Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A surgical needle having an elongated substantially straight shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft having a proximally directed U-shaped hook at its distal end, said hook being of a size and shape that the hook passes through a narrow incision in an abdominal wall opening at its base into an abdominal cavity, said hook having a first leg attached to the distal end of the shaft and a second leg terminating in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture, said second leg is parallel to the shaft at the point and having a length such that the ratio of the length of the leg to the width of the hook is equal to or greater than 2.5 in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture whereby the second leg of the hook has a length such that the point can be inserted from the base of the incision through a selected portion of the abdominal wall surrounding the incision sufficiently far to expose the eye from the opening of the incision, and said shaft having a means at its proximal end for indicating the location of the point whereby the needle can be manipulated from the opening of the incision to place the suture through and through the abdominal wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A surgical needle having an elongated substantially straight shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft having a proximally directed U-shaped hook at its distal end, said hook being of a size and shape that the hook passes through a narrow incision in an abdominal wall opening at its base into an abdominal cavity, said hook having a first leg attached to the distal end of the shaft and a second leg terminating in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture, said second leg is parallel to the shaft at the point and having a length such that the ratio of the length of the leg to the width of the hook is equal to or greater than 2.5 in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture whereby the second leg of the hook has a length such that the point can be inserted from the base of the incision through a selected portion of the abdominal wall surrounding the incision sufficiently far to expose the eye from the opening of the incision, and said shaft having a means at its proximal end for indicating the location of the point whereby the needle can be manipulated from the opening of the incision to place the suture through and through the abdominal wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The needle of claim 1 wherein the hook is in the same plane as the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The needle of claim 2 wherein the axis of the eye is in the same plane as the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle of claim 2 wherein a bell is mounted on the shaft for selectively capping the hook.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle of claim 2 wherein the means for indicating the location of the point is a handle in the same plane as the shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle of claim 2 wherein the means for indicating the location of the point is a marking on a weight attached to the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
219 words
A surgical needle having an elongated substantially straight shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft having a proximally directed U-shaped hook in the plane of the shaft at its distal end, said hook being of a size and shape that the hook passes through a narrow incision in an abdominal wall opening at its base into an abdominal cavity, said hook having a first leg attached to the distal end of the shaft and a second leg terminating in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture, said second leg is parallel to the shaft at the point and having a length such that the ratio of the length of the leg to the width of the hook is equal to or greater than 2.5 whereby the second leg of the hook has a length such that the point can be inserted from the base of the incision through a selected portion of the abdominal wall surrounding the incision sufficiently far to expose the eye from the opening of the incision, and said shaft having a means at its proximal end for indicating the location of the point whereby the needle can be manipulated from the opening of the incision to place the suture through and through the abdominal wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
A surgical needle having an elongated substantially straight shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft having a proximally directed U-shaped hook in the plane of the shaft at its distal end, said hook being of a size and shape that the hook passes through a narrow incision in an abdominal wall opening at its base into an abdominal cavity, said hook having a first leg attached to the distal end of the shaft and a second leg terminating in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture, said second leg is parallel to the shaft at the point and having a length such that the ratio of the length of the leg to the width of the hook is equal to or greater than 2.5 whereby the second leg of the hook has a length such that the point can be inserted from the base of the incision through a selected portion of the abdominal wall surrounding the incision sufficiently far to expose the eye from the opening of the incision, and said shaft having a means at its proximal end for indicating the location of the point whereby the needle can be manipulated from the opening of the incision to place the suture through and through the abdominal wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle of claim 7 wherein the hook has a maximum width about 4 mm to 24 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needle of claim 8 wherein the shaft is from about 10 cm to 40 cm long.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needle of claim 9 wherein the hook is from about 1 cm to 10 cm long.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
A surgical needle having an elongated substantially straight shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft having a proximally directed U-shaped hook at its distal end, said hook being of a size and shape that the hook passes through a narrow incision in an abdominal wall opening at its base into an abdominal cavity, said hook having a first leg attached to the distal end of the shaft and a second leg terminating in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture, said second leg is curved inwardly towards the shaft at the point and having a length such that the ratio of the length of the leg to the width of the hook is equal to or greater than 2.5 whereby the second leg of the hook has a length such that the point can be inserted from the base of the incision through a selected portion of the abdominal wall surrounding the incision sufficiently far to expose the eye from the opening of the incision, and said shaft having a means at its proximal end for indicating the location of the point whereby the needle can be manipulated from the opening of the incision to place the suture through and through the abdominal wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
214 words
A surgical needle having an elongated substantially straight shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, said shaft having a proximally directed U-shaped hook at its distal end, said hook being of a size and shape that the hook passes through a narrow incision in an abdominal wall opening at its base into an abdominal cavity, said hook having a first leg attached to the distal end of the shaft and a second leg terminating in a point with an eye adjacent the point for receipt of a suture, said second leg is curved inwardly towards the shaft at the point and having a length such that the ratio of the length of the leg to the width of the hook is equal to or greater than 2.5 whereby the second leg of the hook has a length such that the point can be inserted from the base of the incision through a selected portion of the abdominal wall surrounding the incision sufficiently far to expose the eye from the opening of the incision, and said shaft having a means at its proximal end for indicating the location of the point whereby the needle can be manipulated from the opening of the incision to place the suture through and through the abdominal wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The needle of claim 11 wherein the hook is in the same plane as the shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The needle of claim 12 wherein the axis of the eye is in the same plane as the shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle of claim 12 wherein the means for indicating the location of the point is a handle in the same plane as the shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The needle of claim 12 wherein the means for indicating the location of the point is a marking on a weight attached to the shaft.