Other

Ford Motor Company Limited

A.i.r. Foundation

Detroit Neurosurgical Foundation

Multipower, Inc.

Berke; Joseph J.

Coalpower, Inc.

George H Muller

Warren A VanWicklin, Jr

Joseph J Berke

David W Barton

A Gil Spear, Jr

Lloyd R Vivian, Jr

William T Downs

Buddy K Chance

A method of making a surgical incision comprising power driving a rotating scalpel blade and drawing the blade across an area and along a line where an incision is required. When the blade is circular, the circumferential speed of the blade relative to the tissue at the incision is maintained above 4 centimeters per second and is preferably between 10 and 25 centimeters per second, i.e. approximately 18 centimeters per second, for example. Further in accordance with the invention, the scalpel blade may be pushed or pulled across the area in which an incision is required. Also, the circular scalpel blade may be driven in a direction such that the periphery thereof at the incision travels in either a direction opposite to or the same as the direction of movement of the blade drawn along the line where the incision is required. Also, in accordance with the invention, the blade is illuminated any time power is applied to the scalpel, and the depth of cut may be physically limited by structure specifically designed and provided for such depth limiting.

Powered rotary scalpel method

High incision velocity vibrating scalpel structure and method comprising motor means including a motor having a drive shaft rotatable on energizing the motor, an eccentric fly wheel secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and scalpel blade support structure rigidly secured to the motor, all resiliently mounted in an elongated hollow body member, to which motor means a scalpel blade may be secured and vibrated on energizing of the motor means to rotate the fly wheel and alternating or direct current means for selectively energizing the motor. A resilient pivot may also be provided for the motor means and a resilient boot is provided over one end of the body member between the body member and motor means for sealing the one end of the body member. In use, on energizing the motor means, the motor means, scalpel blade support structure and scalpel blade are caused to vibrate at a high velocity to incise tissue with the scalpel blade. Movement of the scalpel blade is primarily arcuately about the pivot mounting for the motor means, and thus is primarily perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft, to a lesser extent longitudinally of the high incision velocity scalpel structure.

High incision velocity vibrating scalpel structure and method

High incision velocity vibrating scalpel structure and method comprising motor means including a motor having a drive shaft rotatable on energizing the motor, an eccentric fly wheel secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and scalpel blade support structure rigidly secured to the motor, all resiliently mounted in a elongated hollow body member, to which motor means a scalpel blade may be secured and vibrated on energizing of the motor means to rotate the fly wheel and alternating or direct current means for selectively energizing the motor. A resilient pivot may also be provided for the motor means and a resilient boot is provided over one end of the body member between the body member and motor means for sealing the one end of the body member. In use, on energizing the motor means, the motor means, scalpel blade support structure and scalpel blade are caused to vibrate at a high velocity to incise tissue with the scalpel blade. Movement of the scalpel blade is primarily arcuately about the pivot mounting for the motor means, and this is primarily perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft, to a lesser extent longitudinally of the high incision velocity scalpel structure.

Scalpel blade

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. The method of the invention comprises the steps of power assisting actuation of a surgeon's rongeur or the like with electrically actuated power cylinders and actuating the cylinders in pulsed steps and in multiple stages.

Surgical rongeur power grip structure and method

A method of and structure for separating tissue. The method comprises the step of directing a fluid medium under pressure from a tissue separator including a floating tip at the tissue while floating the tip of the separator on the fluid medium. The tissue may be living tissue and in accordance with the method of the invention may be separated along natural cleavage planes. The fluid medium may be a gas or liquid and may be regulated in pressure and formed in pulses. It may be passed around and/or through the floating tip. The tissue to be separated may also be nudged by the floating tip. The fluid medium may be treated water from a municipal water supply or separate container and may be passed over a high surface to fluid interacting soap-like, replaceable cartridge made of at least one of an abrading, cleansing, polishing, and geriocidal material within the tissue separator structure prior to being directed at the tissue to be separated. The tissue separator, in addition to including a floating tip and means for performing the above method steps, may also include means for suctioning from the area of the tissue being or to be separated.

Tissue separator method

A fashionable pair of spectacles with combined sliding and pivoting elements for viewing objects behind a forward facing user. The spectacles have temples at opposite ends of the eyepiece with longitudinal apertures for receiving closely fitting shafts. A pair of slender round shafts engage the apertures and have orthogonal forward end portions which project out of the apertures and receive reflective elements for viewing objects behind the user. In the first aspect of the invention, each reflective element is rotatably mounted to the orthogonal end of one shaft and is selectively adjustable by translating and rotating the shaft along and about the longitudinal axis of the corresponding temple aperture and by rotating the element about the axis of the orthogonal foward portion of the shaft. At the operative positions of the elements, the elements are in confronting relationship to the user and in front of the eyepiece and in the non-operative positions of the elements, the elements are in side facing relationship to the user and the eyepiece. In the second aspect of the invention each element is further adjustable by separating and rotatably attaching the forward end of the shaft to the other part of the shaft.

Spectacles with combined sliding and pivoting rear vision elements

A pair of spectacles which enable a forward facing user to view objects behind the user. A pair of swing arms is rotatably attached to the forward portion of the spectacles' temples. The swing arms are thin narrow members whose shapes are similar to the temples. A rear vision member is connected by a spherical joint to one end of each swing arm. The swing arms are individually rotatable in one direction for positioning the rear vision members at operative positions ahead of the spectacles' eyepiece and rotatable in the opposite direction for storing the swing arms and rear vision members behind the eyepiece. At the stored positions, the swing arms and rear vision members are adjacent to the outer surface of the temples and aligned with the temples. The spectacles have the appearance of a conventional pair of spectacles when the swing arms and rear vision members are at their stored positions. In the first aspect of the invention, the swing arms are rotatable about horizontal axes disposed in transverse relationship to the temples. In the second aspect of the invention, the swing arms are rotatable about vertical axes disposed in parallel relationship to the temples.

Spectacles with swing arm rear vision elements

A locking device for releasably securing a first member to a second member which second member has an opening therein for receiving a portion of the first member, a groove in the portion of the first member within the opening, a cylindrical pin in the second member extending across the opening in the first member and in the groove in the second member in one angular position thereof, a portion of which pin is removed so that in another angular position the pin does not extend into the groove in the first member. In one modification, the pin is bowed slightly to provide spring like interference to movement thereof. In another modification, the central portion of the pin is eccentric whereby the central portion of the pin extends into the groove in the first member in one rotated position of the pin, and is completely out of the groove in another rotated position. In a further modification, the second member includes a cylindrical selecting part and a rotatably mounted securing part. In this embodiment, the securing part has a sigle opening therethrough and the selecting part has a plurality of radially extending angularly spaced apart openings in the outer periphery thereof which can be aligned with the single opening of the securing part, while the second member includes a pin secured thereto operable to extend through the single opening of the securing part and any of the selected openings of the selecting part of the first member.

Locking device

Surgical separator structure comprising an elongated shaft having a handle at one end and a stem with controlled flexilibity at the other end and a tissue separating tip secured to the other end of the flexible stem. The shaft may have a separate handle part and stem part secured together centrally of the shaft. The tip is preferably spherical and may be constructed to snap on the end of the stem and may also be retained by adhesive or the like. Alternatively, the other end of the stem may be molded into the tip to secure the tip to the stem. In the method of manufacture of the surgical separator, the handle and stem may be separately produced and secured together by a threaded connection while the tip may be snapped over the end of the stem and/or secured thereto with adhesive. Alternatively, the stem may be molded of 'ABS' within a recess in the 'TEFLON' tip to lock the tip on the stem. The handle is preferably color coded to provide a visual indication of the flexibility of the shaft. The tip is preferably colored a color contrasting to the color of the stem and tissue such as bright yellow and is preferably luminescent.

Manual surgical separator structure and method

A fashionable pair of spectacles with a pair of dual pivot rear vision elements for viewing objects behind a forward facing user. The spectacles include a binocular eyepiece, a pair of symmetrically opposite temples rotatably attached to opposite end portions of the eyepiece, a pair of arms having windows for viewing dual pivot elements in their operative positions rotatably attached to the end portions of the eyepiece, and the pair of dual pivot elements having reflective surfaces rotatably attached to the arms. The dual pivot elements are rotatable about their attachments to the arms from non-operative stored positions alongside the temples whereat their reflective surfaces are in facing relationship to the user to operative positions whereat the arms extend forward of the eyepiece, the rear vision elements extend outwardly from the arms and the reflective surfaces of the elements are in facing relationship to the user.

Spectacles with temple dual pivot rear vision elements

Structure for and method of driving a motor vehicle including one or more curvilinear drive shafts including a multistrand flexible cable providing primary two wheel drive or permanent or selectively actuable four wheel drive with front or rear mounted power packs oriented North/South or East/West. Torque limiters and clutches are provided between the power pack, drive shafts and wheels and may be selectively actuated in desired sequence. The torque limiters provide torque differentiation between vehicle wheels rather than rotational differentiation and may be utilized for this feature with rigid drive shafts. In different embodiments of the invention, the rear wheels may be driven directly from two separate front to rear drive shafts which may cross each other and the transverse drive shaft may be eliminated. Also, a single curvilinear drive shaft extending over, under or through a vehicle gas tank may be provided between a vehicle power pack and a pinion, ring gear and differential rear axle assembly. The constant spring loaded torque limiter principle may apply to a front wheel drive vehicle, when interfaced in one of the driving front wheel half shafts, thus eliminating the conventional revolution differential action between the front wheels and allowing a selected traction on one wheel while the other wheel slips on low coefficient of friction pavement.

Curvilinear flexible vehicle drive structure and method

Combination surgical drape, dressing and closure structure and method of use before, during and after a surgical procedure. A combination drape and dressing includes a central dressing portion which may have an incision guide line, transverse index lines and intersecting grid lines which may be radio-opaque thereon, and a peripheral drape portion which portions are secured together by means of a weakened tear line. A straddling closure is utilized in conjunction with the combination drape and dressing to close an incision made through the dressing portion of the combination drape and dressing which straddling closure may be integral with or separate from the drape and dressing and extends over and beyond the entire length of the incision and for a substantial distance on both sides thereof. The straddling closure may be substantially flat or in a modification may be initially rolled, to be rolled onto the dressing portion of the combination drape and dressing over an incision therethrough. In a further embodiment, the straddling closure may be a quick air drying polymer rolled or sprayed onto the dressing portion of the combination drape and dressing over an incision therethrough. Also, the straddling closure may be constructed of stretchable material. Antiseptic material and/or medication may be sprayed on or placed in the dressing portion of the combination drape and dressing, or the straddling closure. All or any of the portions of the combination surgical drape, dressing and closure structure may be color coded for such things as medication, size and shape.

Multi-purpose integrated surgical drape, dressing, and closure structure

Rotary scalpel blade and blade protector structure. The rotary scalpel blade in one embodiment is circular and has a sharpened outer periphery and an opening through the center thereof for securing the blade to means for rotating the blade. In modifications of the circular scalpel blade the sides of the scalpel blade may be concave, depressed or flat with an annular groove around the outer periphery thereof. The rotary scalpel blade may also be a linear radial scalpel blade sharpened on one or both edges. The blade protector structure in one embodiment includes a disc having a disc shaped pocket in the center thereof split centrally to receive a scalpel blade, held together with a living hinge and locked in closed position by a split cylinder positioned over a cylindrical flange on one side of the blade protector. In another embodiment, the blade protector is a plastic envelope including a recess open on one side and having slots extending thereacross with a reduced opening at the top for receiving blades to be protected. A further embodiment of the blade protector is a flat, flexible sheet having a tacky adhesive on one side thereof.

Rotary scalpel blade and blade protector structure

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.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

George H Muller