Abstract: A drill for driving a drill bit into a solid object such as bone. The drill includes a rotor with a bore that transmits rotational movement to the drill bit. The drill bit extends through the rotor bore. A probe extends forward from the drill to measure bore depth. The probe is moveably mounted to the drill so as to extend into the rotor bore. As the drill and drill bit advance forward the probe remains static. As a result of the advancement of the drill the rotor extends over the proximal end of the probe.

Abstract: A sagittal saw assembly including a handpiece and a blade assembly. The blade assembly may comprise a static guide bar, a blade and a drive member, that when actuated, oscillates the blade. The blade may further comprise teeth that extend distally from the static guide bar, the teeth adapted to form a kerf in tissue against which the teeth are pressed. The static guide bar may be dimensioned to fit into the kerf formed in the tissue cut by the teeth. The static guide bar may comprise a thickness dependent on a length of the static guide bar. The blade assembly may be configured such that blade may be the only oscillating component of the blade assembly to provide a generally constant mass moment of inertia irrespective of the mass and/or length of the static guide bar.

Abstract: A drill for driving a drill bit into a solid object such as bone. The drill includes a rotor with a bore that transmits rotational movement to the drill bit. The drill bit extends through the rotor bore. A probe extends forward from the drill to measure bore depth. The probe is moveably mounted to the drill so as to extend into the rotor bore. As the drill and drill bit advance forward the probe remains static. As a result of the advancement of the drill the rotor extends over the proximal end of the probe.

Abstract: A surgical drill for drilling a hole in a workpiece includes a housing, a probe moveably mounted to the housing, and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly includes a gear coupled to the probe and at least two rotational sensor devices coupled to the gear to determine an amount of movement of a probe relative to a housing to determine a bore depth of the hole. The gear has reference point having an angular path of rotation about a gear axis subdivided into separate first and second arcuate regions. A first sensor device is configured to detect a rotational position of the reference point in the first arcuate region, and a second sensor device is configured to detect a rotational position of the reference point in at least the second arcuate region, with the first sensor device incapable of detecting the reference point in the second arcuate region.

Abstract: A sagittal saw assembly including a handpiece and a blade assembly. The blade assembly may comprise a static guide bar, a blade and a drive member, that when actuated, oscillates the blade. The blade may further comprise teeth that extend distally from the static guide bar, the teeth adapted to form a kerf in tissue against which the teeth are pressed. The static guide bar may be dimensioned to fit into the kerf formed in the tissue cut by the teeth. The static guide bar may comprise a thickness dependent on a length of the static guide bar. The blade assembly may be configured such that blade may be the only oscillating component of the blade assembly to provide a generally constant mass moment of inertia irrespective of the mass and/or length of the static guide bar.

Abstract: A blade assembly for use with a surgical saw. The blade assembly may comprise a static guide bar, a blade and a drive member, that when actuated, oscillates the blade. The blade may further comprise teeth that extend distally from the static guide bar, the teeth adapted to form a kerf in tissue against which the teeth are pressed. The static guide bar may be dimensioned to fit into the kerf formed in the tissue cut by the teeth. The static guide bar may comprise a thickness dependent on a length of the static guide bar. The blade assembly may be configured such that blade may be the only oscillating component of the blade assembly to provide a generally constant mass moment of inertia irrespective of the mass and/or length of the static guide bar.

Abstract: A surgical tool that includes a sterilzable handpiece that receives an aseptic power module. The handpiece includes a data tag that contains data identifying the type of handpiece. The power module includes a reader that reads the data from the data tag. Based on the type of handpiece the power module selectively actuates the power generating unit internal to the power module. Specifically, the power generating unit is actuated to output energy having the appropriate characteristics for the type of handpiece to which the power module is attached. In many versions of the invention, the data tag is mounted to the latch integral with the handpiece. The power module also interprets the receipt of the data from the handpiece as an indication that the power module is properly latched into the handpiece.

Abstract: A drill for driving a drill bit into a solid object such as bone. The drill includes a rotor with a bore that transmits rotational movement to the drill bit. The drill bit extends through the rotor bore. A probe extends forward from the drill to measure bore depth. The probe is moveably mounted to the drill so as to extend into the rotor bore. As the drill and drill bit advance forward the probe remains static. As a result of the advancement of the drill the rotor extends over the proximal end of the probe.

Abstract: A blade assembly for use with a surgical saw. The blade assembly may comprise a static guide bar, a blade and a drive member, that when actuated, oscillates the blade. The blade may further comprise teeth that extend distally from the static guide bar, the teeth adapted to form a kerf in tissue against which the teeth are pressed. The static guide bar may be dimensioned to fit into the kerf formed in the tissue cut by the teeth. The static guide bar may comprise a thickness dependent on a length of the static guide bar. The blade assembly may be configured such that blade may be the only oscillating component of the blade assembly to provide a generally constant mass moment of inertia irrespective of the mass and/or length of the static guide bar.

Abstract: A reciprocating blade assembly for use with a surgical saw comprises a reciprocating member, the reciprocating member including a proximal end feature for engaging a drive member of the of the saw that, when actuated, reciprocates the reciprocating member. The reciprocating blade assembly further comprises teeth that extend outwardly from a side of the reciprocating member, the teeth adapted to form a kerf in tissue against which the teeth are pressed. The reciprocating member is contained in a guide bar assembly that includes features for engaging with a complementary fastening assembly that holds the guide bar assembly static to the saw and an opening located in a side of the guide bar assembly wherein the reciprocating member is mounted in the guide bar assembly so the teeth extend out of the side opening, wherein said guide bar assembly is dimensioned to fit into the kerf formed in the tissue cut by the teeth.

Abstract: A drill for driving a drill bit into a solid object such as bone. The drill includes a rotor with a bore that transmits rotational movement to the drill bit. The drill bit extends through the rotor bore. A probe extends forward from the drill to measure bore depth. The probe is moveably mounted to the drill so as to extend into the rotor bore. As the drill and drill bit advance forward the probe remains static. As a result of the advancement of the drill the rotor extends over the proximal end of the probe.

Abstract: A reciprocating blade assembly for use with a surgical saw comprises a reciprocating member, the reciprocating member including a proximal end feature for engaging a drive member of the of the saw that, when actuated, reciprocates the reciprocating member. The reciprocating blade assembly further comprises teeth that extend outwardly from a side of the reciprocating member, the teeth adapted to form a kerf in tissue against which the teeth are pressed. The reciprocating member is contained in a guide bar assembly that includes features for engaging with a complementary fastening assembly that holds the guide bar assembly static to the saw and an opening located in a side of the guide bar assembly wherein the reciprocating member is mounted in the guide bar assembly so the teeth extend out of the side opening, wherein said guide bar assembly is dimensioned to fit into the kerf formed in the tissue cut by the teeth.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade assembly and cutting guide for use with the blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a static bar from which a moving blade head protrudes. The blade head is reciprocated by a drive link internal to the bar. The cutting guide has a body that is positioned adjacent where the blade is to be used to cut tissue. The cutting guide has an outer surface over which the blade assembly is positioned. The cutting guide has a constraining feature. The constraining feature holds the blade bar to the body of the guide so the blade assembly can move over the body while being constrained from movement above the outer surface of the body. The constraining feature is mounted to the body of the cutting guide so as to be able to move while constraining guide retains the blade bar.

Abstract: A surgical tool that includes a sterilzable handpiece that receives an aseptic power module. The handpiece includes a data tag that contains data identifying the type of handpiece. The power module includes a reader that reads the data from the data tag. Based on the type of handpiece the power module selectively actuates the power generating unit internal to the power module. Specifically, the power generating unit is actuated to output energy having the appropriate characteristics for the type of handpiece to which the power module is attached. In many versions of the invention, the data tag is mounted to the latch integral with the handpiece. The power module also interprets the receipt of the data from the handpiece as an indication that the power module is properly latched into the handpiece.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade assembly and cutting guide for use with the blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a static bar from which a moving blade head protrudes. The blade head is reciprocated by a drive link internal to the bar. The cutting guide has a body that is positioned adjacent where the blade is to be used to cut tissue. The cutting guide has an outer surface over which the blade assembly is positioned. The cutting guide has a constraining feature. The constraining feature holds the blade bar to the body of the guide so the blade assembly can move over the body while being constrained from movement above the outer surface of the body. The constraining feature is mounted to the body of the cutting guide so as to be able to move while constraining guide retains the blade bar.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade that includes a guide bar to which a blade head is pivotally mounted. Side edges extend between the opposed proximal and distal ends of the guide bar. A blade is pivotally mounted to the guide bar. The blade includes a base disposed in the guide bar. The blade has a head that extends outwardly from the base. A head extends from the base. The head extends outwardly from one of the side edges of the blade bar. Drive rods that extend from the base are reciprocated. The reciprocation of the drive rods results in the oscillation of the blade, including the blade head, around a pivot point.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade that includes a guide bar to which a blade head is pivotally mounted. Side edges extend between the opposed proximal and distal ends of the guide bar. A blade is pivotally mounted to the guide bar. The blade includes a base disposed in the guide bar. The blade has a head that extends outwardly from the base. A head extends from the base. The head extends outwardly from one of the side edges of the blade bar. Drive rods that extend from the base are reciprocated. The reciprocation of the drive rods results in the oscillation of the blade, including the blade head, around a pivot point.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade that includes a guide bar to which a blade head is pivotally mounted. The guide bar includes a bottom bar; an inner bar disposed over the bottom bar; and an outer bar disposed over the inner bar. The inner bar has a distal end face that is curved and that is spaced inwardly of the distal ends of the bottom bar and the outer bar. The blade head has a base that pivots around the curved distal end face of the inner bar.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade that includes a guide bar to which a blade head is pivotally mounted. The guide bar includes a bottom bar; an inner bar disposed over the bottom bar; and an outer bar disposed over the inner bar. The inner bar has a distal end face that is curved and that is spaced inwardly of the distal ends of the bottom bar and the outer bar. The blade head has a base that pivots around the curved distal end face of the inner bar.