Abstract: In or for a prosthetic knee joint device involving a femoral component having a convexly curved articulation surface, a tibial component (10) having a relatively flattened articulation surface (14), and a meniscal component (20) having two articulation surfaces (21,22) in back-to-back disposition and respectively substantially complementary to, and for mutual engagement with, the femoral and tibial component articulation surfaces: an assembly of tibial and meniscal components including means (30) separably connectable with the tibial component at least partially to bridge the meniscal component to retain their mutual articulatory engagement.

Abstract: In or for a prosthetic knee joint device involving a femoral component having a convexly curved articulation surface a tibial component having a relatively flat articulation surface, and a meniscal component having two articulation surfaces in back-to-back disposition and respectively substantially complementary to, and for mutual engagement with, the femoral and tibial component articulation surfaces: an assembly of tibial and meniscal components including member separably connectable with the tibial component at least partially to bridge the meniscal component to retain their mutual articulatory engagement.

Abstract: An artificial ligament (10) has a bundle of coextensive elongate elements (11) held at their opposite ends in a mutual one-to-one relationship with the relative disposition of the individual elements at one end of the bundle corresponding generally with that at the other end, each element otherwise extending between its ends substantially freely of other elements of the bundle. The elements are suitably held by individual threading through respective perforations of grill members (13) to pass into securement in associated tubes (14). Preferably the bundle has a sheath, wrapping, distinctively coloured element (11a) or other feature to indicate visually the relative rotational disposition of the bundle between its ends.

Abstract: A prosthetic femoral component (40) for the knee joint has a body (41,42) defined between elongate articulation and securement surfaces (43; 44,45), the articulation surface (43) being convexly spherically shaped and the securement surface having major and minor areas at opposite end portions, the major area (44) being essentially concavely spherically concentric with the articulation surface to form a shell body part (41), and the minor area (45) being essentially planar extending chordally of the articulation surface. A bone-penetrating pin (46) preferably extends radially from the major securement surface area in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the neighbouring minor area. A related surgical tool (50) for shaping the femoral condyle has a rotary cutter (52) to provide a cut bone surface complementing the component major area, and a guide spigot (53) projecting adjustably coaxially within the cutter.

Abstract: A prosthetic patellar component is provided which has a fixation part adapted to be secured to the bone of the patella and an articulation part defining a surface for replacing the femoral facet of the natural patella, with these parts being mutually engageable in such a manner as to allow rotation between them about a medio-lateral axis relative to the surface which replaces the femoral facet.

Abstract: A prosthetic femoral component of tricompartmental form has tibial facet surfaces (21) of like spherical shape and a patellar facet groove (31) of circular arcuate longitudinal shape, the latter having a slightly larger radius of curvature than the former, by about 1.2:R, and with the center of curvature (34) of the latter being respectively off-set by about 0.4 R and 0.6 R superiorly and anteriorly relative to those (26) of the former as seen in a lateral aspect.

Abstract: Impact testing apparatus in which a weighted dart is dropped from a prescribed height to penetrate a test specimen when traveling at a desired velocity and level of kinetic energy, the acceleration of the dart being assisted by a spring force in the direction of travel so that the prescribed height is maintained at a minimum for a given desired velocity and the dart being guided to the test specimen by a generally tubular guide within which the dart is loosely fitted. A force transducer is located at the tip of the dart for providing impact force information as the tip penetrates the test specimen.

Abstract: A novel method and a novel apparatus therefor are described for detecting and measuring a predetermined immunochemical substance, for example, an antigen, an antibody, a hapten, or certain low molecular weight substance. The detection and measurement of an immunochemical substance using the method and apparatus of the invention involves providing for the agglutination of a suspension of particles in a sample, or color intensity of solutions by which, using the apparatus of the invention to determine certain electromagnetic radiation properties of the sample, the presence and amount of the immunochemical substance can be determined.

Abstract: An immunoassay based on the agglutination or the agglutination inhibition of a suspension of immunologically coated particles by the sample. Measurements are made with an apparatus having means for providing electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths equal to or less than the mean diameter of the particles and in a range of at least about 100 nm. The apparatus also includes means for measuring, at a predetermined angle, a portion of the radiation transmitted through a cuvette containing the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A utility knife and staple remover in combination, wherein the device comprises a split housing designed to be held in the palm of the hand, whereby a slidable, spring-biased, cutter blade is disposed therein, the blade being arranged to lock in a positive manner in either an extended mode or a retracted mode wherein a coil spring causes full retraction of the blade when released from the locked, extended mode. Secured to the knife housing is a staple remover having a concave/convex, lever-aim member, whereby the staple remover can be rocked from side to side when the prongs thereof are engaged with a fixed staple to be removed from a fixture.