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US5362294A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sling for positioning internal organ during laparoscopic surgery and method of use

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-09-25
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Granted: 1994-11-08
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Expires: 2012-09-25
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Abstract

Abstract A sling is disclosed for retracting a body organ such as the uterus or bowel during a laparoscopic surgical operation. The sling is made of an appropriate material with suitable dimensions so that it can be inserted through a cannula customarily used for laparoscopic surgery. At each end of the sling a suture and surgical needle is provided. In use, the sling is pushed into the abdominal cavity, opened and one needle pushed through the patient's abdominal wall and clamped to anchor the sling. The sling is then positioned to support the body organ, and the second needle passed through the abdominal wall from inside the patient and clamped outside the patient to hold the body organ in the retracted position. After the operation, the sutures inside the body cavity are cut and the sling pulled through a cannula by means of suitable surgical grasping means.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael R. Seitzinger

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/36; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004; A61F2/0031; A61F2/0036; A61F2/0045; A61B17/42; A61B2017/0225; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B2017/06057

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
A sling for use in retracting a body organ within a body cavity, said sling being made of a biologically inert sponge material which expands when moistened and having dimensions such that it is capable of being passed through a cannula into the body cavity and of being expanded, for retracting the body organ, said sling further including lead sutures connected to opposite ends thereof and needles connected to the lead sutures, whereby said sling can be used to retract the body organ with the needles passing through the abdominal wall of the patient so that the body organ can be held in a desired position during a laparoscopic operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 110 words
A sling for use in retracting a body organ within a body cavity, said sling being made of a biologically inert sponge material which expands when moistened and having dimensions such that it is capable of being passed through a cannula into the body cavity and of being expanded, for retracting the body organ, said sling further including lead sutures connected to opposite ends thereof and needles connected to the lead sutures, whereby said sling can be used to retract the body organ with the needles passing through the abdominal wall of the patient so that the body organ can be held in a desired position during a laparoscopic operation.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 58 words
A method of retracting a body organ during laparoscopic surgery, comprising: passing a sling through a canula into a body cavity of said body organ; placing said sling in juxtaposition with said body organ; and attaching said sling to the abdominal wall of the patient in a desired position to retract the body organ within said body cavity.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 58 words
A method of retracting a body organ during laparoscopic surgery, comprising: passing a sling through a canula into a body cavity of said body organ; placing said sling in juxtaposition with said body organ; and attaching said sling to the abdominal wall of the patient in a desired position to retract the body organ within said body cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method of retracting a body organ according to claim 2, wherein said sling includes needles attached thereto and wherein said sling is secured to the patient's abdominal wall by passing said needles through the abdominal wall from inside the abdominal cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method of retracting a body organ according to claim 3, wherein said needles are secured by clamping devices outside of the patient.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3125095A Cited
US3875928A Cited
US4098728A Cited
US4217890A Cited
US4428375A Cited
US4979956A Cited
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US5074867A Cited
WO1992001433A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-11-07 1998-05-09 1998-11-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-11-07 2002-05-09 2002-11-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-11-07 2006-05-09 2006-11-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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