Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Depuy Products, Inc.

Depuy Mitek, Inc.

Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.

Keith M McGrath

Prasanna Malaviya

Herbert Eugene Schwartz

Anthony D Zannis

Thomas C May

Robert J Ball

Andrew M Jacobs

Jack Farr, Ii

Danny E McAdams

Carl Basamania

Randall L Holcomb

Surgical instruments for use in mapping tissue defects include telescoping rulers and tubes. One of the instruments has a pointed anchoring tip for piercing tissue near the site of the defect. Another instrument has a hook for catching an anatomical landmark. Measuring portions of the rulers of both instruments include distance indicia so that a coordinate system can be established for mapping the location of the defect or of an implant at the defect site. The coordinate system can be re-established at a later time using the same fixation point for the anchoring tip and the same landmark for the hook to evaluate the clinical effects of the treatment selected. The method of using the instrument set is also described.

Coordinate instrument set

A cannula has a flange and a body with slots extending through the entire flange and into the body. The cannula may also have a longitudinal slot extending its entire length. An obturator used with the cannula may also have a longitudinal slot extending along its length. A surgical method using these instruments includes separating lengths of suture and managing the suture by placing lengths of suture in the slots in the cannula. The cannula and obturator may be used after suture is already in place by placing the suture in the longitudinal slots and then introducing the cannula and obturator to the tissue defect site. The cannula may also be used to deliver a therapeutic implant to the tissue defect site. The instruments and method may be used in mensical surgery.

Instruments, kit and method for suture management

Method of delivering therapeutic implant

An adjustable self retaining retractor ring assembly is provided. The self retaining retractor ring assembly is formed from two half-rings connected together by hinges to form a 360&deg; enclosure or ring. The hinges allow the two half-rings to bend or pivot 180&deg; relative to a plane of the ring. One of the hinges includes a positionable locking mechanism to lock or set the angular orientation of the two half-rings relative to each other. In this manner, fixed angles for the half-rings can be selected and maintained. Each half-ring includes a plurality of axially protruding pegs or posts (relative to a plane of the half-ring) positioned thereabout. The posts are shaped to releasably accept retractors and/or ancillary instruments thereon. Additionally, each post preferably includes a slot configured to allow for the locking of suture material therein.

Self retaining retractor ring

Growing community of inventors

Warsaw, IN, United States of America

Keith M McGrath