Abstract: A guard device with angled cranium guide that can be removably and replaceably attached to an existing craniotome for producing a stable bone flap system includes an elongate stem defining a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and distal end. The proximal end is adapted for attachment to the craniotome. A footplate extends from the distal end of the stem at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stem. The footplate is positioned adjacent to the cutting portion of the craniotome and prevents the cutting portion from penetrating too far into the skull. On one side of the stem between the proximal and distal ends is an angled cranium guide. The dura guard with its angled cranium guide enables the surgeon to rest the guide agains the cranium and the maintain the craniotome at a fixed angle to cut a bone flap at an angle.

Abstract: A cutting saw blade for use with an oscillatory power tool used in surgical bone cutting procedures including a blade having a distal end provided with teeth whose tips are located on a tangent line perpendicular to the long axis of the blade. The teeth are configured substantially as right triangles with their hypotenuses facing either towards the center of the blade or away from the center of the blade. A central tooth can be optionally provided.

Abstract: The illuminating light transmitted by the light guide inserted through the elongate inserted section is projected out of the distal end surface of the inserted section. The illuminated objects pass through the respective pupils of the two objective lens systems arranged in parallel within the distal end section of the inserted section and their images are formed on the focal surface. The respective images are transmitted to the rear side by one common relay lens system. The transmitted final images are formed respectively on the image taking surfaces of the image taking devices. The respective images photoelectrically converted by the respective image taking devices are processed to be signals, are displayed in the monitor and are stereo-inspected through shutter spectacles.

Abstract: A surgical procedure is disclosed utilizing a cordless surgical handpiece powered from a sterile battery pack that contains a battery in condition for immediate use without further charging or sterilization. The battery chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, and the battery after a single use may be disposed of into non-hazardous waste. The compact surgical handpiece has a brushless DC motor and a manually operated external trigger for activating and controlling the motor operations. Interengaging sets of contacts on the handpiece and battery are adapted to become lockingly and conductively interengaged upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece, in a manner that rapidly achieves correct alignment of the parts and also ensures stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A saw blade (12) for use with a surgical saw (10). The surgical saw has a head (18) that is driven in a oscillating motion in order to cause like motion in the saw blade. The saw blade has a base (22) that is dimensioned to be inserted into a slot (24) in the front of the saw head. The base has a width less than the width of the slot to facilitate the easy insertion/removal of the saw blade. The saw blade also has a main section (36) formed integrally with the base (22) that has the cutting surface of the blade. The saw blade is further formed to have springs (42) that extend from the sides of the base. When the blade is inserted in the slot (24), the springs abut the interior walls (25) of the head that define the slot. A gap (48) separates each leaf spring from the adjacent side of the base.

Abstract: A ring blade and drive system, and method of using same, for harvesting bone-tendon-bone ligament grafts having substantially cylindrical bone plugs. The ring blade disclosed is a circular ring having a predetermined arcuate gap formed in its periphery. The drive system includes a blade holder to peripherally hold the ring blade and a fixed-center oscillating mechanism to oscillate the ring blade about its axis within a predetermined arcuate range of motion. The ring blade structure enables the production of a substantially cylindrical bone plug of unlimited length. Harvesting of a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft is facilitated with the ring blade and method disclosed which enables the ring blade to be placed partially around a tendon segment to create bone plugs aligned with the tendon fibers included in the defined tendon segment. The cuts into the bone may be initiated into the bone at either end of the tendon segment from the tendon side through to the exterior of the bone to which the tendon is attached.

Abstract: An improved aerosolized bone dust and body fluid extraction system for an oscillating or reciprocating saw includes a water line, control valve and inlet nozzle to spray water into the area in and around an oscillating or reciprocating saw blade and an exhaust manifold to aid in the removal of aerosolized bone dust and body fluids during cutting. Additionally, the end of the housing holding the oscillating or reciprocating saw blade may be provided with a vented elongated shaped skirt member for guarding against splatter of aerosolized bone dust and body fluids and for acting against the surface being cut by the saw blade so as to improve the efficiency of the exhaust system and prevent the spread of aerosolized bone dust and body fluids to thereby prevent the spread of toxic materials and/or communicable diseases.

Abstract: A blade guard (12) for preventing a saw blade (16) or other cutting member from cutting into tissue the cutting member is not intended to cut. The blade guard includes a body (20) that is attached to the surgical tool (10) from which the cutting member extends. A leg (24) extends from the body. A foot (34) is attached to the end of the leg. The foot encapsulates the end of the cutting member to prevent it from penetrating into tissue the cutting member is not intended to cut. The leg is formed with a tapered profile such that it has a leading edge (29) adjacent the cutting member that is narrow in width than the trailing edge (30) spaced from the cutting member. The tapered profile of the leg provides the leg with structural strength. The tapered profile also facilitates the separation of the sections of the bone that define the kerf as the cutting member and blade guard pass through the bone.

Abstract: A powered surgical tool includes a battery-operated motor that has an eccentrically mounted drive wheel for engaging a longitudinally movable drive wire that operates to incrementally rotate a ratchet wheel. A work wheel in the form of a cutting blade or a grinding wheel is mounted for rotational movement with the ratchet wheel at the distal end of the surgical tool. In another version, the cutting blade has a periphery of cutting teeth, which are driven directly by the longitudinally movable drive wire. A grinding wheel version discloses two grinding wheels that are incrementally driven in opposite angular directions by a pair of longitudinally movable drive wires.

Abstract: In a saw for surgical purposes comprising a saw blade holder movable by a motor and a saw blade fixable in the saw blade holder, to enable insertion and removal of the saw blade without a tool, it is proposed that the saw blade holder comprise an insert guide for the saw blade with a holdback projection, that the saw blade carry a resilient detent projection which in a relaxed position, with the saw blade inserted in the insert guide, engages the holdback projection from behind, and that an actuating element be mounted on the saw blade holder for displacement against the resilient detent projection, the actuating element moving the resilient detent projection, during the insertion, into a tensioned position in which the detent projection is pushable past the holdback projection when the saw blade is pulled out of the saw blade guide.

Abstract: A counter-balanced oscillating surgical saw for use in surgical procedures is described which greatly reduces the vibrations caused when the saw blades contact the patient's anatomy. The reduction of vibration is achieved by the present saw which uses two oscillating blades to counter the kinetic energy typically lost when only one blade is used. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least two cutting blades mounted on at least two actuator blocks. The actuator blocks are preferably mounted on at least two shafts which extend from the top of the saw handle: a pivot shaft and a rotatable shaft which is rotated by an electric motor. At least two eccentric bearings are mounted to the rotatable shaft (one bearing for each actuator block) such that the bearings orbit about the rotatable shaft 180.degree. out-of-phase with respect to one another.

Abstract: A ring blade and drive system, and method of using same, for harvesting bone-tendon-bone ligament grafts having substantially cylindrical bone plugs. The ring blade disclosed is a circular ring having a predetermined arcuate gap formed in its periphery. The drive system includes a blade holder to peripherally hold the ring blade and a fixed-center oscillating mechanism to oscillate the ring blade about its axis within a predetermined arcuate range of motion. The ring blade structure enables the production of a substantially cylindrical bone plug of unlimited length. Harvesting of a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft is facilitated with the ring blade and method disclosed which enables the ring blade to be placed partially around a tendon segment to create bone plugs aligned with the tendon fibers included in the defined tendon segment. The cuts into the bone may be initiated into the bone at either end of the tendon segment from the tendon side through to the exterior of the bone to which the tendon is attached.

Abstract: A saw blade has two portions that are adjustable relative to one another in order to vary the overall length of the saw blade. A hub portion includes a hub adapted to engage a saw. Opposite the hub is an engagement end. A blade portion carries cutting teeth. Opposite the teeth is an engagement end. The engagement end of the blade portion engages the engagement end of the hub portion. The engagement ends carry a releasable lock to hold them in engagement to form a saw blade of a particular length. To change the saw blade length, the lock is released, the engagement ends moved relative to one another, and the lock reengaged. A locking sleeve can be slid to enclose the engagement portions to more securely hold them in engagement.

Abstract: A ring blade and drive system, and method of using same, for harvesting bone-tendon-bone ligament grafts having substantially cylindrical bone plugs. The ring blade disclosed is a circular ring having a predetermined arcuate gap formed in its periphery. The drive system includes a blade holder to peripherally hold the ring blade and a fixed-center oscillating mechanism to oscillate the ring blade about its axis within a predetermined arcuate range of motion. The ring blade structure enables the production of a substantially cylindrical bone plug of unlimited length. Harvesting of a bone-tendon-bone ligament graft is facilitated with the ring blade and method disclosed which enables the ring blade to be placed partially around a tendon segment to create bone plugs aligned with the tendon fibers included in the defined tendon segment. The cuts into the bone may be initiated into the bone at either end of the tendon segment from the tendon side through to the exterior of the bone to which the tendon is attached.

Abstract: A surgical saw includes a saw assembly for being driven by a powered surgical handpiece and having a pair of parallel, co-planar guide arms, a pair of flexible, endless cutting bands disposed around the guide arms, respectively, and a drive mechanism for driving the cutting bands around the guide arms in a cutting direction. The cutting bands each include a plurality of spaced cutting teeth connected to one another by flexible band segments. The cutting bands are driven by the drive mechanism relative to the guide arms in opposite directions along defined paths to cut anatomical tissue at distal ends of the guide arms. A method of resecting bone includes the steps of driving the cutting bands relative to the guide arms in the cutting direction along the defined paths and inserting the distal ends of the guide arms in the bone to resect the bone along the plane of the guide arms.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a module for a surgical driver of the type having a handle and a barrel with an axis. The module comprises a releasable attachment mechanism for releasably attaching the module to the surgical driver, a tool mounting mechanism for releasably receiving an orthopedic surgical tool, and a rotational orientation mechanism for orienting the tool mounting mechanism in a plurality of angular positions about an axis of the barrel. The device includes a releasable locking mechanism for releasably locking the rotational orientation mechanism in one of a plurality of discrete angular positions about the axis of the barrel. The releasable locking mechanism has a locking member movable between lock and release positions. A spring biases the locking mechanism toward the lock position. The novel locking mechanism of the present invention may also be used in non-modular devices.

Abstract: A surgical saw blade for removable mounting in clamps having rectangular lugs and in clamps having circular pins, by way of closed slots having semi-circular distal ends, and arranged to have the respective centers of the semi-circular ends about a pattern radius. Each slot has a side face forming an included angle with a radial line from the hub center to the center of the slot semi-circular end. The included angle is alternating in rotational direction or, with a common offset about the pattern radius of the semi-circular ends, is in an identical direction for each slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use as a wenchless and adapterless collet system for attaching an elongated surgical cutting blade to an oscillating surgical saw. The system comprises a collet adapted to mate with a particularly shaped blade hub. The collet has a transverse clamping head attached to a longitudinally slidable, axially aligned shaft which is adapted to slide axially along the axis of the handpiece. The handpiece has an annular anchor sleeve having an annular groove proximally adjacent to the collet clamping head. The hub at the proximal end of the blade is provided with a radially inwardly extending locking flange adapted to engage the clamping head and a radially inwardly extending anchor flange adapted to engage the annular groove in the anchor sleeve. The longitudinal spacing between the hub flanges enables the hub to be received adjacent the anchor groove in an interdigitating mating of complementarily shaped surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use as a wrenchless and adapterless collet system for attaching an elongated surgical cutting blade to an oscillating surgical saw. The system comprises a collet adapted to mate with a particularly shaped blade hub. The collet has a transverse clamping head attached to a longitudinally slidable, axially aligned shaft which is adapted to slide axially along the axis of the handpiece. The handpiece has an annular anchor sleeve having an annular groove proximally adjacent to the collet clamping head. The hub at the proximal end of the blade is provided with a radially inwardly extending locking flange adapted to engage the clamping head and a radially inwardly extending anchor flange adapted to engage the annular groove in the anchor sleeve. The longitudinal spacing between the hub flanges enables the hub to be received adjacent the anchor groove in an interdigitating mating of complementarily shaped surfaces.

Abstract: A multi-plane curvilinear saw, corresponding guide and related method are provided for shaping the end of a bone that forms one member of a joint, such as a bone in a digit. The finished end is hemispherical in shape so as to better engage the mating bone end. The saw includes a hollow, hemispherically shaped body with a row of arcuately disposed cutting teeth along an exposed edge of the front, and an open rear portion. A shank extends from the other side of the body for attachment to the chuck of a hand piece with a high-speed oscillating motion. The guide is formed from an elongated inverted channel with parallel curved slots in a terminal portion. The curvature of the slots corresponds to the curvature of the saw and the row of cutting teeth. The method includes the steps of securing the guide to the top of the digit above the joint and oscillating the saw, pitching forward and slightly tilting within the guide slots to shape and finish the bone end.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method are disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises an elongated handle having an operator gripping portion and including a grinding burr rotatably mounted to the handle opposite the operator gripping portion, and an elongated guard connected to the handle and extending along the handle substantially parallel to the axis of the handle, the guard terminating in a plate. The surgical instrument of the present invention allows a surgeon to perform a craniectomy on a patient without reflecting scalp flaps from the skull of the patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for the morcellation of bodily tissue or bodily organ parts during an endoscopic surgical procedure. The instrument includes a handle assembly and a tubular body portion extending from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis. A tool assembly is associated with a distal end of the tubular body including cooperating jaw members and a cutting member. A first mechanism is for effectuating remote actuation of the cooperating jaw members and a second mechanism is for effectuating remote reciprocal movement of the cutting member with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

Abstract: The surgical saw blade and hub of this invention includes a saw blade and instrument hub which connect the saw blade to the instrument such that no portion of the instrument extends beyond the blade. The blade includes a washer having a plurality of radially extending slots in communication with the central bore of the washer. Alternating slots of the washer are truncated or otherwise do not fully extend through the washer. The truncated slots form shoulders or lans within the washer. The center opening of the washer is in alignment with a base opening in the blade and accommodates a hub from the powered instrument. The hub of the powered instrument includes a plurality of radial fins extending outwardly therefrom. The fins abut against the shoulders of the washer to lock the blade to the hub. A helical spring is provided to maintain pressure against the blade and thereby retain the blade and hub in a locked configuration.

Abstract: An oscillating surgical blade formed such that the thickness of the blade adjacent the side edges is reduced relative to the effective thickness of the body of the blade. Therefore, when the side edges of the blade mushroom due to contact with a saw guide slot, the resultant thickness of the mushroomed edges is less than or equal to the effective thickness of the blade body.

Abstract: A surgical saw has a sector-shaped saw blade mounted on a shaft. The shaft is surrounded by a coaxial second shaft to which an eccentric member is mounted close to a saw blade and parallel therewith. Both shafts and thus the eccentric member and the cutting blade can be rotated with respect to each other and can be fixed in their rotational position. Depending on the rotational position, the saw blade is either covered by the eccentric member in a rest position to be inserted in a hollow bone, or is indexed in a position to be freely and gradually exposed to make a sawing operation possible.

Abstract: A blade and clamp obtain a motion free coupling while remaining easily operable. The clamp comprises first and second clamping faces. The second clamping face includes a plurality of tapered lugs arranged in a radial pattern. The blade comprises a plate-like body having a primary U-shaped slot and a plurality of radial U-shaped slots which engage the tapered lugs of the clamp to produce a tight motion free coupling between the blade and clamp.

Abstract: A blade and clamp obtain a motion free coupling while remaining easily operable. The clamp comprises first and second clamping faces. The second clamping face includes a plurality of tapered lugs arranged in a radial pattern. The blade comprises a plate-like body having a primary U-shaped slot and a plurality of radial U-shaped slots which engage the tapered lugs of the clamp to produce a tight motion free coupling between the blade and clamp.

Abstract: A blade with cutting part on one edge portion thereof has a remote end fixed in a chuck by pushing same end-wise into a slot in the chuck through a series of positions, namely (1) drop-out, (2) safety locked-in and (3) fully inserted locked-in.

Abstract: A blade for a surgical saw has an elongate body with distal and proximal ends, and a plurality of teeth formed on an outwardly facing edge surface of the distal end. The spaces between adjacent teeth are defined by surfaces which lie in planes which are non-perpendicular to the substantially flat surfaces which define the body of the blade. These non-perpendicular surfaces guide cuttings generated by the teeth laterally toward the flat surfaces of the blade and outwardly toward the proximal end of the blade as the blade advances in a cut. Each of the teeth formed on the edge of the blade has a pointed form. Approximately half of the teeth lie in a row in which the respective points lie in a first cutting plane which extends in parallel with, and lies adjacent a first side of, a plane which extends longitudinally through the center of the blade body.

Abstract: A cutting saw blade for use with an oscillatory power tool used in surgical bone cutting procedures including a blade having a distal end provided with teeth whose tips are oriented in a substantially linear row so that the terminus of all teeth lie in a solitary plane. Other tooth profiles assist in the cutting phenomena. The cutting blade has several spaced-apart pairs of notches disposed in the blade edges. Each pair of notches is adapted to cooperate with a pair of pins disposed on the oscillatory power tool to firmly retain the cutting blade to the saw. By providing the cutting blade with several sets of notches, the cutting blade is adjustable, in that it can be retained within the oscillatory power tool at different lengths. It has been found that such an adjustable cutting blade, having teeth oriented in a solitary plane, does not lose efficiency as the length of the blade is changed.

Abstract: An automated surgical instrument provides a housing having a linear drive for moving a cannula toward and away from the housing. The housing may be supported stationarily while the cannula is driven to a predetermined location in the body through an incision. The end of the cannula includes a surgical tool or laparoscope to be positioned within an area undergoing an operation. Surgical tools can be actuated automatically by an actuator positioned in the housing and having a linkage extending through a lumen of the cannula to the tool. Both the actuator and the linear drive motor can be controlled by means of switches located on the housing or at another remote location.

Abstract: A blade with a cutting part on one edge portion thereof has a remote end fixed in a chuck by pushing same end-wise into a slot in the chuck through a series of positions, namely (1) drop-out, (2) safety locked-in and (3) fully inserted locked-in.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for skullcap and other bone cutting during autopsy. A power driven rotary cutter in the form of a circular blade saw is mounted on a carrier which moves around the skull of the cadaver and permits the cutter to move radially, toward and away from the axis of the skull. A follower which engages the skull controls the depth of cut so that only the skull bone is cut without damage to the brain tissue in the skull. The cutter is driven by a cable from a remote motor to minimize the weight of the cutter assembly on the carrier. The casing in which the cutter is mounted can be a handpiece of a cable driven tool. The cutter can also be used manually by removing the handpiece from the carrier. Power to the cutter is controlled so that the cutter cuts only bone and stops when soft tissue is engaged by the cutter, which avoids serious damage to soft tissue, and also avoids serious injury to the user if the blade slips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated gall-resistant surgical saw blades. One such blade includes longitudinal ribs extending outwardly from the opposed faces thereof which combine to define a total blade thickness greater than the width of the lateral extension of the teeth thereof. The ribs are sized and configured to slidably engage a precision slot in a guide means designed to be used to guide the blade in cutting movements. The interaction between the ribs and the slot prevents engagement of the blade teeth with the slot while reducing the surface area of engagement of the blade with the slot to reduce friction. All disclosed blades are coated with a hard, lubricious, metallic, wear resistant coating which is metallurgically bonded to the metallic surface of a respective blade through a coating process forming a part of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated gall-resistant surgical saw blades. One such blade includes longitudinal ribs extending outwardly from the opposed faces thereof which combine to define a total blade thickness greater than the width of the lateral extension of the teeth thereof. The ribs are sized and configured to slidably engage a precision slot in a guide designed to be used to guide the blade in cutting movements. The interaction between the ribs and the slot prevents engagement of the blade teeth with the slot while reducing the surface area of engagement of the blade with the slot to reduce friction. All disclosed blades are coated with a hard, lubricious, metallic, wear resistant coating which is metallurgically bonded to the metallic surface of a respective blade through a coating process forming a part of the present invention.

Abstract: A dental tool with detachable saw blades and adhesively affixed abrasive strips on the distal ends of a U shaped handle for removing the solified resin in posterior and anterior teeth during the placement of porcelain and composite inlays while keeping the tongue and cheek away from the cutting surfaces. The primary function of the tool is provided by a finger rest to direct the tool force in a gingival direction with stability and control improving the function and safety of the tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gall-resistant ribbed surgical saw blade. The blade includes longitudinal ribs extending outwardly from the opposed faces thereof which combine to define a local blade thickness greater than the width of the lateral extension of the teeth thereof. The ribs are sized and configured to slidably engage a precision slot in a guide means designed to be used to guide the blade in cutting movements. The interaction between the ribs and the slot prevents engagement of the blade teeth with the slot while reducing the surface area of engagement of the blade with the slot to reduce friction.

Abstract: A biradial saw including a biradial saw blade having an elongate, arcuate body with a cutting end that is constructed to penetrate a solid substance. The blade's body is formed with inner and outer arcuate surfaces whose curvature radii are substantially equal but oriented relative to offset axes of curvature. Also included is a means for producing oscillating motion, and a means for attaching the blade's rear end to the oscillating-motion-producing means.

Abstract: Powered rotary scalpel structure including a circular scalpel blade secured at one end of a blade support arm connected to a handle having a drive motor secured to the other end thereof and means extending through the handle and the blade support arm for rotating the circular scalpel blade on energization of the motor. The automatic rotary scalpel includes structure for releaseably securing the blade support arm to the handle and a remote switch for connecting the motor to an electrical power supply at the back of the handle from an actuating member from the front of the handle as well as an electric light and an electrical circuit which provides for the light always being on when power is supplied to the rotary scalpel. A circular scalpel blade is also disclosed along with blade protection structure, a support stand for the blade support arm and structure for controlling the depth of an incision made by the rotary scalpel structure along with modifications of the powered rotary scalpel structure.

Abstract: Rotary scalpel structure and method which rotary scalpel may be either manual or automatic. The manual rotary scalpel structure includes an handle having a bifurcated end between the ends of which a circular scalpel blade is mounted for rotation. The automatic rotary scalpel includes a circular scalpel blade secured at one end of a blade support arm connected to a handle having a drive motor secured to the other end thereof and means extending through the handle and the blade support arm for rotating the circular scalpel blade on energization of the motor. The automatic rotary scalpel includes structure for releasably securing the blade support arm to the handle. A circular scalpel blade is also provided which has concave surfaces to reduce blade friction along with a blade container for transporting and storing circular scalpel blades.The method includes manually or automatically rotating a circular scalpel blade and drawing it across an area in which an incision is required.