Abstract: An articular cartilage harvesting knife is disclosed which includes a rod having an elongated slot adjacent a distal end of the rod, the slot having a major axis lying substantially along the rod's longitudinal axis. An opening is provided in a sidewall of the rod which communicates with the slot. The proximal end of the opening defines a rearwardly extending inclined plane within the rod and an edge on the outer surface of the sidewall which, when sharpened, defines a cutting edge. When cutting edge is advanced under pressure along cartilage, the cartilage is stripped and moves into the slot and opening. In one embodiment of the invention the rod is hollowed so that stripped cartilage can be drawn from the slot and opening by suction.

Abstract: A rotatable retractor instrument for expanding a body joint is disclosed. A flattened portion is provided at the distal end of the instrument. With the flattened portion inserted within the joint, rotation of a handle at the instrument's proximal end spreads the joint.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a centered bore within an intramedullary canal of a femur in preparation for the implantation of a prosthetic device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elongated rigid rod having a handle adjacent its proximal end. The rod includes outwardly projecting fins at its distal end adapted to engage the interior wall of the cortex of the femur, thus centering the bore. Additionally, the rod has a hollow interior which permit suction to be applied to rod's proximal end.

Abstract: Instrumentation for preparing a femur for implantation of a prothesis therein, the femur including a femoral shaft having a femoral canal therein defined by sidewalls, the prosthesis being constructed and arranged to be received within the femoral canal, the instrumentation including: at least one initial compactor instrument having a proximal portion and a distal broach portion, the broach portion being adapted to conform substantially to a proximal end of the femoral canal so as to compact bone in the sidewalls thereof without intentionally removing bone from the femoral canal; a second type of compactor instrument having a proximal portion and a distal broach portion, the secondary compactor instrument portion being constructed and arranged to conform substantially to the shape of the prosthesis so as to further compact bone in the sidewalls of the proximal end of the femoral canal such that the compacted sidewalls conform substantially to the shape of the prosthesis; and a final type of compactor instrume

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a centered bore within an intramedullary canal of a femur in preparation for the implantation of a prosthetic device. The apparatus comprises a substantially T-shaped device formed from a handle and an elongated rigid rod. The rod includes outwardly projecting fins at its distal end adapted to engage the interior wall of the cortex of the femur, thus centering the bore. The method includes preparing the femur for implantation by exposing the femoral neck and then inserting the rod into the intramedullary canal until the fins engage the cortex. If a device has a pair of fins disposed on the rod at 180.degree. relative to one another, the device is withdrawn, rotated ninety degrees, and reinserted into the intramedullary canal, again allowing the fins to engage the cortex. Once the bore is formed, it is used to guide compacting devices which shape and size a cavity within the femur to receive the prosthesis.

Abstract: A method for attaching an object to bone that includes the steps of preparing an elongated channel in the bone, inserting a fixation device into the channel such that a first axis of the fixation device is generally parallel to the channel, and rotating the fixation device in a rotation plane that is generally parallel to the surface of the bone such that at least a portion of the fixation device is positioned under bone tissue. Fixation devices used in this method include a suture anchor having an elongated body or a dumbbell-shaped body.

Abstract: A bone surface is initially shaped to conform with a surface of an artificial joint prosthesis. At least one leg projects from said surface of the prosthesis, the leg having a major axis extending substantially parallel said surface and being tapered so as to snugly fit within a substantially corresponding configured channel formed in the bone adjacent its shaped surface.

Abstract: A bore is provided in bone, the bore communicating with a slot provided in the bone's cortical layer and with a channel of larger size than the slot located in cancellous bone below the slot. The slot overlays the channel and is in communication therewith. A length of suture is knotted to a size greater than the width of the slot, and the knot is introduced to the channel via the bore. The remainder of the suture is passed through the slot whereby the length of suture is anchored in the bone. Instead of knotting the suture, it can be attached to a bead having a diameter greater than the width of the slot, the bead being received within the channel to again anchor the suture.

Abstract: A knee extension device and method for using same for rehabilitating an injured knee by gradually extending the knee into a straightened position is disclosed. The knee extension device includes an elongated body member, a lower leg support member attached to the body member, and pressure applying strap capable of being wrapped around the body member. A leg is positioned on the body member with the lower portion of the leg resting on the support member. Pressure is selectively applied to the leg using the pressure applying strap to gradually force the knee towards a straightened position.

Abstract: A surgical device is provided for anchoring suture into bone. The device includes a threaded portion having rounded exterior thread edges. An aperture for carrying suture passes through the threaded portion at a location intermediate the ends of the threaded position, the aperture extending in a direction substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the device. When the device is inserted within a cavity in the bone having a threaded sidewall, the suture is compressed between the threads of the device and the sidewall.

Abstract: A prosthesis for an artificial joint is provided with an interior passage which communicates with the joint area so that fluid from the joint circulates through the passage. Wear particles carried by fluid are deposited by gravity within the passage. Alternatively, a particle collecting filter is positioned in the passage, or in the case of a prosthesis formed from a magnetizable metal, a portion of the passage wall is magnetized to collect metal wear particles.

Abstract: A method for attaching an object to bone that includes the steps of preparing an elongated channel in the bone, inserting a fixation device into the channel such that a first axis of the fixation device is generally parallel to the channel, and rotating the fixation device in a rotation plane that is generally parallel to the surface of the bone such that at least a portion of the fixation device is positioned under bone tissue. Fixation devices used in this method include a suture anchor having an elongated body or a dumbbell-shaped body. Another suitable fixation device used has an elongated body including a first side and a second side. A plurality of teeth are provided on the first and second sides and protruding portions extend from a distal end of the body for holding tissue to the bone when the fixation device is rotated within the channel.

Abstract: A biological replacement ligament is provided which includes a compressible core and a separate flexible outer sheath having a first end, a second end, and a generally tubular intermediate portion. The intermediate portion surrounds the compressible core, whereby the application of tension between the first and second ends causes the intermediate portion to constrict upon the compressible core thereby allowing elongation of the ligament to modulate the tension between the first and second ends. The amount of elongation and tension modulation is primarily determined by the compressibility of the core.

Abstract: A suture anchor to secure a suture within a bore in a bone is disclosed, together with a suture anchor installation tool and method for deploying the suture anchor using the installation tool. The anchor includes a cylindrical body portion integrally associated with a generally conical-shaped end portion. At least one slot extends from the apex of the conical-shaped end portion into the cylindrical body portion forming at least two deformable tines. The tines flex toward one another as the anchor is inserted into the bore and are sufficiently resilient so as seek to return to an undeformed position once in the bone. The tines include outer edges disposed at the base of the conical-shaped end portions for preventing the suture anchor from being pulled out of the bore. The suture anchor installation tool includes an insertion member having an elongated body with a hollow interior sized so as to accommodate the suture anchor therein.

Abstract: A shoulder brace is provided with two support members each attached at one of its ends to a belt of adjustable length worn about the torso of the user. The support members extend diagonally upwardly across opposite sides of the body whereby their opposite ends are positioned outwardly and above the user's torso. The support members pass through a sleeve adapted to rest on the shoulder of an arm to be supported by the brace. The respective opposite ends of the support members are joined to a support bar from which an arm-receiving sleeve is suspended. By adjustment of the lengths of the support members and by selective bending of said members, the shoulder brace is adapted to fit different body sizes and to suspend the user's arm in a desired position.

Abstract: A screw for fixation of a tendon/bone graft during an arthroscopic surgical procedure includes a smooth conical forward end having a rounded tip and a spiral thread running from a position behind the smooth rounded forward end to a rearward end of the screw. The depth of the thread is shallower than a conventional screw and the exterior edge of the thread is rounded to decrease cutting and fragmentation of the tendon and bone. The screw includes an internal bore with left- and right-handed threaded portions for engagement with insertion and extraction instruments. In the method, the bone graft is harvested and sized as desired. A graft socket is drilled in the bone and then serially sized with increasingly larger sizing instruments to compact the bone and size the graft socket to the graft. A smooth bore screw socket is created by serially dilating a space between the graft and graft socket with increasingly larger dilating instruments, thereby also compacting the graft.

Abstract: A testing device for medical use is provided which includes a cylindrical tube provided with spaced apertures in its wall. When a body part of a patient is positioned adjacent one end of the tube and a ball is dropped onto the body part from various heights by being introduced through the spaced apertures, the level of pain recognized by the patient in response to each impact of the ball on the body part is used as to profile the patient's pain tolerance.

Abstract: A drill bit is provided that is constructed and arranged to form a bore in a bone by cutting and moving bone fragments to a wall of the bore. The drill bit includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion has a constant diameter. A cutting tip is defined at the free end of the distal portion. A segment of the distal portion has transverse cross-sectional area less than that of the proximal portion. The distal portion segment also includes a surface to facilitate movement of the bone fragments towards the proximal portion of the shaft. When the drill bit enters the bone so as to form the bore and is moved an amount such that the distal portion is disclosed completely within the bore, a space is defined between the wall of the bore and a periphery of the segment of the distal portion which receives the bone fragments.

Abstract: A shoulder brace is provided with two support members each attached at one of its ends to a belt of adjustable length worn about the torso of the user. The support members extend diagonally upwardly across opposite sides of the body whereby their opposite ends are positioned outwardly and above the user's torso. The support members pass through a sleeve adapted to rest on the shoulder of an arm to be supported by the brace. The respective opposite ends of the support members are joined to a support bar from which an arm-receiving sleeve is suspended. By adjustment of the lengths of the support members and by selective bending of said members, the shoulder brace is adapted to fit different body sizes and to suspend the user's arm in a desired position.

Abstract: A suture knot making device is provided including a cylindrical member having distal and proximal portions. The distal portion has a convexly curved end from which first and second bores are disposed through the cylindrical member. Each bore has a distal open end disposed substantially adjacent a transition area where the convexly curved end merges with the cylindrical surface of the device. The distal open ends are disposed approximately 180.degree. apart. Each of the first and second bores extends at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member whereby the bore cross within the member without intersecting. When a suture is formed into a loop and at least one of its ends is passed through a bore from the distal end of the device and is held taut at the proximal end, the suture is tightly forced against the convexly curved end of the device to thereby permit a tight knot to be formed at the surgical site.