Other

Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.

Arthur E Ellison

Rocco R Borzone

An improved tissue retractor serves as a multifunctional surgical instrument particularly adapted for use during arthroscopic surgery. The instrument is preferably capable of putting tissue into tension either in a direction toward the arthroscopic portal or away from the portal. When tensioning toward the portal, the instrument acts as a tissue retractor. When tensioning away from the portal, the instrument acts as a distender or stretcher of tissue. The instrument includes a pointed obturator slidingly contained within a hollow sheath. The obturator includes a reduced cross-sectional area near the pointed end which acts as a barb when retracting tissue. In one embodiment, the hollow sheath has a bevelled, pointed end which disengages tissue from the obturator. A nozzle attached to the remote end of the hollow sheath may be attached to a syringe for introduction of fluid into the tissue. The instrument can also be used as a needle probe.

Tissue retractor

A bone staple for attaching tubular shaped soft tissue to bone, in which the transverse bridge of the staple has teeth on its underside to grip the tissue and is arch shaped so that the center of the bridge is above the bone surface when the staple legs are driven fully into a bone.

Arched bridge staple

Tissue retractor particularly adapted for use during arthroscopic surgery on the knee joint. This surgical instrument includes a rigid elongate member with a sharpened end adapted for insertion through skin into meniscal tissue within the knee joint. The elongate member includes a retractable, laterally projecting barb near the sharpened end for seating within the tissue. In one embodiment, a tensioning device is provided so that parts of torn meniscal tissue can be pulled together to permit healing.

Apparatus for applying and maintaining forces and moments to the knee joint during arthroscopic surgery. The apparatus includes upper and lower leg restraining members which are rotatable and longitudinally movable with respect to each other and lockable in desired orientations to generate and maintain the forces and moments. Structure is also provided for applying lateral forces to the leg and for supporting instruments such as arthroscopes.

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Williamstown, MA, United States of America

Arthur E Ellison