Abstract: A tendon or other smooth muscle support clamp which separates to pass around the tissue to be operated upon and supports said tissue by surrounding it on three sides by the walls and bottom of a channel in the upper surface of a support block is provided. The clamp provides a firm support base without risk of trauma to the tissue due to clamping pressure. The clamp resembles a conventional pliers-like surgical forcep but employs either fixed or detachable support blocks with lengthwise channels of various dimensions suitable for a variety of applications.

Abstract: A surgical instrument provides a handle for removably attaching blades having different sizes and different purposes for performing different surgical procedures.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for holding a suture needle is provided. The instrument includes handle portions shaped to accommodate the human hand, jaws formed to securely grasp a suture needle and a latching mechanism to hold the device closed so that the physician can concentrate on manipulation of the needle. The contoured shape of the handle portions improves the ability of the surgeon to grasp and manipulate the instrument under the adverse conditions encountered during surgery.

Abstract: A pliers-like clamping device having offset bone gripping plates temporarily grips and clamps together two bone segments above and below as diagonal cut at an osteotomy site. The device includes a pair of handle members having distal ends which are turned at substantially right angles to the handle arms and parallel to each other and offset both vertically and horizontally from each other. The distal ends form bone-gripping plates which may be serrated or ribbed on their inwardly facing surfaces. A ratcheting mechanism is provided near the proximal end of the device so that the clamping force may be set and maintained at a desired level.