Abstract: An oiler for supplying lubricant to a pneumatically driven surgical instrument has: a wick chamber; an oil reservoir; and a gas reservoir. The wick chamber is open to the conduit through which gas is supplied to the instrument. A wick is disposed in the wick chamber. An oil-soaked member is disposed in the wick chamber. A lubricant soaked member is disposed in the oil reservoir. The gas reservoir holds a charge of gas. When gas is supplied to the instrument, oil is educed from the wick and oil reservoir and flows with the gas stream to the instrument. Upon the shut off of the gas, the gas charge vents from the of gas reservoir. This gas delivers a charge of oil to the wick. Some of this oil is discharged from the oiler to the supply conduit. This oil lubricates the instrument when it is initially reactuated.

Abstract: A pneumatic surgical tool for cutting bone during surgical procedures includes a pneumatic motor having a rotary shaft, a resecting tool having a cutting element rotated by the motor, a chuck sleeve to surround and support the resecting tool, and anti-friction bearings for further rotatably supporting the resecting tool. The rotor and chuck sleeve are formed of an electrically nonconductive material. The resecting tool is formed of titanium. The bearings are formed of a ceramic, composite or plastic material.

Abstract: A surgical guide tool has an axis and a cylindrical housing with a central bore, an upper cylindrical wall and a flange that are aligned with the axis. The tool has adjustable legs with a sharp conical point and a guide disk with a cylindrical body that lands within the wall. The guide disk has an eccentric bore that extends through the guide disk. A cylindrical cap encloses the guide disk within the tool. The upper end of the guide disk protrudes through a central hole in the cap and a lever is secured to the upper end of the guide disk. The guide disk is free to rotate within the tool. After a starter hole is made in a human skull, the tool is placed over the starter hole with the legs landing on the skull. A conventional surgical cutting implement with a footed attachment is inserted into the guide disk bore. The footed attachment is placed in the starter hole beneath the skull.

Abstract: A pneumatic surgical tool for cutting bone during surgical procedures includes a pneumatic motor having a rotary shaft, a resecting tool having a cutting element rotated by the motor, a sleeve to surround and support the resecting tool, anti-friction bearings for further rotatably supporting the resecting tool, and a chuck for connecting the resecting tool to a spindle of the rotary shaft. The motor housing, rotor, spindle, and chuck are created from titanium. The bore of the housing and the cutting tip of the resecting tool have thin hard metal cases, such as titanium nitride, titanium aluminum nitride, or titanium carbon nitride.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a conduit, the conduit having a conduit axis defined through a terminal end thereof, and a fluid-powered motor for rotating a dissecting tool, the motor having a longitudinal motor axis. A swivel member is connected in fluid communication between the motor and the conduit. The swivel member comprises a motor portion including a motor face inclined at a selected angle from the motor axis, and a conduit portion including a conduit face arranged oppositely that of the motor face and formed to engage matingly with the motor face. A connection shaft extends from one of the motor face and the conduit face and is engaged rotatably with a connection receptacle formed in another of the motor face and the conduit face.