Abstract: An arthroscope cannula including inner and outer intimately engaged concentric tubes with the inner tube having a longitudinally extending wall depression defining, in conjunction with the outer tube, a pressure passage. The inner tube receives the scope which is restrained therein by the wall depression to define an inflow fluid passage. The outer tube is selectively removable from about the inner tube with both tubes mounting on and projecting from a flow controlling and directing bridge assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated surgical instrument comprising a jaw assembly including a hollow tubular outer elongate member with a first jaw member fixed to and generally radially projecting from its first end; and an inner elongated member within and extending from the first end of the outer elongate member and having a second jaw member fixed to and generally radially projecting from its end adjacent the first jaw member. The jaw assembly is mounted on a frame of the instrument with the first and second jaw members in opposed relationship and can be manually rotated about its axis relative to the frame and releasably locked in a desired position. Manual squeezing of a trigger causes movement of the jaw members between open and closed positions through a hydraulic system which limits the maximum pressure that can be applied between the jaw members.

Abstract: A tubing set, the major portions of which are defined from a trilumen section of tubing, comprises three lines including an inflow line, an outflow line and a pressure sensing line. The inflow line includes a header portion engageable about the rollers of a peristaltic pump, a delivery tube mounting a male luer fitting for engagement with a patient cannula, and a pair of clampable supply tubes with bag spikes for communication with saline bags. The pressure sensing line includes a pressure transmitting elongate tubular diaphragm mounted within a fluid chamber directly adjacent the patient end of the line. The pressure transmitting diaphragm communicates with an elongate dry or air tube which, at the remote end, communicates with an appropriate pump-mounted pressure transducer or the like.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a reusable handle and a removable sheathed blade assembly comprising an elongate sheath with a plurality of elongate surgical blades longitudinally received within said sheath and selectively projectable therefrom along guided paths for exposure of the working heads of the blades. The working heads define, respectively, a cutting head and a gripping head. The sheathed assembly is introduced an operating site whereat the gripping head is exposed and engaged with tissue to be cut. The cutting head is subsequently moved into cutting engagement with the gripped tissue, after which both blades are retracted into the sheath and the sheathed blades removed from the operating site.

Abstract: An irrigation system for use in arthroscopic surgery including a variable RPM pump for introducing irrigation fluid from a fluid supply to a body irrigation site, a pressure control valve in the outflow from the irrigation site, a pressure sensor and associated controller for sensing pressure at the site and adjusting the pressure control valve for maintenance of the pressure within predetermined parameters, an override controller responsive to an inability to maintain pressure within the set parameters and responsive thereto to vary the flow rate of the pump, and associated display and signal components. The flow rate and pressure are individually and independently controllable.