US4553543A — Suturing assembly and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 248 words

A surgical suturing assembly especially adapted for use in the rejoining of severed tubular body ducts such as blood vessels and the like comprising: a plurality of flexible suture needle means for piercing the walls of said severed tubular body ducts, passing through these walls, and pulling suture material therethrough; a core having a first cylindrically-shaped portion defining a plurality of longitudinally oriented slots about the surface thereof and a second flared, slotted, end portion located at the end of said first portion, said second portion, and the slots defined therewith, being continuous with said first portion and its slots such that said slots flare at said flared end portion, each of said slots being of a size for receiving at least one of said needle means, but allowing said needle means freedom for longitudinal movement therein; a tubularly shaped sleeve for surrounding said first portion of said core, said sleeve being of a size and shape for holding said needle means radially in said slots when said core first portion is fully received in said sleeve, but for allowing said needle means freedom of longitudinal movement in said slots, said needle means being longer than either of said core first portion or said sleeve; whereby said second, flared portion of said core can be inserted into said severed tubular body duct while said needle means are forced to move in said slots longitudinally against said flared end portion and radially outwardly through the walls of said duct.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 248 words

A surgical suturing assembly especially adapted for use in the rejoining of severed tubular body ducts such as blood vessels and the like comprising: a plurality of flexible suture needle means for piercing the walls of said severed tubular body ducts, passing through these walls, and pulling suture material therethrough; a core having a first cylindrically-shaped portion defining a plurality of longitudinally oriented slots about the surface thereof and a second flared, slotted, end portion located at the end of said first portion, said second portion, and the slots defined therewith, being continuous with said first portion and its slots such that said slots flare at said flared end portion, each of said slots being of a size for receiving at least one of said needle means, but allowing said needle means freedom for longitudinal movement therein; a tubularly shaped sleeve for surrounding said first portion of said core, said sleeve being of a size and shape for holding said needle means radially in said slots when said core first portion is fully received in said sleeve, but for allowing said needle means freedom of longitudinal movement in said slots, said needle means being longer than either of said core first portion or said sleeve; whereby said second, flared portion of said core can be inserted into said severed tubular body duct while said needle means are forced to move in said slots longitudinally against said flared end portion and radially outwardly through the walls of said duct.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is constructed of a plurality of separable parts.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 2 wherein said separable sleeve parts are held together by a releasable holding means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 3 wherein said holding means is a scissors-like clamp.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is tape.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 1 wherein said assembly includes first and second sets, each having a core, a sleeve, and a plurality of needles arranged as recited, there being suturing threads extending between needles of said respective sets.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 6 wherein said threads are color coded.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 6 wherein is further included a guiding means extending between said first and second sets for maintaining the cores of said respective sets in proper orientation one to the other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

A surgical suturing assembly as in claim 1 wherein said core has a somewhat pointed end on the opposite side of said flared portion from said cylindrically-shaped portion for enabling an operator to more easily insert the core into a body duct.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 181 words

The process of attaching suturing thread to a severed tubular body duct at multiple points about said duct comprising the steps of: inserting a flared end of an elongated core into said severed tubular body duct, said elongated core defining a plurality of longitudinally-oriented slots positioned about an outer surface thereof and located adjacent said flared end, each of said slots being of a size for receiving a needle therein, but for allowing said needle freedom for longitudinal movement therein; driving a plurality of needles longitudinally along said slots, each needle being in a separate one of said slots and each needle having a distal, pointed end and a proximal end attached to a suturing thread, said distal pointed ends being driven into said severed tubular body duct against said flared surface of said core thereby causing said needles to bend outwardly and be driven through the wall of said tubular body duct at said multiple points; and forcing said needles and threads through the wall of said tubular body duct at said multiple points about said severed tubular body duct.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 181 words

The process of attaching suturing thread to a severed tubular body duct at multiple points about said duct comprising the steps of: inserting a flared end of an elongated core into said severed tubular body duct, said elongated core defining a plurality of longitudinally-oriented slots positioned about an outer surface thereof and located adjacent said flared end, each of said slots being of a size for receiving a needle therein, but for allowing said needle freedom for longitudinal movement therein; driving a plurality of needles longitudinally along said slots, each needle being in a separate one of said slots and each needle having a distal, pointed end and a proximal end attached to a suturing thread, said distal pointed ends being driven into said severed tubular body duct against said flared surface of said core thereby causing said needles to bend outwardly and be driven through the wall of said tubular body duct at said multiple points; and forcing said needles and threads through the wall of said tubular body duct at said multiple points about said severed tubular body duct.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

A process as recited in claim 10 wherein a portion of said core is surrounded by a tubularly-shaped sleeve to guide said needles longitudinally along said core against said flared portion and through the walls of said body duct.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-11-18	1989-05-20	1989-11-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-11-18	1993-05-20	1993-11-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-11-18	1997-05-20	1997-11-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Suturing assembly and method

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