US5470338A — Instrument for closing trocar puncture wounds

Claim 1

Independent Claim 145 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in said distal end portion and movable between at least a retracted position and a deployed position; (c) a needle having a tapered end and being releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier member such that when said at least one needle carrier member is in said retracted position said tapered end is prevented from contacting tissue; (d) a predetermined length of suture material having one end affixed to said needle; and (e) a suture material tensioning member movably disposed within said elongated body for maintaining said suture material in tension during movement of said at least one needle carrier member from said retracted position to said deployed position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 145 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in said distal end portion and movable between at least a retracted position and a deployed position; (c) a needle having a tapered end and being releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier member such that when said at least one needle carrier member is in said retracted position said tapered end is prevented from contacting tissue; (d) a predetermined length of suture material having one end affixed to said needle; and (e) a suture material tensioning member movably disposed within said elongated body for maintaining said suture material in tension during movement of said at least one needle carrier member from said retracted position to said deployed position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

A surgical instrument recited in claim 1, wherein said suture material tensioning member is a spring.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

A surgical instrument recited in claim 1, wherein said suture material tensioning member is a constant force spring such that upon deployment of said suture material the amount of force necessary to move said spring remains uniform.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

A surgical instrument recited in claim 1, further comprising a retaining mechanism operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member and configured and dimensioned to retain said at least one needle carrier member in a partially deployed position located between said retracted position and said deployed position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

A surgical instrument recited in claim 1, further comprising a needle retaining mechanism disposed in said elongated body and configured and dimensioned to retain said needle therein when said at least one needle carrier mechanism is moved to said deployed position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

A surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a deployment indicator configured and dimensioned to provide an indication to an operator of said instrument when said at least one needle carrier member is in said deployed position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 207 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in said distal end portion and movable between at least a retracted position and a deployed position; (c) a needle releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier; (d) a predetermined length of suture material having one end affixed to said needle; (e) a suture material tensioning member disposed within said elongated body for maintaining said suture material in tension during movement of said at least one needle carrier member from said retracted position to said deployed position; and (f) an actuator member operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier from said retracted position to said deployed position and a needle skewing mechanism operatively associated with said actuator member such that upon movement of said actuator member from said first position to said second position said needle skewing mechanism contacts a tapered portion of said needle to change the alignment thereof relative to said retaining member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 207 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in said distal end portion and movable between at least a retracted position and a deployed position; (c) a needle releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier; (d) a predetermined length of suture material having one end affixed to said needle; (e) a suture material tensioning member disposed within said elongated body for maintaining said suture material in tension during movement of said at least one needle carrier member from said retracted position to said deployed position; and (f) an actuator member operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier from said retracted position to said deployed position and a needle skewing mechanism operatively associated with said actuator member such that upon movement of said actuator member from said first position to said second position said needle skewing mechanism contacts a tapered portion of said needle to change the alignment thereof relative to said retaining member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 184 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in said distal end portion and movable between at least an initial position, a partially deployed position and a fully deployed position; (c) a needle releasably retained at a predetermined position with respect to said at least one needle carrier as said needle carrier moves from the initial position to the fully deployed position; (d) an actuator member engaging said at least one needle carrier member, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier from said initial position to said fully deployed position; (e) a predetermined length of suture material having one end thereof affixed to said needle; and (f) a needle carrier retaining mechanism operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member, said needle carrier retaining mechanism being configured and dimensioned to retain said at least one needle carrier in said partially deployed position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 184 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively mounted in said distal end portion and movable between at least an initial position, a partially deployed position and a fully deployed position; (c) a needle releasably retained at a predetermined position with respect to said at least one needle carrier as said needle carrier moves from the initial position to the fully deployed position; (d) an actuator member engaging said at least one needle carrier member, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier from said initial position to said fully deployed position; (e) a predetermined length of suture material having one end thereof affixed to said needle; and (f) a needle carrier retaining mechanism operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member, said needle carrier retaining mechanism being configured and dimensioned to retain said at least one needle carrier in said partially deployed position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 8, wherein said needle carrier retaining mechanism includes a latch member mounted on said elongated body and a post member operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member and movable in relation to said latch member, whereby upon movement of said at least one needle carrier member to said partially deployed position said post member engages said latch member and is releasably retained therein such that said at least one needle carrier member is releasably retained in said partially deployed position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 8, further comprising an actuator member operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member and said needle carrier retaining mechanism, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier member into said initial position, said partially deployed position and said fully deployed position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10, wherein said actuator member is biased toward said first position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10, wherein said needle carrier retaining mechanism includes a latch member operatively associated with said elongated body and a post member mounted on said actuator member and operatively associated with said latch member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 12, wherein said latch member is mounted on a pivot arm.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein said pivot arm is biased to maintain said latch member in a predetermined orientation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 57 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 14, wherein said latch member is configured and dimensioned such that upon movement of said actuator member from said first position toward said second position, said post member releasably engages said latch member whereby said actuator member is releasably held at a predetermined distance between said first and second positions.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 15, wherein upon further movement of said actuator member toward said second position said post member disengages said latch member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 46 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 16, wherein said actuator member is biased toward said first position, whereby upon release of said actuator member when said actuator member is in said second position, said at least one need carrier member returns to said initial position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 8, further comprising a needle retaining mechanism disposed in said elongated body and configured and dimensioned to retain said needle therein when said at least one needle carrier member is in said deployed position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 18, further comprising a needle skewing mechanism disposed adjacent said needle retaining mechanism movable from a first position to a second position to change the alignment of said needle relative to said retaining member.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 160 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively associated with said distal portion and movable between at least an initial position and a deployed position; (c) an actuator member operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier from said initial position to said deployed position; (d) a needle releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier member; (e) a needle retaining member disposed in said elongated body and adapted to retain said needle therein when said at least one needle carrier member is in said deployed position; and (f) a needle skewing mechanism operatively associated with said actuator member for changing the alignment of the needle relative to said retaining member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 160 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively associated with said distal portion and movable between at least an initial position and a deployed position; (c) an actuator member operatively associated with said at least one needle carrier member, said actuator member being movable between at least a first position and a second position to move said at least one needle carrier from said initial position to said deployed position; (d) a needle releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier member; (e) a needle retaining member disposed in said elongated body and adapted to retain said needle therein when said at least one needle carrier member is in said deployed position; and (f) a needle skewing mechanism operatively associated with said actuator member for changing the alignment of the needle relative to said retaining member.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, wherein upon movement of said actuator member from said first position to said second positions said needle skewing mechanism contacts a tapered portion of said needle.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 68 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 21, wherein said needle skewing mechanism includes at least one arm member moveable between at least an initial position and a final position, said arm member being operatively associated with said actuator member, whereby upon movement of said actuator member from said first position to said second position said arm member is moved from said initial position to said final position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 48 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 22, wherein said needle skewing mechanism further includes a camming pin which is mounted on said actuator member such that said camming pin contacts Said arm member when said actuator member is moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 54 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 22, wherein said needle skewing mechanism further includes a camming pin mounted on said actuator member and a slot formed in said arm member such that said camming pin travels in said slot when said actuator member is moved from said first position to said second position.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 49 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, further comprising a deployment indicator operatively associated with said distal elongated body distal portion and configured and dimensioned to provide an indication to an operator of said instrument when said at least one needle carrier member is in said second position.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 132 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively associated with said distal portion of said body portion, said at least one needle carrier member movable between at least a first position and a second position; (c) a needle member having a tapered end and being releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier member such that when said at least one needle carrier member is in said first position said tapered end is prevented from contacting tissue; and (d) an illuminating indicator configured and dimensioned to provide an indication to an operator of said instrument when said at least one needle carrier member is in said second position.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 132 words

A surgical instrument for applying sutures through body tissue, which comprises: (a) an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; (b) at least one needle carrier member operatively associated with said distal portion of said body portion, said at least one needle carrier member movable between at least a first position and a second position; (c) a needle member having a tapered end and being releasably retained in said at least one needle carrier member such that when said at least one needle carrier member is in said first position said tapered end is prevented from contacting tissue; and (d) an illuminating indicator configured and dimensioned to provide an indication to an operator of said instrument when said at least one needle carrier member is in said second position.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 36 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 26, wherein said indicator is a deployment indicator and includes an illuminating member which illuminates when said at least one needle carrier member is moved to said second position.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 42 words

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 27, wherein said illuminating member is a light bulb connected in a series circuit with a power source, said circuit being closed when said at least one needle carrier member is in said second position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-11-27	1999-05-29	1999-11-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-11-27	2003-05-29	2003-11-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-11-27	2007-05-29	2007-11-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Instrument for closing trocar puncture wounds

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