Abstract: A disposable arthroscopic surgical instrument includes a hollow tube with a manual actuator coupled to its proximal end and an end effector coupled to its distal end. The actuator and the end effector are coupled by a push rod which passes through the hollow tube and the push rod includes a frangible link so that the push rod will break when a predetermined force is applied to the end effector by the actuator. The frangible link is a flattened portion of the cylindrical push rod having a strength reducing throughbore. An end effector having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw is also disclosed. The stationary jaw is coupled to the distal end of the tube and has a throughbore for receiving the push rod. The movable jaw is coupled to push rod and is pivotally coupled to the stationary jaw by arcuate engaging surfaces on both jaws. The movable jaw preferably includes a pair of arcuate grooves while the stationary jaw has a pair of arcuate flanges which engage the grooves on the movable jaw.

Abstract: A rongeur surgical instrument having an offset bayonet portion for allowing microscopic visualization of an operating field. The rongeur instrument is designed with a composite shank member that includes an offset bayonet portion that interconnects a proximate shank portion to a distal shank portion. The offset bayonet portion on the rongeur facilitates operating microscope dependent operative procedures, such as microscopic osseous dissections. The offset bayonet structure maintains the mechanical objective of actuating the bite-end of the rongeur via angled shank portions on the stationary and movable shank members of the rongeur. The offset bayonet structure is applied to a curette surgical instrument for allowing microscopic visualization of an operating field when using this type of instrument.

Abstract: The rongeur has a frame with a medial horizontal channel in one portion and a stationary handle at the other portion. A carriage is slidably engaged in the channel. A movable handle is attached at a fulcrum arm at the bottom front of the frame. A two-piece shaft extends from an integral cover & barrel secured to the carriage. The shaft has a stationary lower half, and an upper half that reciprocates on the stationary half to open and close the bite area at the tip of the shaft in response to the surgeon gripping the handles. The shaft halves are held together by a slidable joint. The cover & barrel with the extended shaft can be cocked open to remove the shaft. The tip of the shaft has a closable bite area and is used to remove tissue or to take a biopsy. The tip can be rotated to various angles after pressing a release lever. Also, the shaft can be quickly removed and replaced with another shaft having a different tip.

Abstract: Power assisted gripping structure and method comprising a surgeon's rongeur including two elongated relatively axially moveable members having at one end thereof structure for gripping, cutting or crushing material, handle means for manually moving the elongated members axially relative to each other, electrically actuated power assist cylinder structure connected between the elongated members for assisting in producing relative movement between the elongated members on actuation thereof and switch structure for actuating the power cylinders in multiple stages. In different modifications, the structure for gripping, cutting or crushing material may be a Kerrison or Leksell rongeur tip. Alternatively, the structure for gripping, cutting or crushing may be adjustable wrench, spreader, prier suction cup or lifter structure and the power assisted gripping structure may be used in industry such as in robotics as well as in medical applications.

Abstract: Surgical instrumentation and a method for cutting bones on one or both sides of a joint such as the knee joint to allow the application of a joint prosthesis. A rod is inserted into the medullary canal of the bone to be cut. The rod is secured within the medullary canal and a router guide is mounted on the rod for rotation thereabout while being restrained against movement axially of the rod. A router or side cutting drill is inserted through the router guide into contact with the rod and actuated to rotate about its own axis. The router guide and the router are then caused to rotate about the rod to thereby cut the bone to produce a substantially planar surface thereon suitable to bear against a joint prosthesis.

Abstract: Arthroscopy hook-clippers comprise a circular cross-section outer shaft having at a distal end thereof a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted to the fixed jaw. Within the shaft are a thrust rod which is movable axially thereof to pivot the movable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, and beside the thrust rod, a vacuum extraction channel. The extraction channel is of substantially circular cross-section excepting that it has a flat upper wall, which co-operates with the upper internal wall of the shaft to define a guideway for the thrust rod the cross-section of which is matched to that of the guideway.

Abstract: A rongeur with special features applied to the footplate area to prevent the intersection of stress fields to allow the rongeur to be reduced in size and mass without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur. A transverse groove is used at the intersection of the anvil surface of the base plate and the shank base plane. Also the base of the footplate recess is offset from the shank base plane and the inside wall of the recess meets the recess base in a gentle curve. These features can be used individually or together to prevent the intersection of stress fields in the footplate area and thus allow the size of the footplate to be reduced without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur.