the engagement member, and a locking member for disposition in the opening, and at least in part engageable with the graft ligament engagement member. Movement of the locking member in the opening causes the locking member to urge the engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening, to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening.

Abstract: A method for fixing a bone block in a bone tunnel comprising the steps of placing the bone block in the bone tunnel, advancing spaced-apart first and second metal wires through the bone, transversely of the bone tunnel, so as to intersect the bone block and extend through the bone block, removing one of the wires and replacing the one removed wire with a first absorbable rod, and removing the other of the wires and replacing the other removed wire with a second absorbable rod, whereby to retain the bone block in the bone tunnel with the absorbable rods.

Abstract: A modular surgical drill in the form of a rigid drill shaft and a drill bit which are connected together at the rear end of the drill bit and the forward end of the drill shaft by a tongue-and-groove arrangement. Each of the shaft and drill bit are provided with through bores extending centrally through their entire length. These bores become aligned upon assembly of the drill bit and shaft. The modular drill is intended to be employed with a guidewire for drilling holes into bone. The assembled drill bit and shaft are placed on the guidewire and moved down such guidewire into contact with the bone, whereupon a tunnel may be formed into the bone by rotating and advancing the drill bit along the guidewire. The dimensions of the bore and guidewire are so selected as to prevent the drill bit and drill shaft from moving relative to one another once they are assembled and mounted upon the guidewire.

Abstract: A modular surgical drill in the form of a rigid drill shaft and a drill bit which are connected together at the rear end of the drill bit and the forward end of the drill shaft by a tongue-and-groove arrangement. Each of the shaft and drill bit are provided with through bores extending centrally through their entire length. These bores become aligned upon assembly of the drill bit and shaft. The modular drill is intended to be employed with a guidewire for drilling holes into bone. The assembled drill bit and shaft are placed on the guidewire and moved down such guidewire into contact with the bone, whereupon a tunnel may be formed into the bone by rotating and advancing the drill bit along the guidewire. The dimensions of the bore and guidewire are so selected as to prevent the drill bit and drill shaft from moving relative to one another once they are assembled and mounted upon the guidewire.

Abstract: An improved drill guide device is provided for accurately drilling a passageway through bone. The drill guide comprises a support, a curved radial rack, a locator boom movably disposed on the curved radial rack, a drill sleeve and an indexing mechanism. The drill sleeve may be discretely indexed toward the target bone and locked/unlocked in position with a single handed operation.

Abstract: An improved anchoring device for use in bone holes, bone tunnels and other assorted workpieces, and being particularly compatible with fabrication from both polymeric and bioabsorbable materials. The improved anchoring device has novel fastening means which permit the anchor to be fastened within a bone hole or bone tunnel while minimizing the stress induced on the body of the anchor during installation.

Abstract: An anchor for attaching an object to a bone-like structure, and a method for deploying the same. The anchor includes a body and a plurality of barbs. The barbs are located in axially aligned, circumferentially spaced relation to each other about the body. Each barb is elastically deformable, and has a normal configuration which extends rearwardly and radially outwardly from the body to an outer end which is located outside of a longitudinal projection of the largest geometric cross-section of the body, as taken transverse to its longitudinal axis. A bore extends transversely through the front portion of the body and is adapted to receive a length of cord-like material, whereby the anchor may be pulled along a bone tunnel. An opening extends transversely through the rear portion of the body and is adapted for connecting the object to the anchor. A slot or interior passageway extends from the front of the anchor to the opening, so as to provide frontal access to the opening.

Abstract: An anchor for attaching an object to a bone-like structure, and a method for deploying same is provided. The anchor includes a body and a plurality of barbs. The barbs are located in axially aligned, circumferentially spaced relation to each other about the body. Each barb is elastically deformable, and has a normal configuration which extends rearwardly and radially outwardly from the body to an outer end located outside a longitudinal projection of the largest geometric cross-section of the body transverse to its longitudinal axis. A bore for engagement by a length of cord-like material extends through the front portion of the body. An opening oriented perpendicularly to the bore extends through the rear portion of the body. A longitudinal slot aligned with the opening connects the front end of the body to the opening.

Abstract: A suture retaining device in the form of a frusto-conical button having parallel upper and lower planar surfaces which are connected together by a conical surface. The button is provided with a recessed chamber for substantially completely accommodating one or more suture knots. At least one hole is formed in the button leading from the recessed chamber to the lower planar surface, and at least one hole is formed in said button leading from the recessed chamber to the conical surface.

Abstract: The ratio air and fuel mixture delivered to the fueled cylinders of an engine of a vehicle is controlled while selective cylinders of the engine are unfueled to reduce engine torque output to inhibit excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration. The air/fuel ratio of the mixture delivered to the fueled cylinders is increased as cylinders are selectively unfueled to reduce engine torque output and power enrichment to the fueled cylinders is inhibited when any cylinders are unfueled to reduce engine torque output for traction control and for a time period after all cylinders are again fueled.

Abstract: In a transversely mounted engine, oil intake efficiency is improved by a sloped baffle which funnels the returning engine oil to the oil intake in the oil pan, a small clearance between the baffle and the pan to retard oil surge beyond the baffle, a dam adjacent the oil intake port to inhibit the formation of a vortex that draws air into the port, and optimum placement of the intake in the pan.

Abstract: An engine control normally effective for regulating the fuel and spark timing to provide substantially optimum engine performance. Periods of heavy operator loading are identified and integrated over time to define engine operating conditions for which engine protection concerns predominate. At such time, the normal controls are overriden to operate the engine at a reduced performance level, thereby to protect the engine from preignition damage.