Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for inserting a fiducial marker. It comprises a housing and guide assembly, an obturator assembly, a drill for forming a bore hole at an implantation site, and a marker inserter for inserting a marker into the bore hole. The housing and guide assembly comprise a cylindrical housing having a bore provided therein, and a guide tube that is disposed and shiftable within the bore of the housing. The obturator assembly, drill and marker inserter are insertable in the distal end of the guide tube and shiftable therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for inserting a fiducial marker. It comprises a housing and guide assembly, an obturator assembly, a drill for forming a bore hole at an implantation site, and a marker inserter for inserting a marker into the bore hole. The housing and guide assembly comprise a cylindrical housing having a bore provided therein, and a guide tube that is disposed and shiftable within the bore of the housing. The obturator assembly, drill and marker inserter are insertable in the distal end of the guide tube and shiftable therein.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for forceps including first latch portion on one forcep handle and a second latch portion on the other forceps handle and a bias spring for placing the handles, and thus the jaws, in a first predetermined spacing. The first latch portion has a cam surface, a shelf and a slot. The second latch portion has a transverse projection which engages the cam surface as the handles close and then engages the shelf and upon further closing of the handles and then springs through the slot to disengage the latching mechanism and return the handles to the original position controlled by the bias spring. The first position allows a surgical assistant to load an aneurysm clip into the jaws of the forceps. The second predetermined position allows the surgical assistant to partially close the handles sufficient to hold the aneurysm clip firmly in place. The surgeon then takes the forcep and inserts the aneurysm clip by further closing the handles and releases the latching mechanism by relaxing the grip.

Abstract: A low wear bearing system for a surgical retractor including usually four bearings recessed in the retractor housing, each bearing having a generally rectangular projection extending into a corresponding slot in the rack of the rack and pinion type retractor. There are two bearings on each side of the rack spaced longitudinally along the rack. The bearings provide an enlarged buffer area of contact between the rack and the housing to distribute the relatively high internal retraction forces that can be experienced during tissue retraction.

Abstract: A rongeur with special features applied to the footplate area to prevent the intersection of stress fields to allow the rongeur to be reduced in size and mass without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur. A transverse groove is used at the intersection of the anvil surface of the base plate and the shank base plane. Also the base of the footplate recess is offset from the shank base plane and the inside wall of the recess meets the recess base in a gentle curve. These features can be used individually or together to prevent the intersection of stress fields in the footplate area and thus allow the size of the footplate to be reduced without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur.

Abstract: A torsion spring with a coil portion having extensions extending from the ends of the coil for receiving forces for torquing the spring. The spring provides a more balanced stress distribution about the coil which in the preferred embodiment include a region of increased cross-sectional area on one side of the coil and a region of decreased cross-sectional area across the coil from the region of increased cross-sectional area and smooth contouring of the coil between these two regions. A particular use of the torsion spring of the present invention is in a torsion spring-type aneurysm clip for providing more uniform stress distributions about the coil portion of the aneurysm clip and for permitting the aneursym clip to open wider so that it may be used on larger aneurysms.

Abstract: An endoscope insertion cannula assembly including an endoscope housing and axially projecting body having an endoscope tip. An adapter is affixed about the endoscope housing, and a guide is affixed about the adapter. A spring and a seal are also affixed about the adapter. The endoscope instrument, together with the associated adapter, spring and guide, are inserted into a cannula housing. A pin on the inside of the cannula housing interacts with an angled slot on the distal surface of the guide to rotate the endoscope instrument into its proper rotational orientation. A hole in a cam surface of the spring then receives the pin on the inside of the cannula housing to control the axial orientation of the tip of the endoscope instrument with respect to the tip of the cannula tube.

Abstract: A pressure regulated system for an irrigation system including a reservoir of irrigation fluid, a pump, catheters for providing access to and egress from the irrigation site and a pressure regulation circuit, all connected in series with one another. The pressure regulation circuit includes a flow restriction branch having a normally-open valve and a variable orifice, diaphragm-operated, restrictor and a pressure accumulation branch, having a check valve, accumulator, and a normally-closed valve. A conduit running from the pressure accumulation branch to the diaphragm controls the pressure regulator. The operator may raise the pressure by closing the normally-open valve to direct pump flow to the pressure accumulation branch and thereby restrict the orifice of the pressure regulator until the desired pressure has been reached, and then releases the valve to maintain that pressure.

Abstract: A cannula including a guide and a cam housing rotatably supported about the guide into which a trocar obtuator and an endoscopy instrument may be inserted. A tapered proximal surface of the guide and a cooperating pin on the instrument rotate the instrument into proper rotational alignment. An axial slot extending from the distal end of the taper and a cooperating axial slot in the cam housing are aligned so that as the pin continues to slide axially into the cannula, the pin will interfere with a cam surface projecting from the side of the cam housing wall to rotate the cam housing out of the way as the pin proceeds further down the slot until the pin drops behind the cam surface into a pin retaining area. Thus, the instrument may be easily slid into the cannula, and through the action of the cam housing and guide, is held in proper axial, rotational and sealing alignment.