Abstract: A suture anchor is disclosed which comprises a frusto-conical device having first and second axial ends, and a side surface extending therebetween. The first axial end has a larger diameter than the second axial end. The first axial end includes an internally threaded bore by which a driver is removably connected to the anchor. A passage extends through the suture anchor from the second axial end and to the side surface. Tissue is attached to a bone by first passing a length of suture material through the tissue. The suture ends are delivered to the anchor and are passed through the passage in a direction from the axial end to the side surface. The user then grasps the suture ends and inserts the anchor, by means of the driver, into a previously prepared bore in the bone. The anchor is wedged into the bore so that the suture is captured between the bone and the side surface of the anchor.

Abstract: An apparatus for manually securing a bone graft from a donor site and delivering the bone graft to an acceptor site includes a hollow cylindrical cutter and a solid inner cylindrical plunger. The cutter has a cutting end and a grasping end, with the cutting end being tapered to a sharp edge for cutting the bone graft from the donor site. The plunger is engageable with the hollow cutter to push the retained bore graft from the cutter into the acceptor site. Equidistantly spaced markings on the cutter and plunger can be used to gauge the depth of the bone graft.

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 surgical instrument includes the combination of a distally, side-supported inner drive shaft carrying on its end an abrading element, a fixed outer tubular member surrounding the inner shaft and providing at a bearing region the distal support for the inner shaft. A distal extension of the tubular supporting member provides a sheath for a portion of the abrading element and a vacuum passage communicating proximally from the region of the abrading element, past the bearing region, to a proximal vacuum connection, whereby during driving of the shaft and drawing of suction through the connection, particles dislodged by the driven, side-supported abrading element may be drawn past the bearing region and out of the instrument.

Abstract: A method is provided for snagging a surgical suture wherein a device is introduced to the interior of the patient's body through a cylindrical cannula. The device includes a resilient loop which collapses as it passes through the cannula. The loop is crimped at its end whereby when a length of suture material is passed through the loop and the device is withdrawn from the patient through the cannula, the suture is snagged within the crimped portion so that it does not escape the loop.

Abstract: A fixation system for arthroscopic surgical procedures is disclosed. A staple is adapted to be removably secured to the end of an elongated impact-type driver-extractor device. The staple and the end of the driver-extractor are dimensioned to be received within a cylindrical cannula which guides the staple to its point of affixation within the patient's body. Actuation of the driver-extractor permits the staple to be hammered into place. By a reversal in this procedure, a previously implanted staple can be removed from the patient.

Abstract: Remote-cutting instrument formed by an inner tube rotating within an outer tube, in which an initial cutting point where portions of the tubes first come together during a cutting cycle is defined at the distal extremity of the sides of the tubes and cutting edges extend from this initial point longitudinally along the sides of the tubes. The coacting side edges of the tubes diverge in the proximal direction. There are end cutting edges of circular form, defining cusp-shaped points.

Abstract: A base member adapted to be secured to an operating table is provided with an upright arm portion. A movable member slidably related to the base member also is provided with an upright arm portion. The base member houses a locking arrangement for securing the movable member in a fixed position with respect to the base member when the upright arms are in position to produce the desired clamping pressure on a body part located between the arms. The locking arrangement also is operative to displace the movable member in incremental steps prior to locking in order to achieve the desired clamping pressure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument useful in joint surgery for instance closed surgery of the knee. When in the form of a rotary vacuum shaver it comprises an external stationary tube having a side-facing, axially extending shaving port and an internal rotary blade capable of rotating at a slow speed, of the order of 200 rpm or below. Radial bearing portions at both proximal and distal ends radially support the blade in shearing relation to the external tube. A vacuum conduit draws fluid and articles to be shaved into the shaving port, and draws discrete shavings through the instrument, while the blade is driven at shearing speeds.