Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
A method for tying a stitch knot in a wound disposed within a bodily cavity using a knot tying apparatus comprising a first elongated member and a grasping member, the first elongated member including a helix having a predetermined fixed shape including first and second ends, a helical axis, and an inner space, the helix having a filament extending from the first end, the filament having a free end with a threading device attached thereto, the grasping member being separate and apart from the first elongated member and including an elongated shaft with first and second ends and a grasper mounted on the first end of the shaft, a portion of the shaft adjacent the grasper being sized to reside within the inner space of the helix for axial movement with respect to the helix, the method comprising manipulating the grasping member in the helical axis while performing the steps of: inserting endoscopically the first elongated member and the grasping member within the bodily cavity through a single external incision; positioning the shaft within the inner space of the helix, the grasper being axially inserted through the helix at the first end such that the grasper protrudes from the second end of the helix and the portion of the shaft adjacent the grasper resides within the inner space of the helix; inserting the threading device and pulling the free end of the filament through the wound, the grasper grasping the threading device during the inserting and pulling; grasping the free end of the filament proximate the threading device with the grasper; removing the grasping member from the inner space of the helix, the grasper being axially passed through the inner space and withdrawn from the helix at the first end thereof, the free end of the filament and the threading device being axially passed through the inner space and extending out from the inner space at the first end of the helix; moving the grasping member and helix apart from each other, removing the filament from the helix, and forming a loop for the stitch knot; and tightening the loop to the wound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
353 words
A method for tying a stitch knot in a wound disposed within a bodily cavity using a knot tying apparatus comprising a first elongated member and a grasping member, the first elongated member including a helix having a predetermined fixed shape including first and second ends, a helical axis, and an inner space, the helix having a filament extending from the first end, the filament having a free end with a threading device attached thereto, the grasping member being separate and apart from the first elongated member and including an elongated shaft with first and second ends and a grasper mounted on the first end of the shaft, a portion of the shaft adjacent the grasper being sized to reside within the inner space of the helix for axial movement with respect to the helix, the method comprising manipulating the grasping member in the helical axis while performing the steps of: inserting endoscopically the first elongated member and the grasping member within the bodily cavity through a single external incision; positioning the shaft within the inner space of the helix, the grasper being axially inserted through the helix at the first end such that the grasper protrudes from the second end of the helix and the portion of the shaft adjacent the grasper resides within the inner space of the helix; inserting the threading device and pulling the free end of the filament through the wound, the grasper grasping the threading device during the inserting and pulling; grasping the free end of the filament proximate the threading device with the grasper; removing the grasping member from the inner space of the helix, the grasper being axially passed through the inner space and withdrawn from the helix at the first end thereof, the free end of the filament and the threading device being axially passed through the inner space and extending out from the inner space at the first end of the helix; moving the grasping member and helix apart from each other, removing the filament from the helix, and forming a loop for the stitch knot; and tightening the loop to the wound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first elongated member includes a manipulating staff attached to the second end of the helix, the manipulating staff extending remotely from the helix, the method further comprising the step of manipulating the helix remotely.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the grasping member further includes a grasper controller, the controller disposed proximate the second end of the elongated shaft, the method further comprising the step of controlling the grasper from the second end of the elongated shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fixed shape of the helix further comprises a predetermined number of full turns, the number of full turns being at least one full turn, the method further comprising the step of forming a number of filament passes through the loop, the number of passes corresponding to the number of full turns of the helix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of moving the apparatus longitudinally such that the first end of the helix is approximately directly over the wound, and such that an imaginary line extends from the first end of the helix to the wound at approximately a right angle with respect to the wound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: releasing the free end from the grasper; repositioning the shaft of the grasping member within the inner space of the helix; forming a second loop by repeating the grasping, removing, and moving steps; and tightening the second loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
A knot tying apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a longitudinal axis and including a helix having a predetermined fixed shape including first and second ends, a helical axis substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the first elongated member, and an inner space, the, and an inner helix for receiving a filament having a free end with a threading device attached thereto; and a grasping member separate and apart from the first elongated member and including an elongated shaft with first and second ends and a grasper mounted on the first end of the shaft, a portion of the shaft being sized to reside within the inner space of the helix for axial movement with respect to the helix, wherein the threading device may be grasped by the grasper and passed through an area to be stitched, and wherein a loop is created in the filament when the free end of the filament is grasped by the grasper and the grasping member is moved axially with respect to the helix such that the free end of the filament passes through the helix and the filament is removed from the helix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
A knot tying apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a longitudinal axis and including a helix having a predetermined fixed shape including first and second ends, a helical axis substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the first elongated member, and an inner space, the, and an inner helix for receiving a filament having a free end with a threading device attached thereto; and a grasping member separate and apart from the first elongated member and including an elongated shaft with first and second ends and a grasper mounted on the first end of the shaft, a portion of the shaft being sized to reside within the inner space of the helix for axial movement with respect to the helix, wherein the threading device may be grasped by the grasper and passed through an area to be stitched, and wherein a loop is created in the filament when the free end of the filament is grasped by the grasper and the grasping member is moved axially with respect to the helix such that the free end of the filament passes through the helix and the filament is removed from the helix.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an endoscopic insertion device, the first elongated member and the grasping member for being endoscopically inserted within a bodily cavity through the device to suture a wound disposed within the bodily cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first elongated member includes a manipulating staff attached to the second end of the helix, the manipulating staff extending from the helix for manipulating the helix remotely.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the grasping member further includes a grasper controller, the controller disposed proximate the second end of the elongated shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fixed shape of the helix comprises a predetermined number of full turns, the number of full turns being at least one full turn.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further in combination with the filament, wherein the filament passes through the created loop a number of passes, the number of passes corresponding to the number of full turns of the helix.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with the filament and the threading device, wherein the filament is a suture sewing thread and wherein the threading device is a suturing needle.