Abstract: A surgical knife is provided with angular cut control comprising rollers which extend along each side of the knife edge to maintain the knife blade in perpendicular relationship with respect to the surface being cut. The rollers additionally perform the function of smoothing out the surface to be cut and provide directional stability during the formation of the surgical incision.

Abstract: A surgical knife assembly is provided which includes a depth guard for limiting the depth of insertion of a cutting blade. The depth guard is constructed to allow a surgeon to view an incision as it is being made. It includes a pair of parallel ski members which define a slot therebetween. A knife blade extends through the slot and includes a cutting edge projecting beyond the respective bottom ends of the ski members. One ski member includes a front edge which allows the front edge of the knife blade to be viewed as an incision is made, while the other ski member extends beyond the front edge of the knife blade to provide stability.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for performing a transbroncheal biopsy wherein a bronchoscope is inserted into the lower broncheal tree of a patient, and a manipulator is inserted through the bronchoscope to obtain a specimen cell from the lung. An activator device is connected to the manipulator to move the manipulator through a sequence of steps to obtain the specimen.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a guide wire which can be inserted into an artery of a patient to a region of occlusion, a torque tube having a cutter device affixed to its distal end which is insertable into the artery over the guide wire, and a protective support sheath surrounding the guide wire and the torque tube. A retraction device controllably retracts the support sheath so as to allow the cutter on the distal end of the torque tube to extend progressively greater distances beyond the distal end of the support sheath. The system also includes means for rotating the torque tube, thereby simultaneously rotating the cutter, and vacuum means connected to the torque tube for extracting dislodged cuttings from the patient's bloodstream. The guide wire is preferably provided with an abutment on its distal end which both mechanically limits the distance the cutter can advance into the patient's body and assists in retrieving the cutter from the patient's body following the atherectomy operation.

Abstract: An atherectomy probe for incrementally advancing a torque tube with a rotating cutter through an artery to remove obstructive tissue from the lumen of the artery comprises a fixed distal support and a moveable proximal support for slideably restraining the torque tube. The torque tube is rotated about a longitudinal axis by a motor which is slideably mounted inside a housing of a drive unit. A rod extending substantially parallel to the torque tube interconnects the distal support and the motor. The rod selectively secures the torque tube from longitudinally sliding with respect to the distal support. Adjacent to the rod is an elongated advancement tape having juxtaposed dual layers attached between the distal support and the proximal support. In its operation, a tape divider operatively engages with the advancement tape for aligning the tape.