Abstract: A rongeur surgical instrument having an offset bayonet portion for allowing microscopic visualization of an operating field. The rongeur instrument is designed with a composite shank member that includes an offset bayonet portion that interconnects a proximate shank portion to a distal shank portion. The offset bayonet portion on the rongeur facilitates operating microscope dependent operative procedures, such as microscopic osseous dissections. The offset bayonet structure maintains the mechanical objective of actuating the bite-end of the rongeur via angled shank portions on the stationary and movable shank members of the rongeur. The offset bayonet structure is applied to a curette surgical instrument for allowing microscopic visualization of an operating field when using this type of instrument.

Abstract: An intracranial probe to monitor both intracranial pressure and blood flow by thermal diffusion and hydrogen clearance techniques. The probe includes a casing or housing having internal bore which houses a reciprocal piston. The casing is provided with pressure port for commuting pressure to a remote pressure monitor. A pair of platinum or platinum alloy plates are associated with the two terminal integrated circuit which produces an output current proportional to the absolute temperature of the probe contact plate with which temperature transducer is associated. One temperature transducer monitors the temperature of the cold plate of the probe and the other monitors that of the hot plate. The signals are processed at a differentially amplified and fed to a monitor. In addition, the current generated by the platinum contact plates provides an input to a hydrogen clearance monitor to simultaneously determine blood flow by this technique.