Howmedica Corp.

Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.

Rocco R Borzone

Stanley E Asnis

John S Crombie

Peter Stanley Walker

Thomas Francis McCarthy

Frank B Gray

Arthur E Ellison

Jay Bichet

David L Nelson

Andrew Balaity

A suture anchor and driver device is described that is designed to secure a suture anchor to a bone in a patient to allow soft tissue or the like to be secured to the bone. The suture anchor itself engages the suture along the length of a passage that passes through the diameter of the distal end of the suture anchor, providing for a relatively large area of engagement to minimize stress on the suture material. The driver is designed to engage the suture anchor and guide the suture material along outside surface of the driver.

Suture anchor and driver

A device for bending a plate with an offset distance L and two angles simultaneously is provided, the device comprising special jaws which are replaceably attachable to the jaws of a pliers. A kit of a plurality of sets of bending jaws having a variety of offset lengths is provided.

Bending method using cooperating jaws having angled planar faces

A pin is disclosed that includes an elongated shaft having a constant diameter, and an elongated threaded portion having first and second axially separated ends, the first axial end being axially closer to the elongated shaft than the second axial end. The threaded portion has a root diameter that tapers linearly from a maximum value at the first axial end to a minimum value at the second axial end. The root diameter at the first axial end is substantially equal to the diameter of the elongated shaft itself. The pin also includes a drill end extending axially from the second axial end of the threaded portion such that the drill end is connected to the elongated shaft by the threaded portion. Also disclosed is a preferred method of forming the threaded portion on the pin including the steps of: rotating the pin about its longitudinal axis; moving a cutting surface at a predetermined speed across an axial portion of the rotating pin to thereby cut threads in the axial portion; and linearly increasing the distance between the cutting surface and the longitudinal axis of the pin as the cutting surface is moved across the axial portion of the pin.

Pin with tapered root diameter

A coupling device and method of coupling especially suitable for coupling multiple components of surgical instruments are provided. A wedging portion provides an interference fit between parts so that a secure connection can be made that will not unintentionally dissociate. In a preferred embodiment, bores and counterbores within dovetail portions are provided. Especially preferred is the use of this coupling device to secure a reamer head to a shaft.

Dovetail-type coupling device and method

The cutting head for a surgical reamer has a leading end for insertion into a bone canal and a trailing end for attachment to a drive shaft. The cutting head has a cutting surface formed about an axis of rotation of the cutting head. The cutting surface is formed by the rotation of the cutting edges on a plurality of flutes spaced around the axis of rotation. Each cutting edge has a first portion spaced a predetermined radial distance from the axis of rotation at the tip portion and terminates at a terminating point which is at a greater radial distance from the axis of rotation than the starting point. The cutting edge on each flute has a second portion having a starting point at the trailing end of the cutting head which is at a second predetermined radial distance from the axis of rotation. The second portion extends axially towards the tip portion and terminates at a point at a greater radial distance from the axis of rotation than the starting point thereof. A third curved portion starts at the terminating point of the first portion and terminates at the terminating point of the second portion and intersects the first and second portions tangentially.

Surgical reamer

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

A novel pliers-like tool is disclosed for bringing into engagement the first member, having a head and a neck depending therefrom, and the second member, having a cavity therein receiving said head, of a joint prosthesis. In use, the inner surface of one, preferably bifurcated, jaw of the tool bears against the outer surface of the second member, while the tip of the other jaw bears against the neck of the first member. The two members are readily brought into engagement by closing the handles of the tool.

Tool and method for engaging two members of a joint prosthesis

A novel method and system for inserting a surgical wire into a patient's bone is disclosed. The novel system includes a novel tool for guiding a surgical wire into the patient's bone at a universally adjustable position in relation to a previously inserted wire, and a novel guide pin-external sleeve combination whose use greatly facilitates the steps of guide pin insertion and, after the sleeve has been removed, insertion of a cannulated surgical implant over the guide pin. The novel system is particularly suited for use in a surgical procedure for fixing a fracture in the femoral neck with a plurality of parallel cannulated bone screws.

Method and system for inserting a surgical wire

The device includes a novel tool for guiding a surgical wire into the patient's bone at a universally adjustable position in relation to a previously inserted wire, and a novel guide pin-external sleeve combination whose use greatly facilitates the steps of guide pin insertion and, after the sleeve has been removed, insertion of a cannulated surgical implant over the guide pin. The novel device is particularly suited for use in a surgical procedure for fixing a fracture in the femoral neck with a plurality of parallel cannulated bone screws.

Device for guiding the insertion of surgical wires into bone tissue

A novel combination of a bone implant, e.g. a bone staple, and a tissue retention element in sliding relation therewith is disclosed. The tissue retention element is provided with a multiplicity of teeth capable of piercing and holding in place adjacent soft tissue when the implant is driven into the bone structure of a patient. Since the tissue retention element is separable from the implant, the same element can be used in combination with different bone implants.

Soft tissue retainer for use with bone implants, especially bone staples

A novel knee prosthesis is disclosed comprising a femoral component and a tibial component adapted respectively to be secured to the adjacent ends of the femur and tibia, with each component comprising a spaced pair of bearing portions for articulation of the knee in the sagittal plane. A first guiding surface carried by the femoral component cooperates with a second guiding surface carried by the tibial component to induce posterior movement of the contact area of the femoral bearing portions upon the tibial bearing portions with increasing flexion of the knee. The two guiding surfaces are preferably located in the intercondylar region. The prosthesis may also be adapted for use in other joints, e.g. the elbow.

Growing community of inventors

Emerson, NJ, United States of America

Rocco R Borzone