Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A surgical closure method, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate rod-like member provided at a distal end with a pair of expandable balloons in a collapsed configuration, one of said balloons being located distally of another of said balloons; inserting into a patient's abdominal cavity, through an aperture in an abdominal wall of a patient, a distal portion of said rod-like member; subsequently inserting the distal end of said rod-like member and only said one of said balloons through an opening in a selected internal body organ or tissue of the patient; and inflating said balloons from said collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration so that a portion of the selected internal body organ or tissue is sandwiched between said balloons, thereby at least temporarily closing the opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A surgical closure method, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate rod-like member provided at a distal end with a pair of expandable balloons in a collapsed configuration, one of said balloons being located distally of another of said balloons; inserting into a patient's abdominal cavity, through an aperture in an abdominal wall of a patient, a distal portion of said rod-like member; subsequently inserting the distal end of said rod-like member and only said one of said balloons through an opening in a selected internal body organ or tissue of the patient; and inflating said balloons from said collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration so that a portion of the selected internal body organ or tissue is sandwiched between said balloons, thereby at least temporarily closing the opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said rod-like member is hollow and takes the form of a tube, further comprising the step of applying suction to said tube upon completion of said step of inflating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 2, further comprising the step of crimping said tube upon completion of said step of applying suction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 3, further comprising the step of severing said tube proximally of said another of said balloons upon completion of said step of crimping.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said step of inflating includes the step of first inflating said one of said balloons and subsequently inflating said another of said balloons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of severing said rod-like member proximally of said another of said balloons upon completion of said step of inflating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A surgical closure method, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate rod-like member provided at a distal end with a pair of expandable balloons in a collapsed configuration, said rod-like member being hollow and in the form of a tube, one of said balloons being located distally of another of said balloons; inserting the distal end of said rod-like member and only said one of said balloons through an opening in a selected internal body organ or tissue of the patient; inflating said balloons from said collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration so that a portion of the selected internal body organ or tissue is sandwiched between said balloons, thereby at least temporarily closing the opening; and applying suction to said tube upon completion of said step of inflating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A surgical closure method, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate rod-like member provided at a distal end with a pair of expandable balloons in a collapsed configuration, said rod-like member being hollow and in the form of a tube, one of said balloons being located distally of another of said balloons; inserting the distal end of said rod-like member and only said one of said balloons through an opening in a selected internal body organ or tissue of the patient; inflating said balloons from said collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration so that a portion of the selected internal body organ or tissue is sandwiched between said balloons, thereby at least temporarily closing the opening; and applying suction to said tube upon completion of said step of inflating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 7, further comprising the step of crimping said tube upon completion of said step of applying suction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of severing said tube proximally of said another of said balloons upon completion of said step of crimping.