Abstract: A method for producing a cutting section from a closed tubular element (14) which is in the form of a hollow cylinder and from one or more drill segments (16) which are connected to the closed tubular element (14).

Abstract: Provided is a medical device comprising an adaptor having a slot and screw arrangement, the adaptor configured to be connectable to a handpiece; and an extension tube configured to be partially received within the adaptor, the extension tube configured to receive a drive shaft of a working member, wherein the slot and screw arrangement of the adaptor is configured to adjustably lock the extension tube along the drive shaft of the working member. The medical device further comprises a locking ring having one or more slots, the locking ring configured to receive a portion of a handpiece, wherein the one or more slots of the locking ring is configured to work together with a locking pin to lock and secure the drive shaft of the working member.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to devices, kits, and methods for treating lumbar spinal stenosis by at least partially decompressing a compressed nerve root. The method can include identifying the compressed nerve root and percutaneously accessing a region of a lamina located adjacent to the compressed nerve root. The method can also include forming a channel through the region of the lamina, wherein the channel can be formed medial to a lateral border of the lamina. Further, the method can include expanding the channel in a lateral direction.

Abstract: Perforator for drilling bone tissue, comprising a drive shaft (12) with rotation axis (t), a drill head (14) with the same rotation axis (t), a chipping head (16) arranged coaxially around the later. A first connecting profile (20) is provided on a proximal end (18) of the drill head (14), and a second connecting profile (24) is provided on a distal end (22) of the drive shaft (12) for cooperating with the first connecting profile (20) in order to transfer rotational movement of the drive shaft (12) to the drill head (14), and the drill head (14) and the chipping head (16) being connected to each other displaceably along the rotation axis (t).

Abstract: Device adapted to perform appropriate forming of openings (3) made in the skull (2) during craniotomy with an opening (4) of enlarged diameter that may thereafter be filled with a standardized cranial plug, the device comprising a cylindrical body member (6) with a rear end extending into a shaft (8) coupled in a rotary power supply source and a frontal end provided with a cutting head (8a) with cutting teeth of triangular section and a guide head (10) comprising a first cylindrical portion (10a) having a diameter equivalent to the corresponding diameter of opening (3) that extends forwardly of the cutting head (8a) and is inserted into opening (3) stabilizing the device and allowing subsequent drilling of opening (3) with the cutting head (8a) to form the abovementioned opening (4) of enlarged diameter, the drilling operation being terminated with the contact of a circumferential ring (7) provided at the frontal end of the cylindrical body member (6) onto the skull (2).

Abstract: Device for treatments of endoscopic resection/removal of tissues including: a handpiece; an outer tubular element extending along a longitudinal axis including a proximal end, a distal end and a cutting opening at the distal end; an inner tubular element rotatably accommodated in the outer tubular element; the inner tubular element extending along a longitudinal axis and including a proximal end, a distal end and a cutting tip at its distal end; a guide for rotating/oscillating the inner/outer tubular elements with respect to one another; the guide including an electric motor and power-supply; a first clutch keyed on the inner tubular element substantially at the proximal end of the inner tubular element; a second clutch keyed on the distal end of the motor output shaft to axially slide on the motor output shaft; and at least one elastic element to push the second clutch to couple with the first clutch.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying a rotational force to a structural element during a surgical procedure. The instrument may be designed for increasing an input force to produce an enlarged output force adequate for fracturing an excess section of the elongated element from a remainder of the structural element. The instrument may include an input mechanism that receives an external rotational input force, a planetary gear system that multiples the input force, and an output mechanism that attaches to and delivers the multiplied rotational output force to the excess section of the structural element. The output mechanism may also be configured to capture the separated excess section. The instrument may include a housing and a handle for grasping and manipulating during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: Combination of a bone drill and a sleeve, whereby the combination comprises a receiving space for bone chips between the sleeve and the bone drill when the bone drill is inserted in the sleeve

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a medical needle configured to puncture a tissue, and a tissue-supporting member configured to be inserted into the lumen of the medical needle and supports the tissue. The medical needle includes an insertion portion that has a longitudinal axis, a lumen that is formed along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, an opening portion that is formed at the distal end of the insertion portion while being connected to the lumen, and a puncturing portion that is formed in the periphery of the opening portion and has a pair of projections sharply protruding in a direction extending toward the distal end from the proximal end of the insertion portion.

Abstract: A lancing device includes a housing (10, 12) and a lancet holder movably mounted within the housing. The lancet holder has a forward portion defining a socket (30) for partially surrounding and retaining in use the rear portion of a lancet. A lancet release element (40, 42) can be moved forward to cooperate with lugs on the socket to expand it to allow insertion and/or removal of the lancet with minimal insertion or withdrawal force.

Abstract: A method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument includes providing an ultrasonic instrument that includes an end effector and a waveguide operably coupled to a generator and the end effector. The method involves generating one or more pulses with the generator, transmitting the one or more pulses to one or both of the waveguide and the end effector, generating one or more waves that scatter in an interferential pattern in response to the transmission of the one or more pulses, registering a signal indicative of the interferential pattern, generating an actual interferential pattern based upon the signal, and identifying one or more conditions of the end effector based upon the actual interferential pattern.

Abstract: A blood lancing device includes a housing unit and a cap. When the cap is disposed at an initial position, a second drive element is blocked by a first drive element from forward movement relative to the first drive element. When the cap is moved from the initial position to a retracted position, the first drive element pushes the second drive element so that the second drive element is deviated from the first drive element when a holder holding a lancet is moved to a trigger position, thereby allowing for a high speed movement of the holder from the trigger position to a pricking position by virtue of biasing action of a first biasing member.

Abstract: A lancing device including a latch that pivots between a non-blocking position allowing a lancet carrier and a lancet to advance and retract through a first forward and reverse lancing stroke and a blocking position preventing further/excess/secondary oscillation of the lancet carrier and lancet. The pivotal latch can pivot about an axis perpendicular (e.g., for an L-shaped latch) or parallel/coaxial (e.g., for a sleeve latch) to the advancement and retraction motion of the lancet carrier and lancet.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device and methods for safely and accurately placing screws into bones with a powered driving device. By employing multiple layers of fail-safe features and image-guidance systems, the powered driving device provides safe, accurate, and efficient screw placement. That is, the powered driving device may continuously monitor a screw advancement and placement and may automatically shutdown when improper placement is detected. Monitoring placement may be conducted by a microcurrent-monitoring system, by an image-guidance system, or by any other appropriate sensory system. Additionally, upon detecting that screw insertion is complete, the powered driving device may be automatically shutdown.

Abstract: A device includes a tubular element, and a cutter spring-biased relative to the tubular element. In an unloaded configuration the cutter is displaced relative to the tubular element by a displacement distance, and when the cutter is in a loaded configuration the displacement distance is reduced. A first structure is longitudinally fixed relative to the cutter and rotationally engaged relative to the tubular element. A length of the first structure extends proximally in the unloaded configuration. A second structure is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first structure. In the loaded configuration, a driver engages and rotates both the first and second structures, and thus the tubular element and cutter together. Once the cutter breaks through the bone, the cutter spring-biased into the unloaded configuration, resulting in disengagement of the first structure from the driver to prevent rotation of either the tubular element or the cutter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for injecting biological agents into tissue. Devices are provided having elongate shafts and distal injection heads for driving needles into tissue and injecting medical agents into the tissue through the needles. A longitudinal force directed along the shaft can be translated to a needle driving force. Some devices provide controllably variable needle penetration depth. Devices include mechanical needle drivers utilizing four link pantographs, rack and pinions, and drive yokes for driving a first needle bearing body toward a second tissue contacting body. Other devices include inflatable members for driving and retracting needles. Still other devices include magnets for biasing the needles in extended and/or retracted positions. The invention includes minimally invasive methods for epicardially injecting cardiocyte precursor cells into infarct myocardial tissue.

Abstract: A hand-held instrument, with a rotary power input to a camshaft, has cam and follower arrangement to provide a reciprocating shaft output. A cutter is provided on the output shaft. In one example, rotating cam percussion is transmitted to the cutter by engaging the cutter with the tissue to be cut, and pushing the instrument forward toward the cutter. In another example, rotating cam percussion is transmitted to the cutter by engaging the cutter with the tissue to be cut, and pulling the instrument back toward the user while maintaining engagement of the cutter with the tissue. In both examples, the cutter remains in idle condition until an axially directed load, forward in the one example, or backward on the other example, is placed on the cutter by moving the instrument forward or backward, respectively, while the camshaft is rotating. A distractor with frame is used to spread and maintain space between vertebral bodies, enabling entrance of the cutter.

Abstract: A cranial perforator with an inner drill and an outer drill that surrounds the inner drill. Both drills are rotated by a head. Once the inner drill penetrates the bone, the inner drill moves against the outer drill. This movement causes the inner drill to disengage from the perforator head. The disengagement of the inner drill from the perforator head serves to stop the rotation of both drills.

Abstract: An assembly that includes an apparatus having an elongate body and an expandable/collapsible device, a tubular member defining a lumen configured to receive the apparatus, and a handle, fixedly connected to the elongate body and removably connected to the tubular member, configured to move at least one of the elongate body and the tubular member relative to the other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for intraoperatively performing surgery to create transmural channels in tissue, for example, as in transmyocardial revascularization, are provided using a device including a mechanical end effector and means for stabilizing the end effector in contact with the tissue. The end effector is adapted to cooperate with a source of suction to evacuate tissue severed during the channel forming process, and may optionally include an electrode for cauterizing the tissue surrounding the channel.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure to improve snoring and OSAS. The procedure is based on the progressive enlargement of the airspace in the oropharynx to eliminate or reduce obstructions that can occur during sleep, by electrosurgical stripping of layers of the vibrating soft palate, the wide posterior tonsil pillars, and redundant posterior pharyngeal mucosa. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active wire portion suspended between wire supports on an electrode shaft. The tissue stripping is effected with the bare wire, and the adjacent portions of the wire supports and electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active wire portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical drill assembly is provided having a clutch mechanism that requires a sufficient axial load on cutting surfaces of the drill to enable rotation of the drill. Rotation of the drill ceases almost immediately upon the axial load falling below the predetermined axial load threshold. In one embodiment the drill assembly is disposable, and is virtually impossible to disassemble and reassemble to an operative form. In another embodiment the drill assembly is reusable. The reusable embodiment includes a drill body that enables quick and easy attachment and detachment of a drill head. The reusable drill body is of a unitary construction that can be sterilized and reused without any disassembly.

Abstract: A surgical drill assembly is provided having a clutch mechanism that requires a sufficient axial load on cutting surfaces of the drill to enable rotation of the drill. Rotation of the drill ceases almost immediately upon the axial load falling below the predetermined axial load threshold. In one embodiment the drill assembly is disposable, and is virtually impossible to disassemble and reassemble to an operative form. In another embodiment the drill assembly is reusable. The reusable embodiment includes a drill body that enables quick and easy attachment and detachment of a drill head. The reusable drill body is of a unitary construction that can be sterilized and reused without any disassembly.

Abstract: A drill head assembly for a cranial perforator, which assembly is similar to the drill head assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,571, except that the configuration of the axially-projecting sections of the front end surfaces of the inner drill are modified to cause the inner drill to stop rotating more quickly upon penetration of the inner drill through a skull.

Abstract: A drill head assembly for drilling holes in bony structure is disclosed. The assembly has an inner drill and an outer drill which rotate together as a unit. The leading portions of the outer drill are contiguous with the peripheral portions of the inner drill, and the inner and outer drills are adapted to form a bore-countersink opening in the bone, whereby the drill head assembly may be used to safely drill through relatively thin bone.

Abstract: A new drill-type cranial perforator is disclosed of the type which comprises a front drill head assembly made up of a leading inner drill and a trailing outer drill, and a rear support and drive assembly adapted to enable both drills so long as the leading inner drill is encountering a resistive surface and to disable both drills when the leading inner drill stops encountering the resistive surface.The leading inner drill has at least one drilling flute with a forward cutting edge including a reentrant cutting segment axially rearward from the outer end of the forward cutting edge and extending inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the perforator.