Medtronic Ps Medical, Inc.

Medtronic Xomed, Inc.

Siemens Electrocom, L.p.

Electrocom Automation

Siemens Dematic Postal Automation, L.p.

John W Kulas

Donald E Stearns

Luiz C Harres

Kenneth A McKee

Mark L Carlile

Lynn V Hill

Joseph C Rotenberry

Gerald A Isaacs

Richard C Hickey

Harold G Burkett, Jr

Charles M Combs

Allen P Hilton

Brad Smythe Clayton

Jennifer Card

A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.

Surgical burs with localized auxiliary flutes

Disclosed is a system to engage one or more tools. In the system, a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. A guide may be used with the system to select various features of a procedure, such as depth and position.

Drill guide assembly and method

A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.

Surgical bur with non-paired flutes

A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.

Surgical burs with decoupled rake surfaces and corresponding axial and radial rake angles

A surgical bur includes a body and a drill point. The body includes flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, a rake face, and a clearance surface. Each of the lands is convex-shaped and disposed between a pair of the flutes. The drill point includes axial relief surfaces. Each of the axial relief surfaces has a planar area, is distinct from the lands and borders (i) a distal portion of one of the cutting edges, (ii) one of the lands, and (iii) one of the clearance surfaces.

Surgical bur with soft tissue protective geometry

Surgical burs with geometries having non-drifting and soft tissue protective characteristics

An apparatus for automatically transferring and handling cartridges containing flat articles. The method and apparatus robotically transfers filled cartridges from the output compartments of a sorting machine to a buffer shelf; and from the buffer shelf to a docking station of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder to the input of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments of the sorter, is provided.

Transfer of cartridges containing flat articles

A method and apparatus for automatically transferring and handling cartridges containing flat articles. The method and apparatus robotically transfers filled cartridges from the output compartments of a sorting machine to a buffer shelf; and from the buffer shelf to a docking station of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder to the input of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments of the sorter, is provided.

A method and apparatus for automatically sorting and feeding flat articles. The method stacks flat articles into cartridges in output compartments of a sorting machine, robotically transfers filled cartridges from the output compartments of a sorting machine to a buffer shelf; and from the buffer shelf to a docking station of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder to the input of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments of the sorter.

Growing community of inventors

Euless, TX, United States of America

John W Kulas