Abstract: A suture needle holder (or stapler), especially for a heart operation such as anastomosis, has a free-floating armature (10) with a tip (11) having a rough anti-skid surface. Friction force between the tip and the surface of the heart drives the armature and keeps the tip at the site where it rests relative to the moving heart surface. The friction force, plus the force of a weak spring (103) pushing the armature forward, overcome the weight and inertia of the armature so that it remains at the operation site. The armature is slidably coupled to a handle barrel (100) through a bearing guide (110) but a slot (115) and pin (15) prevent axial rotations; the arm is unrestrained in the angle it makes with the axis of the barrel, but the arm cannot rotate about the barrel axis. Jaws (13, 31) at the tip of the arm may be used to grip a suture needle and the needle can be manipulated by rolling the barrel 100 so that the tip 11 rolls over the surface of the heart.

Abstract: An apparatus for open-heart surgery includes a suture-needle holding tip (10) or a stapler and a handle (100). The tip is driven to oscillate relative to the handle in the same motion as the surface of the heart, which is being operated on. This cancels the motion of the heart, effectively stopping it, so that the surgeon (S) need not compensate for heart beats. The tip can grasp or release the needle (N) with a mechanism (300) under control of a switch (330) through a flexible cable 120. Independently, a drive mechanism 200 causes a cam (230) to be turned by a motor 213 for driving the needle-holding tip by means of a flexible cable 120. The cam is shaped so that the pattern of the platform oscillation follows the beating heart's motion. A momentary-contact switch triggers a pacer, which paces the heart to beat in synchrony with the motion of the needle-holding tip. The rate is set slightly above the un-paced heart beat rate.

Abstract: A twirlable suture needle holder is operable by one hand. A palm piece (300) rests against the palm and a finger piece is held between the thumb and fingers. The finger piece has a sleeve (100) and a stylet (200) which slide telescopically to grip and release the needle (N). The finger piece is rotatably relative to the palm piece, and the point at which the needle is grasped is offset from the rotation axis by the radius (R) of the arcuate needle. When the surgeon twirls a grip portion (135) of the sleeve while retracting the sleeve to grip the needle; the body of the needle follows the arcuate path traced out by the needle point moving around the axis. The suturing motion uses only small inner muscles of the forearm and requires no rotation of the wrist.

Abstract: An intramedullary rod or nail for aligning a fractured long bone has a rod (100) that is inserted into the bone, with two longitudinal slots (120) into which cutting splines (200) are slid. The splines have cutting teeth (250) for cutting grooves into the bone as the splines slide along the slot. The cutting edges are substantially transverse to the length of the splines and rod. The tooth top surfaces (252) are disposed at gradually increasing radial heights. Recesses (251) between the cutting teeth store bone shavings to prevent jamming. The bone segments are held against bending, rotation, and lateral displacement because the splines are firmly engaged in the grooves they have cut. A blank spline without teeth may replace the cutting spline.

Abstract: An apparatus for open-heart surgery includes a platform (20) to support the surgeon's hand (or an instrument) and a cam (30) for reciprocating the platform oscillation around a hinge (12). The cam is shaped so that the pattern of the platform oscillation follows the beating heart's motion. The platform motion triggers a momentary-contact switch on each cycle. The switch drives a pacer, which paces the heart to beat in synchrony. The platform rate is set slightly above the un-paced heart beat rate; this keeps the heart in close synchrony with the platform oscillation and stabilizes its motion. The platform and heart move together, relative motion is canceled, and the surgeon need not compensate. The platform is mounted (10) on an adjustable support and a laser beam is used to angularly align the platform to the heart oscillation.

Abstract: A cotter pin which is engageable with a fastening member is formed from a wire and includes a bight with a pair of legs that extend therefrom. Specifically, the bight is formed with shoulders that will substantially conform with a surface of the fastening member. Also, each end of the legs of the cotter pin is formed with a retainer member which has an abutment that will substantially conform with another surface of the fastening member. More specifically, one surface is at one end of an aperture which passes through the fastening member, and the other surface is at the other end of the aperture. Each retainer member is formed with a point at the end of its respective leg, and these points are spaced from each other by a distance which is less than the diameter of the aperture that is formed through the fastening member. For engagement of the cotter pin with the fastening member, the points of the retainer members are positioned at an opening of the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for creating a transection in a coronary artery. Structurally, the present invention includes an inflatable balloon mounted at the distal end of a catheter. A single blade is mounted to project radially from the surface of the balloon and is aligned with the balloon's longitudinal axis. Additionally, a series of radio-opaque markers are distributed on the balloon's surface. Operationally, the balloon is advanced, using the catheter, until it is positioned at the approximate site of the desired transection. An X-ray imaging system is then used to visualize the radio-opaque markers, allowing the balloon and blade to be oriented radially and longitudinally at the location required for the transection. The balloon is then inflated, forcing the blade to incise the artery wall and creating the desired transection. The transection creates a new artery composed partially of the old artery and partially of the surrounding fibrous tissue.