Abstract: Described is an arthroscopic bone transplanting procedure for transplanting a section of a first bone to a second bone. The described procedure is particularly useful for the treatment an anterior shoulder instability, where the first bone is the coracoid and the second bone is the glenoid. Also described is a kit of medical instruments particularly useful in such a procedure.

Abstract: A medical implement particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery, includes: a handle having a proximal end configured for manual gripping by a user, a distal end for manipulation during the surgery, an internal passageway extending through the handle from the proximal end to the distal end thereof, and a longitudinally-extending slot extending longitudinally through the handle from its outer surface to the passageway for side-loading the handle with a manipulatable member to be manipulated during surgery. A shield is located within the passageway in the handle. The shield is secured along one edge to the inner surface of handle defining the passageway, and includes an elastic section normally covering the longitudinally-extending slot. The elastic section of the shield is yieldable to permit side-loading of the manipulatable member into the passageway, but to prevent a side-loaded manipulatable member from passing outwardly from the passageway.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the present invention includes an instrumentation system for preparing a bone for soft tissue repair, the instrumentation system including a flexible drill pin capable of bending along a curved path; an aimer capable of engaging the flexible pin to bend the flexible pin; and a flexible reamer having a flexible portion along at least a portion of its length, the flexible portion comprising a plurality of laser cuts.

Abstract: A method of forming a channel in a bone, the method comprising: providing a first bore in the bone; and forming, a second bore in the bone at a predefined angle from said first bore, using said first bore as a reference point for defining the location of the second bore in the bone, wherein the first and second bores intersect in the bone.

Abstract: A medical implement particularly useful in arthroscopic sutures, includes: a handle having a proximal end configured for manual gripping by a user, a distal end, an internal passageway extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and an intermediate portion formed with a recess extending from the outer surface to the internal passageway. A shuttle is movable through the passageway and has an intermediate portion exposed within the recess for manipulation by a user gripping the handle, and a suture-receiving-element at its distal movable axially through the distal end of the handle. A roller is rotatably mounted to the handle to underlie the exposed portion of the shuttle such that, after a suture has been received by the suture-receiving-element of the shuttle, a user, gripping the handle, may manipulate the shuttle with respect to the distal end of the handle by thumb-pressing the exposed portion of the shuttle against the roller and rotating the roller.

Abstract: Described is an arthroscopic bone transplanting procedure for transplanting a section of a first bone to a second bone. The described procedure is particularly useful for the treatment an anterior shoulder instability, where the first bone is the coracoid and the second bone is the glenoid. Also described is a kit of medical instruments particularly useful in such a procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed are femoral and tibial drill guides for use in posterior cruciate ligament replacement surgery. Each of the drill guides includes an arc shaped member and an elongate guide member, a stopper member, and an alignment arm member coupled thereto. Prior to preparing a tibial tunnel with a tibial drill guide and a femoral tunnel with a femoral drill guide, a rasp and/or cutter can be used to remove any remnants of the posterior cruciate ligament left prior to replacement thereof. The tibial drill guide includes a concave blocking surface and a viewing aperture on the alignment arm member to block the advancement and view the location of a guide pin exiting from a posterior portion of a tibia, respectively.

Abstract: A medical implement particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery, includes: a handle having a proximal end configured for manual gripping by a user, a distal end for manipulation during the surgery, an internal passageway extending through the handle from the proximal end to the distal end thereof, and a longitudinally-extending slot extending longitudinally through the handle from its outer surface to the passageway for side-loading the handle with a manipulatable member to be manipulated during surgery. A shield is located within the passageway in the handle. The shield is secured along one edge to the inner surface of handle defining the passageway, and includes an elastic section normally covering the longitudinally-extending slot. The elastic section of the shield is yieldable to permit side-loading of the manipulatable member into the passageway, but to prevent a side-loaded manipulatable member from passing outwardly from the passageway.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the present invention includes an instrumentation system for preparing a bone for soft tissue repair, the instrumentation system including a flexible drill pin capable of bending along a curved path; an aimer capable of engaging the flexible pin to bend the flexible pin; and a flexible reamer having a flexible portion along at least a portion of its length, the flexible portion comprising a plurality of laser cuts.

Abstract: A method of forming a channel in a bone, the method comprising: providing a first bore in the bone; and forming, a second bore in the bone at a predefined angle from said first bore, using said first bore as a reference point for defining the location of the second bore in the bone, wherein the first and second bores intersect in the bone.

Abstract: A flexible reamer for preparing a hole in a tissue includes a shaft that extends along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft is cannulated through and has a flexible portion along at least a portion of its length. The flexible portion includes a plurality of discrete, interlocking portions. An asymmetric tip at the distal end of the shaft has at least one flute positioned off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the flexible reamer.

Abstract: An implement for orientating a tool at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane of a target surface to be engaged by the tool, particularly for orientating a surgical cutting tool perpendicularly to bone tissue for harvesting and implanting a bone plug to repair damaged bone tissue, includes a rod having a distal end coupled to a head formed with three contact points arranged in a circular array around the longitudinal axis of the rod, such that the three contact points define a plane. The rod is coupled to the head with the longitudinal axis of the rod at the predetermined angle to the plane defined by the three contact points, such that when the three contact points of the rod are in contact with the target surface, the longitudinal axis of the rod is at the predetermined angle with respect to the plane of the target surface.

Abstract: Described is an arthroscopic bone transplanting procedure for transplanting a section of a first bone to a second bone. The described procedure is particularly useful for the treatment an anterior shoulder instability, where the first bone is the coracoid and the second bone is the glenoid. Also described is a kit of medical instruments particularly useful in such a procedure.

Abstract: An implement, particularly useful as a medical implement for applying a suture to a body tissue, includes a handle and shaft formed with a pair of channels extending from the proximal end of the handle through the distal end of the shaft and through a pair of jaws carried at the distal end of the shaft. The pair of channels converge towards each other to a cross-over point, and then diverging away from each other where existing at the distal end of the shaft. The channels are dimensioned to enable a piercing instrument to be passed first through one of the channels to pierce the body with a first bore, and then through the other of the channels to pierce the body with the second bore, such that the two bores have entry ends precisely spaced a predetermined distance from each other, and exit ends precisely spaced a larger predetermined distance from each other.

Abstract: Described is an arthroscopic bone transplanting procedure for transplanting a section of a first bone to a second bone. The described procedure is particularly useful for the treatment an anterior shoulder instability, where the first bone is the coracoid and the second bone is the glenoid. Also described is a kit of medical instruments particularly useful in such a procedure.

Abstract: A surgical bone holding implement for manipulating a bone, comprising a handle and an elongated shaft including a bone engaging tip. The handle is positionable with respect to the elongated shaft between first and second positions, for mounting a drill member on the proximal end of the elongated shaft in one position, and for manipulating the bone by means of the handle in a second position.

Abstract: Disclosed are femoral and tibial drill guides for use in posterior cruciate ligament replacement surgery. Each of the drill guides includes an arc shaped member and an elongate guide member, a stopper member, and an alignment arm member coupled thereto. Prior to preparing a tibial tunnel with a tibial drill guide and a femoral tunnel with a femoral drill guide, a rasp and/or cutter can be used to remove any remnants of the posterior cruciate ligament left prior to replacement thereof. The tibial drill guide includes a concave blocking surface and a viewing aperture on the alignment arm member to block the advancement and view the location of a guide pin exiting from a posterior portion of a tibia, respectively.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly particularly useful in endoscopic surgery includes a sleeve to be received on a user's finger and integrally formed at one side with a socket; and an elastic member formed at a mid-portion thereof with a pair of arms elastically-urged to a closed position to serve as a pair of forceps for grasping objects. The elastic member is further integrally formed at one end with a mounting strip folded to overlie said pair of arms for mounting the elastic member within said socket, and at the opposite with a finger-engageable strip folded to underlie said pair of arms. The finger-engageable strip terminates in a cam element movable by the elasticity of the elastic member between said pair of arms to cam them apart to an open position to release a grasped object.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the present invention includes an instrument for use in preparing a femur for soft tissue repair or reconstruction, including a cannulated, curved guide tool having a cannulated body extending to a distal tip and a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the cannulated body and distal tip; and a flange secured to the distal tip and extending from the distal tip in a direction transverse from the distal tip, the flange having a first curve along at least a portion of the flange and a degree of tilt, relative to the plane, along at least a portion of the flange.

Abstract: An implement for manipulating a knotted suture during a surgical procedure, includes an elongated shaft having a proximal end engageable by the user for manipulating the instrument, and a distal end engageable with the knotted suture to be manipulated. The distal end of the elongated shaft has an end face formed with a recess for receiving the knot of the suture. The distal end of the elongated shaft is formed with an open slot starting from a location spaced from the end face and leading to the recess in the end face, such as to enable the knotted suture to be introduced into the slot and the recess by effecting a sidewise movement. The implement further includes a tubular cutter member enclosing the elongated shaft and formed with an annular cutting edge engageable with a suture in the open slot of the shaft upon movement of the elongated shaft with respect to the tubular cutter member, or by vice-versa.