DR. JOHN M. AGEE, M.D.
Medical Practice at Scripps Dr, Sacramento, CA

4564180, Jan 14, 1986

Nov 15, 1983

6/552185

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA
Francis C. King - Shingle Springs CA

A61G 1300

269 75

Apparatus for supporting a patient's hand for surgery, the apparatus including a base plate for placement on an operating table, and an upper plate above the base plate and pivotally coupled thereto by an adjustable ball and socket assembly. The upper plate can be pivoted into any one of a number of operative positions, and the ball and socket assembly can be adjusted to releasably hold the upper plate in a fixed position. A pair of surface defining devices are located near one end edge of the upper plate, one of the devices having a flat upper surface coextensive with the upper surface of the plate, the other device being hingedly mounted to the first device to provide a flat surface coextensive with the upper surface of the plate when the second device is in an outwardly extending position with respect to the first device. The second device can move into a position overlying the first device to present a convex upper surface on the second device for supporting the fingers of the hand when the dorsal surfaces of the hand and wrist are to be exposed. The parts of the apparatus are made of metal to permit them to be steam autoclaved for sterility.

4611586, Sep 16, 1986

Oct 6, 1983

6/539766

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA
Francis C. King - Shingle Springs CA

A61F 504

128 92A

A splint, for setting a Colles' fracture, formed from a pair of relatively shiftable elements, one of which is an elongated support element having a traveling block shiftable along the length thereof, the second element being pivotally mounted on the first element. The pivotal axis of the two relatively movable elements is aligned with the rotational axis of the fracture site itself, specifically the distal radial-ulnar joint, the joint between the radius and ulna at the level of the wrist. The travelling block is adjusted by a first worm and rack, and the angular adjustment between the pivoted elements is achieved with a second worm and a worm gear, the traveling block and the second element each having holes for receiving bone pins which extend into the radius proximal to the fracture and the metacarpal bones distal to the fracture. The first element is preferably made of plastic and transparent to x-rays. With the traveling block shiftable along the first element, distraction of the radius restores length to the same; a second selective adjustment rotates the first element relative to the second element and, in so doing, carries the hand, wrist and distal fragment through the same axis about which the fracture originally evolved and thereby improves both rotational and appositional alignment at the fracture site.

4349922, Sep 21, 1982

Mar 23, 1981

6/246834

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA

A61F 103

3 191

A prosthesis for a joint of the human body, such as the metacarpophalangeal, knee, or other joint. The prosthesis includes at least a pair of elongated stem members adapted to be inserted into and bonded to two bones which met to form the joint. The adjacent surfaces of the two stem members form an interface with each other to present the prosthetic joint interface. The two members are interconnected by a pivot mechanism comprised of a rotatable element in a slot in a first of the stem members, and a linking pin pivotally coupled to the element and to the second stem member so that the second stem member can pivot relative to the first stem member about three different axes. The mechanism is made so that the pivotal movement of the second stem member relative to the first stem member about any one of the axes can be accomplished without imparting significant torsional or bending loads to the first stem member. This assures that the first and second stem members remain implanted in the respective bones at all times.

5387223, Feb 7, 1995

Sep 24, 1993

8/126257

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA
Francis King - Sacramento CA

A61B 1732

606186

Apparatus and method are described for selective cutting of the transverse carpal ligament of a patient. The instrument includes spaced-apart teeth which are supported on a first arm and a press member which is carried by a second arm. The teeth are prevented from contacting tissue when the first arm is inserted into, or retracted from, the carpal tunnel. After insertion of the first arm into the carpal tunnel, the teeth are exposed to the transverse carpal ligament and the first and second arms are moved towards each other to force the teeth into the transverse carpal ligament to perforate the ligament and enable it to elongate.

5868686, Feb 9, 1999

May 15, 1997

8/857174

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA
Timothy R. Maher - Sacramento CA

A61B 512

600595

Keyboard constructions and methods are described which force or provide feedback for finger action that will enhance stability of the carpal tunnel tendons. Methods are described for reducing incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a person who operates a keyboard, involving monitoring actuation of switches, measuring a depression characteristic, comparing the depression characteristic with a predetermined value, and creating a signal corresponding to the number of keystrokes executed with a depression characteristic less than the predetermined value. A method is also described for detecting unphysiologic tendon translation denoting tendon instability in the carpal tunnel of a person who engages in repetitive hand motion.

4922896, May 8, 1990

May 5, 1989

7/347990

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA
Francis C. King - Sacramento CA

A61F 504

606 55

An improved splint is described for setting a Colles' fracture. The splint includes first, second and third elements connected together. A metacarpal bar is carried on the first element and is movable therealong. Two pins pass through the metacarpal bar and extend into a bone of a patient of one side of a bone fracture. The second element is pivotally mounted on one end of the first element for movement about an axis which forms an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first element. The third element is pivotally mounted on the second element for movement about an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second element. The third element includes transverse openings through which two pins extend which are inserted into the bone of a patient on the opposite side of the bone fracture. In one embodiment the metacarpal bar can be rotated about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first element.

4548199, Oct 22, 1985

Nov 23, 1983

6/555104

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA

A61F 504

128 92A

A fracture splint for setting fractures of the distal radius includes a distal member including a first stationary component and a first movable component pivotally pinned to the first stationary component, a proximal member including a second stationary component and a second movable component pivotally pinned to the second stationary component and a pair of intermediate, length-adjustment blocks slidably positioned along rods which extend between the distal member and the proximal member and being movable with respect to their correspondingly adjacent member by means of an adjustment screw. The distal member rigidly anchors a first surgical pin which passes through both metaphyseal corticies of the second metacarpal base and is received by the third metacarpal. The proximal member rigidly anchors two surgical pins which are inserted into the radial side of the radius perpendicular to the long axis of the radius. The first and second movable components and the adjustment screw and adjustment block arrangement permit the application of distraction forces in three directions independently of each other such that optimal length to the dorsal and radial aspects to the distal radius is restored.

5306284, Apr 26, 1994

Feb 19, 1992

7/838532

John M. Agee - Sacramento CA
Francis King - Sacramento CA
Kimberly A. Romanko - St. Paul MN
Lawrence A. Flor - St. Paul MN
Thomas A. Turgeon - St. Paul MN
William A. Mittelstadt - St. Paul MN

Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co. - St. Paul MN

A61B 1732

606170

Surgical instruments are disclosed for manipulating selected tissue in a body cavity under visual inspection. The preferred instrument includes a probe in which a blade is positioned, wherein the probe includes a lateral aperture near its distal end. The blade can be extended outwardly from the probe along a path which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the probe. After the blade has been extended it can be used to effectively divide tissue. An optical system can be received in the probe for viewing through the lateral aperture in the probe.