Abstract: A multi-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure and associated instruments are disclosed. First, the surgical site is prepared. After preparation, the bone screws or anchors are attached to the bone. Subsequent to insertion of the screws, a rod or connecting member is positioned within the yoke portion of the bone screw. Caps are then placed in a pre-lock position within the yokes. The bone screws may be compressed together or distracted along the rod or connecting member, thereby setting the final spacing of the bones or bone segments. Finally the caps are moved to a final lock position to fix the screws to the rod or connecting member to maintain the bones in position relative to each other.

Abstract: Plate devices are provided for mounting to bone and receiving one or more spinal rods. The devices may include coupling members or rod receiving members coupled to the plate member and configured to have multiple degrees of adjustability in order to accommodate elongate connecting members of various orientations. The plate devices may also include quick locking features or locking devices that secure multiple points of articulation simultaneously.

Abstract: A retraction apparatus and method are disclosed that provide optimized access to a surgical site. In one form, a retraction frame has a retraction opening with two sets of blades operating therein. The blades are used to sequentially retract the tissue from about an incision. The sequential retraction of the blades generates only narrow gaps between the blades so that tissue and blood encroachment during the surgical procedure are minimized.

Abstract: A multi-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure and associated instruments are disclosed. First, the surgical site is prepared. After preparation, the bone screws or anchors are attached to the bone. Subsequent to insertion of the screws, a rod or connecting member is positioned within the yoke portion of the bone screw. Caps are then placed in a pre-lock position within the yokes. The bone screws may be compressed together or distracted along the rod or connecting member, thereby setting the final spacing of the bones or bone segments. Finally the caps are moved to a final lock position to fix the screws to the rod or connecting member to maintain the bones in position relative to each other.

Abstract: A coupling device for securing an elongate member to the spine is provided. The coupling device comprises a compressible inner member that secures an anchor member therein when the inner member is axially shifted within an outer member. The elongate member is retained within the device by an axially inserted locking member, and may be secured independently of the anchor member. The coupling device and anchor may be configured to provide increased angulation of the anchor with respect to the coupling device. For instance, anchor member may have an offset head portion in order to provide normal pivoting of the coupling device when the anchor is attached to bone at an angle.

Abstract: A retraction apparatus and method are provided including slider assemblies for being slidably connected to a retractor body with end portions of the slider assemblies disposed within a central retractor opening. A retractor blade is slidably connected to one of the slider assembly end portions such that the depth of the retractor blade can be readily adjusted. Once the retractor blade is at the desired depth within the incision, a handle is pivoted to a locked position to fix the blade relative to the slider assembly. A cantilever lock between the blade and the slider assembly pivots the blade relative to the slider assembly to fix the blade thereto. In one form, the retractor body has a substantially flat surface configured to be placed adjacent a bone and slide connections which position slider assemblies such that the connected blades avoid contact with the bone during retraction.

Abstract: A device for rotatably driving a cannulated tool along a guide wire. In one aspect, the device includes a coupling assembly for receiving the tool and guide wire as well as a ratchet mechanism permitting selective rotation between the device and the tool. The device further includes an elongate gripping portion extending transversely to the coupling assembly to provide a levered mechanical advantage while positioning the gripping portion out of the path of the guide wire. In another aspect, the device includes a handle having a through bore shorter than a predetermined length of a connection assembly through bore so that only a short portion of the guide wire is covered by the device. A method of driving a cannulated tool along a guide wire is also provided that includes rotating a gripping portion of a handle assembly about the tool in an arcuate path spaced from the tool.

Abstract: A monopolar electrode for use with a standard electrosurgical pencil and generator suitable for performing tissue ablation at relatively low power levels. The electrode has an active portion at its distal tip, the active portion being partially or totally covered by a dielectric material to create high power densities sufficient to cause the electrode sparking necessary for tissue ablation. Portions of the electrode other than the active portion are surrounded by an insulating material to enable transmission of electromagnetic energy only through the active portion.

Abstract: An end-cutting arthroscopic shaver blade having a tubular inner member rotatable within a tubular outer member. The distal ends of each of the tubular members are provided with at least two notches each of which has longitudinally extending sides provided with cutting edges. In one of the embodiments the outer tubular member is provided with an arcuate extension in order to guide tissue toward the notches.

Abstract: A rotary shaver blade assembly having a laterally facing and end facing cutting window enabling it to resect tissue presented end-wise or at relatively small angles. The assembly is provided with a stationary elongated outer tube and a rotatable inner tube, both having laterally facing and end facing cutting windows and both having planar transverse end walls at their distal tips. The transverse end walls are abutting and are sharpened into edges by being tapered in opposite directions. The end wall of the outer tube is tapered into a concave surface to allow the inner and outer transverse edges to be situated close to target tissue. The edge on the end wall of the inner tube is transversely arcuate and has a point at each end to enable it, in cooperation with the outer edge, to resect tissue presented axially or at shallow angles to the axis of the shaver blade.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or endoscopic component joining system for selectively and temporarily connecting instruments during closed surgical procedures. The system is modular and operable as a bridge system for connecting instruments to selected cannulas or as a sheath system for connecting a scope to a scope sheath. Various improvements provide for greater fluid flow through the components than is available with known systems of similar size.

Abstract: A positioning system for controlling the orientation of the movable elongated inner member relative to the fixed elongated outer member of a surgical instrument. An endoscopic rotatable shaver instrument incorporates a shaver blade assembly adapted to be received in and driven by a handpiece. The movable component of the shaver blade assembly is provided with a position indicator which is read by a sensor in the handpiece in order to control the position at which the inner member is stopped relative to the outer member. The invention is embodied in an apparatus and method enabling use of a shaver blade assembly as an aspirating device or as a probe without any aspirating function.

Abstract: An elongated arthroscopic cannula having proximal and distal elastomeric sealing means through which elongated surgical instruments may be inserted. The cannula seals maintain their effectiveness with and without instruments present within the cannula. The distal sealing means is a transverse linear slit supported around its perimeter by a racetrack-shaped reinforcing member to engage instruments inserted therethrough and to seal the proximal side of the linear slit from the distal side when no instrument is used. The proximal sealing means is a floating, circular aperture capable of being laterally moved and tilted in order to provide a sealing function around an instrument shaft whether or not the shaft is aligned with the axis of the cannula.

Abstract: A powered tissue resection system for use during endoscopic surgical procedures in which a body cavity is filled with a gas medium to maintain pneumoperitoneum. A powered tissue resection device is utilized to simultaneously resect and aspirate tissue from the surgical work site within the gas-filled body cavity. Along with the aspirated tissue a portion of the ambient fluid medium is aspirated. A separating means is provided to separate the resected tissue and other debris from the fluid medium, generally carbon dioxide, and return the latter to the body cavity to maintain pneumoperitoneum.

Abstract: A positioning system for controlling the orientation of the movable elongated inner member relative to the fixed elongated outer member of a surgical instrument. An endoscopic rotatable shaver instrument incorporates a shaver blade assembly adapted to be received in and driven by a handpiece. The movable component of the shaver blade assembly is provided with a position indicator which is read by a sensor in the handpiece in order to control the position at which the inner member is stopped relative to the outer member. The invention is embodied in an apparatus and method enabling use of a shaver blade assembly as an aspirating device or as a probe without any aspirating function.

Abstract: A positioning system for controlling the orientation of the movable elongated inner member relative to the fixed elongated outer member of a surgical instrument. An endoscopic rotatable shaver instrument incorporates a shaver blade assembly adapted to be received in and driven by a handpiece. The movable component of the shaver blade assembly is provided with a position indicator which is read by a sensor in the handpiece in order to control the position at which the inner member is stopped relative to the outer member. The invention is embodied in an apparatus and method enabling use of a shaver blade assembly as an aspirating device or as a probe without any aspirating function.

Abstract: A rotatable surgical shaver handpiece having a rotating elongated inner member within a fixed outer member is provided with a means for varying the cutting window orientation of the outer tubular member. The window orientation is adjusted by providing a rotatable collet assembly which has a hollow, outer, longitudinally movable body to which the outer hub member is keyed. The outer collet member is concentrically situated about an inner collet body and is fixed to an annular, toothed locking surface which is movably biased against an identical toothed locking surface fixed to the inner collet body. The teeth have sloped sides and are shallow such that the pre-loaded force compressing the two locking surfaces together is easily overcome by rotating the outer collet body to cause the teeth of one locking surface to slide along the teeth of the mating locking surface.

Abstract: A rotatable surgical shaver handpiece having a rotating elongated inner member within a fixed outer member is provided with a means for varying the cutting window orientation of the outer tubular member. The window orientation is adjusted by providing a rotatable collet assembly which has a hollow, outer, longitudinally movable body to which the outer hub member is keyed. The outer collet member is concentrically situated about an inner collet body and is fixed to an annular, toothed locking surface which is movably biased against an identical toothed locking surface fixed to the inner collet body. The teeth have sloped sides and are shallow such that the pre-loaded force compressing the two locking surfaces together is easily overcome by rotating the outer collet body to cause the teeth of one locking surface to slide along the teeth of the mating locking surface.