Charles Starr Atwood Deceased417 Benton Ln, Franklin, TN 37067

4473076, Sep 25, 1984

Apr 7, 1982

6/366154

Rodger W. Williams - Brentwood TN
Dale W. Raymond - Clearwater FL
Charles W. Atwood - Nashville TN

VXTRA Development Limited 700 Division - Nashville TN

A61B 1704

128305

A surgical knife includes a blade secured to the knife body and having a cutting edge projecting transversely beyond the body profile. A slotted ski member is movable axially relative to the cutting edge to selectively expose the cutting edge by means of plural thread segments which cooperate to convert rotary motion to said axially controlled axial motion. The position of the ski and blade beyond the body profile enhances visibility of the incision. In the preferred embodiment, the ski is part of a shaft which is threadedly received in a spindle, which, in turn, is threadedly received in the same sense within the knife body. The ski shaft is procluded from rotary motion relative to the knife body and its threads have a greater pitch than the body threads; consequently, axial displacement of the spindle in one direction produces axial displacement of the ski in the opposite direction. The blade and blade holder, which remain stationary relative to the body, may be disposable so that the ski and ski translating mechanism can be re-used as desired. Alternatively, the entire knife assembly may be disposable.

4711352, Dec 8, 1987

Aug 13, 1986

6/896335

Rodger W. Williams - Nashville TN
Charles W. Atwood - Nashville TN

Vxtra Corp. - Nashville TN

B65D 8310

206365

A device for holding and protecting delicate instruments, such as microsurgical instruments, such as microsurgical instruments, is described. The device to protect delicate features of instruments from damage during shipping, storage, or other forms of handling. The device includes a base or stage on which spacing means and first and second securing means are provided.

4560144, Dec 24, 1985

Mar 12, 1985

6/710961

Rodger W. Williams - Nashville TN
Charles W. Atwood - Nashville TN
Lawrence J. Morgan - Nashville TN

Vxtra Corporation, 700 Division - Nashville TN

F16K 3100

251344

Fluid coupling devices are disclosed for use in receptacles such as receptacles on surgical aspiration equipment for selectively connecting a fluid conduit in the receptacle with a flow passage formed through a coupling device. The coupling devices in accordance with the invention comprise a spindle member which is non-rotatably held in the receptacle and a body member rotatably mounted on the spindle member for movement between an open position in which communication is established between the flow conduit in the receptacle and the flow passage in the coupling device, and a closed position disconnecting the conduit from the flow passage. The body member has a cam insert member with a through bore for connecting the flow conduit with the flow passage. The spindle member is formed with a cam surface for urging the cam insert member outwardly when it is moved into registration with the flow conduit in the receptacle so that an annular sealing lip on the outer surface of the cam insert member is compressed around the flow conduit to form an effective seal. In one embodiment of the invention the flow passage through the coupling device is formed through the body member and in another embodiment of the invention the flow passage through the coupling device is formed axially through the spindle member.

4553957, Nov 19, 1985

May 3, 1983

6/491222

Rodger W. Williams - Nashville TN
Charles W. Atwood - Nashville TN

Alcon Laboratories, Inc. - Fort Worth TX

A61M 300

604 43

A hand-held cannula assembly for irrigating and aspirating ophthalmic surgical sites includes an irrigation cannula circumscribed about an aspiration cannula and extending out through the forward end of the assembly from a reservoir for the irrigation fluid in the handle. Pressurized irrigation fluid is supplied to the reservoir through the rearward end of the handle and flows through openings in the irrigation cannula periphery into an annular flow passage between the two cannulas. An opening in the irrigation cannula issues the irrigation fluid at the surgical site. Aspiration fluid is drawn into the aspiration cannula which extends through the handle interior to an outflow opening at the rearward handle end.