Abstract: A waste collection system for collecting medical waste. A mobile rover includes at least one waste container, and a rover controller. A chassis is removably couplable with the mobile rover and includes a vacuum regulator, and a chassis controller. The chassis controller is configured to control operation of the vacuum regulator based on a pressure signal from a pressure sensor disposed on the mobile rover. The chassis may include a control panel configured to receive an input of and display a vacuum level, and the chassis controller may control operation of the vacuum regulator based on the input. The mobile rover may include plural waste containers, and the chassis may include plural vacuum regulators. The chassis controller may control operation of the vacuum regulators on the chassis to independently regulate the vacuum level supplied to each of the waste containers on the mobile rover.

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 a 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 waste collection system for collecting medical/surgical waste. A mobile rover includes at least one waste container supported on the mobile rover for storing the medical/surgical waste. A chassis is separate from and configured be removably coupled with the mobile rover. The chassis supports a chassis controller and a vacuum pump configured to draw a vacuum on the waste container. A rover controller is supported on the mobile rover and configured to receive a pressure signal representative of a level of the vacuum. The chassis controller is configured to be in communication with the rover controller and to regulate the level of the vacuum drawn based on the pressure signal. A transmitter may be supported on the mobile rover and in communication with the rover controller, and a receiver may be supported on the chassis to be in communication with the transmitter to establish a communication circuit for data transfer.

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 a 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 waste collection system for collecting medical/surgical waste. A mobile rover includes at least one waste container supported on the mobile rover for storing the medical/surgical waste. A chassis is separate from and configured be removably coupled with the mobile rover. The chassis supports a chassis controller and a vacuum pump configured to draw a vacuum on the waste container. A rover controller is supported on the mobile rover and configured to receive a pressure signal representative of a level of the vacuum. The chassis controller is configured to be in communication with the rover controller and to regulate the level of the vacuum drawn based on the pressure signal. A transmitter may be supported on the mobile rover and in communication with the rover controller, and a receiver may be supported on the chassis to be in communication with the transmitter to establish a communication circuit for data transfer.

Abstract: A waste collection system for collecting waste during medical/surgical procedures including a mobile container cart with a waste container. A container cart is selectively coupled to a suction cart that includes a vacuum pump. The connection of the carts results in the connection of the vacuum pump to the waste container. The vacuum pump draws a vacuum that results in waste being drawn through a suction line into the waste container. The container cart holds instruments that can be removably attached to the container cart. This facilitates the configuration of the container cart for the specific procedure for which it is necessary to draw a suction.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade with first and second elongated openings. The openings have major axes that are angled relative to each other. The openings are arranged to receive draw for pivoting a blade in a sagittal plane. Each opening receives a separate drive member integral with the saw to which the blade is mounted. The action of one drive member in a first opening results in the proximal to distal reciprocation of the blade. The action of a the second drive member in the second opening results in the back and forth pivoting of the blade around an axis that extends through the plane of the blade. The blade has a constraining feature that engages a complementary constraining feature integral with the saw. The engagement of the constraining features limits the reciprocal and pivotal movement of the blade.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade with first and second elongated openings. The openings have major axes that are angled relative to each other. The openings are arranged to receive draw for pivoting a blade in a sagittal plane. Each opening receives a separate drive member integral with the saw to which the blade is mounted. The action of one drive member in a first opening results in the proximal to distal reciprocation of the blade. The action of a the second drive member in the second opening results in the back and forth pivoting of the blade around an axis that extends through the plane of the blade. The blade has a constraining feature that engages a complementary constraining feature integral with the saw. The engagement of the constraining features limits the reciprocal and pivotal movement of the blade.

Abstract: A saw for pivoting a blade in a sagittal plane. The saw includes a drive assembly with at least one drive member. The drive assembly is configured to both reciprocate the blade in the sagittal plane and to simultaneously pivot the blade around an axis that extends through the sagittal plane. The drive assembly is configured to reciprocate and pivot the blade at different frequencies. Consequently the teeth (186) of the blade travel in a loop pattern that crosses itself.

Abstract: A waste collection system for collecting waste during medical/surgical procedures including a mobile container cart with a waste container. A container cart is selectively coupled to a suction cart that includes a vacuum pump. The connection of the carts results in the connection of the vacuum pump to the waste container. The vacuum pump draws a vacuum that results in waste being drawn through a suction line into the waste container. The container cart holds instruments that can be removably attached to the container cart. This facilitates the configuration of the container cart for the specific procedure for which it is necessary to draw a suction.

Abstract: A saw for pivoting a blade in a sagittal plane. The saw includes a drive assembly with at least one drive member. The drive assembly is configured to both reciprocate the blade in the sagittal plane and to simultaneously pivot the blade around an axis that extends through the sagittal plane. The drive assembly is configured to reciprocate and pivot the blade at different frequencies. Consequently the teeth (186) of the blade travel in a loop pattern that crosses itself.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade and a complementary cutting guide for use with the blade. The blade includes a bar shaped to be releasably secured in a static position to a complementary surgical sagittal saw. A blade head with teeth is mounted to the bar to pivot. One or more drive links connected to the saw extend to the blade head to pivot the blade head. The cutting guide and blade bar have complementary features for holding the blade bar to above a surface of the cutting guide. The features that hold the blade bar to the cutting guide allow the blade to move over the cutting guide surface while constrain the blade from moving out of the plane immediately above the cutting guide surface.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade that including a guide bar shaped to be releasably secured in a static position to a complementary surgical sagittal saw. A blade is mounted to the guide bar to pivot around a pivot point. The blade has teeth located outside of the guide bar. Drive rods extend from the blade. The drive rods connect to a complementary driver integral with the saw. When the saw driver is actuated, the drive rods undergo reverse reciprocation. The reciprocation of the driver rods cause the blade to oscillate around a pivot point.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade and a complementary cutting guide for use with the blade. The blade includes a bar shaped to be releasably secured in a static position to a complementary surgical sagittal saw. A blade head with teeth is mounted to the bar to pivot. One or more drive links connected to the saw extend to the blade head to pivot the blade head. The cutting guide and blade bar have complementary features for holding the blade bar to above a surface of the cutting guide. The features that hold the blade bar to the cutting guide allow the blade to move over the cutting guide surface while constrain the blade from moving out of the plane immediately above the cutting guide surface.

Abstract: A surgical tool system comprising a handpiece and a cutting accessory that is releaseably secured to the handpiece. The handpiece has a gear assembly with two drive heads. The gear assembly turns the drive heads at different rotational speeds relative to each other. The cutting accessory is provided with one of two drive hubs. If the cutting accessory is provided with a first drive hub, the drive hub mates to a first one of the drive heads so as to turn of the speed of that head. If the cutting accessory is provided with a second drive hub, the drive hub mates to the second drive head so as to turn at the speed of that head. Thus, the speed at which the cutting accessory is actuated is a function of the associated drive head.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade that including a guide bar shaped to be releasably secured in a static position to a complementary surgical sagittal saw. A blade is mounted to the guide bar to pivot around a pivot point. The blade has teeth located outside of the guide bar. Drive rods extend from the blade. The drive rods connect to a complementary driver integral with the saw. When the saw driver is actuated, the drive rods undergo reverse reciprocation. The reciprocation of the driver rods cause the blade to oscillate around a pivot point.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw including a handpiece from which a planar guide bar extends. A saw blade is mounted to the distal end of the guide bar to move across the guide bar. Drive rods connect the saw blade to a drive assembly in the handpiece, which drive assembly reciprocates the drive rods. The drive rods oscillate the saw blade across the distal end of the guide bar. The saw is used with a cutting guide that is in a fixed position relative to the bone or hard tissue to be cut. A capture element is disposed adjacent the guide surface and holds the guide bar to the guide surface so the cut is made along the desired cut plane.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device is provided for delivering fluid to a target site such as an intervertebral disc during discography. The fluid delivery device includes pressure and volume sensors to determine the pressure and the volume of the fluid delivered to the intervertebral disc. The fluid delivery device is hand-held during use and includes a syringe assembly having a plunger with threads that enables controlled discharge of the fluid from the fluid delivery device by rotating the plunger in a housing of the fluid delivery device. The fluid delivery device may also include a communication module to wirelessly transfer data to an external device outside of a sterile field, while the fluid delivery device is in the sterile field. The fluid delivery device may also include a physiological sensor to monitor involuntary pain responses based on changing physiological parameters such as increases in body temperature or blood pressure.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw including a handpiece from which a planar guide bar extends. A saw blade is mounted to the distal end of the guide bar to move across the guide bar. Drive rods connect the saw blade to a drive assembly in the handpiece, which drive assembly reciprocates the drive rods. The drive rods oscillate the saw blade across the distal end of the guide bar. The saw is used with a cutting guide that is in a fixed position relative to the bone or hard tissue to be cut. A capture element is disposed adjacent the guide surface and holds the guide bar to the guide surface so the cut is made along the desired cut plane.

Abstract: A surgical tool system comprising a handpiece and a cutting accessory that is releaseably secured to the handpiece. The handpiece has a gear assembly with two drive heads. The gear assembly turns the drive heads at different rotational speeds relative to each other. The cutting accessory is provided with one of two drive hubs. If the cutting accessory is provided with a first drive hub, the drive hub mates to a first one of the drive heads so as to turn of the speed of that head. If the cutting accessory is provided with a second drive hub, the drive hub mates to the second drive head so as to turn at the speed of that head. Thus, the speed at which the cutting accessory is actuated is a function of the associated drive head.