US5176692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and surgical instrument for repairing hernia
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-12-09
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Granted: 1993-01-05
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Expires: 2011-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A surgical instrument for use in hernia repair comprises an elongate tube having a distal end and a proximal end and a balloon attached in a collapsed configuration to the tube at the distal end, the balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body. A net which envelops the balloon is also attached to the tube at the distal end thereof. During a hernia repair operation, the tube is used to insert the balloon from the abdominal cavity of a patient through a hernial opening in an abdominal wall of the patient and into a hernial pocket in inguinal tissue. After the balloon has been so inserted, it is inflated, which expands the net, and the abdominal wall opening is subsequently sealed. A mesh of biologically inert polymeric material for inducing human tissue growth is attached to the abdominal wall over the opening therein. The peritoneal tissue is stapled closed over the sealed opening in the abdominal wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Wilk
- 👤 James Z. Cinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0063; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/0057; A61B17/00234; A61F2002/0072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A surgical instrument for use in repairing an internal body organ of a patient, comprising: an elongate rod-like member having a distal end and a proximal end; a balloon detachably attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said balloon being expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, said balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body; and inflation means operatively connected to said balloon for enabling an expansion of said balloon from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A surgical instrument for use in repairing an internal body organ of a patient, comprising: an elongate rod-like member having a distal end and a proximal end; a balloon detachably attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said balloon being expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, said balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body; and inflation means operatively connected to said balloon for enabling an expansion of said balloon from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The instrument defined in claim 1, further comprising means attached to said balloon for inducing human tissue growth upon insertion and inflation of said balloon in a hernial pocket of a patient and upon subsequent absorption of said balloon by internal tissues of the patient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The instrument defined in claim 2 wherein said means for inducing includes a net-like member attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said net-like member enveloping said balloon, said net-like member being made of a biologically inert and flexible polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument defined in claim 3 wherein said net-like member is formed with a plurality of outwardly extending projections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The instrument defined in claim 2 wherein said means for inducing includes a mesh web attached to said balloon at a proximal end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument defined in claim 5 wherein said mesh web is formed with a plurality of outwardly extending projections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The instrument defined in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said tube proximate to said balloon and located proximally thereof is deformable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said rod-like member is hollow and thereby takes the form of a tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The instrument defined in claim 1, further comprising means operatively attached to said balloon for preventing deflation thereof prior to absorption of the material of said balloon by body tissues into which said balloon has been inserted in a surgical operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument defined in claim 9 wherein said means for preventing includes a one-way valve.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for performing a hernia repair operation, comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in a peritoneal lining of a patient; upon completion of said step of forming, inserting a balloon from an abdominal cavity of the patient through said aperture and a hernial opening in an abdominal wall of the patient and into a hernial pocket in inguinal tissue; inflating said balloon; sealing said opening; and closing said aperture upon completion of said step of sealing.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for performing a hernia repair operation, comprising the steps of: forming an aperture in a peritoneal lining of a patient; upon completion of said step of forming, inserting a balloon from an abdominal cavity of the patient through said aperture and a hernial opening in an abdominal wall of the patient and into a hernial pocket in inguinal tissue; inflating said balloon; sealing said opening; and closing said aperture upon completion of said step of sealing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said step of sealing comprises the step of attaching to the abdominal wall of the patient over said opening means for inducing human tissue growth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 12 wherein said means for inducing human tissue growth takes the form of a mesh web made of a biologically inert and flexible polymeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 11, further comprising the step, performed prior to said step of sealing, of inserting into said hernial pocket through said opening means for inducing human tissue growth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein said means for inducing human tissue growth takes the form of a net-like member made of a biologically inert and flexible polymeric material, further comprising the step of opening said net-like member from a collapsed configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein said net-like member surrounds said balloon, said step of opening comprising the step of expanding said net-like member by inflating said balloon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said balloon is attached to an elongate rod-like member, further comprising the step of severing said rod-like member proximate to said balloon upon completion of said step of inflating.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said balloon is made of a material which is absorbable by the human body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
A surgical instrument for use in repairing an internal body organ of a patient, comprising: an elongate rod-like member having a distal end and a proximal end; a balloon detachably attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said balloon being expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, said balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body; inflation means operatively connected to said balloon for enabling an expansion of said balloon from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration; and unitary means made of a biologically inert and flexible polymeric material attached to said balloon and substantially enveloping same for inducing human tissue growth upon insertion and inflation of said balloon in a hernial pocket of a patient and upon subsequent absorption of said balloon by internal tissues of the patient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
143 words
A surgical instrument for use in repairing an internal body organ of a patient, comprising: an elongate rod-like member having a distal end and a proximal end; a balloon detachably attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said balloon being expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, said balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body; inflation means operatively connected to said balloon for enabling an expansion of said balloon from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration; and unitary means made of a biologically inert and flexible polymeric material attached to said balloon and substantially enveloping same for inducing human tissue growth upon insertion and inflation of said balloon in a hernial pocket of a patient and upon subsequent absorption of said balloon by internal tissues of the patient.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument defined in claim 19 wherein said means for inducing includes a net-like member attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
148 words
A surgical instrument for use in repairing an internal body organ of a patient, comprising: an elongate rod-like member having a distal end and a proximal end; a balloon detachably attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said balloon being expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, said balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body; inflation means operatively connected to said balloon for enabling an expansion of said balloon from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration; and means attached to said balloon for inducing human tissue growth upon insertion and inflation of said balloon in a hernial pocket of a patient and upon subsequent absorption of said balloon by internal tissues of the patient, said means for inducing including a substantially planar mesh web attached to said balloon at a proximal end thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
148 words
A surgical instrument for use in repairing an internal body organ of a patient, comprising: an elongate rod-like member having a distal end and a proximal end; a balloon detachably attached in a collapsed configuration to said rod-like member at said distal end, said balloon being expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, said balloon being made of a material which is absorbable by the human body; inflation means operatively connected to said balloon for enabling an expansion of said balloon from said collapsed configuration to said expanded configuration; and means attached to said balloon for inducing human tissue growth upon insertion and inflation of said balloon in a hernial pocket of a patient and upon subsequent absorption of said balloon by internal tissues of the patient, said means for inducing including a substantially planar mesh web attached to said balloon at a proximal end thereof.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for performing a hernia repair operation, comprising the steps of: inserting a balloon from an abdominal cavity of a patient through a hernial opening in an abdominal wall of the patient and into a hernial pocket in inguinal tissue, said balloon being attached to an elongate rod-like member; inflating said balloon; severing said rod-like member proximate to said balloon upon completion of said step of inflating; and sealing said opening.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for performing a hernia repair operation, comprising the steps of: inserting a balloon from an abdominal cavity of a patient through a hernial opening in an abdominal wall of the patient and into a hernial pocket in inguinal tissue, said balloon being attached to an elongate rod-like member; inflating said balloon; severing said rod-like member proximate to said balloon upon completion of said step of inflating; and sealing said opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-05 | 1996-07-06 | 1997-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-05 | 2000-07-06 | 2001-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-05 | 2004-07-06 | 2005-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |