US5573540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for suturing an opening in anatomical tissue
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-07-18
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Granted: 1996-11-12
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Expires: 2014-07-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for suturing an opening in anatomical tissue includes at least one length of suture material, a leg support terminating distally in at least two hooks having sharp tips for threading the length of suture material through anatomical tissue adjacent an opening, and an operating mechanism coupled with the leg support for advancing and retracting the hooks. The apparatus further includes a housing, such as a stabilizer or a cannula, defining a portal through the opening for passage of the hooks. Each hook is carried by a single leg supported by a hub or secured along its length to other legs to form a handle for operating the hooks. If the legs are carried by a hub, the hub is movable relative to the housing to advance and retract the hooks within passages formed in the housing. The legs can be hollow or slotted to allow passage of the lengths of suture material through the legs or each length of suture material can be attached near the distal end of one of the sharp tissue penetrating tips and pulled through the tissue. The tissue adjacent the opening is drawn together via the lengths of suture material passed through the tissue by advancing the lengths through the hollow legs or by being pulled along with the sharp tissue penetrating tips of the hooks.
Inventors
- 👤 Inbae Yoon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B2017/047; A61B2017/0472; A61B17/06; A61B2017/06052; A61B17/06066; A61B2017/0608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; a housing adapted to fit in the opening to define a portal through the anatomical tissue for passage of said hooks; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing said hooks from a retracted position within said housing to a deployed position where said tips extend radially outward of said housing to permit said hooks to be retracted proximally relative to the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening to pass said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue when said hooks are in said deployed position and for repositioning said hooks for withdrawal from the opening with said penetrating tips after said at least one length of suture material has been passed through the anatomical tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; a housing adapted to fit in the opening to define a portal through the anatomical tissue for passage of said hooks; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing said hooks from a retracted position within said housing to a deployed position where said tips extend radially outward of said housing to permit said hooks to be retracted proximally relative to the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening to pass said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue when said hooks are in said deployed position and for repositioning said hooks for withdrawal from the opening with said penetrating tips after said at least one length of suture material has been passed through the anatomical tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 1 wherein said operating means includes a first mechanism to advance said hooks from said retracted position to said deployed position and a second mechanism to reposition said hooks for withdrawal from the opening.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening; wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material to be passed by said hooks through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening; wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material to be passed by said hooks through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 3 and further comprising a housing defining a portal through the opening for passage of said hooks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said operating means includes a hub positioned proximally of said housing and said legs are carried by said hub.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 and further comprising a spool of suture material carried by said hub to supply said lengths of suture material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said housing is a stabilizer with passages formed between proximal and distal ends thereof around a central lumen and said legs extend distally from said hub into said passages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said hub is movable between a first position relative to said stabilizer wherein said sharp tissue penetrating tips are held within said passages and a second position wherein said sharp tissue penetrating tips protrude from distal ends of said passages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a guide pin extending between a proximal face of said stabilizer and a distal face of said hub.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a latching arm hinged to one of said hub and stabilizer and configured to releasably hold said hub a predetermined distance from said stabilizer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
218 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening; wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material and a housing defining a portal through the opening for passage of said hooks, wherein said operating means includes a hub positioned proximally of said housing and said legs are carried by said hub and wherein said housing is a stabilizer with passages formed between proximal and distal ends thereof around a central lumen and said legs extend distally from said hub into said passages, said hub being movable between a first position relative to said stabilizer wherein said sharp tissue penetrating tips are held within said passages and a second position wherein said sharp tissue penetrating tips protrude from distal ends of said passages, and wherein proximal portions of said legs are rotatably held by said hub and further comprising means coupled with said proximal portions for rotating said legs.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
218 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening; wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material and a housing defining a portal through the opening for passage of said hooks, wherein said operating means includes a hub positioned proximally of said housing and said legs are carried by said hub and wherein said housing is a stabilizer with passages formed between proximal and distal ends thereof around a central lumen and said legs extend distally from said hub into said passages, said hub being movable between a first position relative to said stabilizer wherein said sharp tissue penetrating tips are held within said passages and a second position wherein said sharp tissue penetrating tips protrude from distal ends of said passages, and wherein proximal portions of said legs are rotatably held by said hub and further comprising means coupled with said proximal portions for rotating said legs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein at least said distal portions of said legs are flexible and said passages are smaller than a gap width of said hooks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said passages are arcuate in cross section and said hooks are configured to conform to the curvature of said arcuate passages.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said legs includes gear teeth carried by said legs and a sun gear engaged with said teeth and carried by a rotating shaft that extends through a proximal face of said hub and is connected to a knob.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening, wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material, wherein said legs are secured along their length to one another and said operating means includes a manually graspable portion of said secured legs.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening, wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material, wherein said legs are secured along their length to one another and said operating means includes a manually graspable portion of said secured legs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 and further comprising a housing defining a portal through the opening for passage of said hooks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said housing is a tubular sleeve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein at least said turned distal portions are flexible and a distance between said sharp tissue penetrating tips of said hooks is greater than an inner diameter of said tubular sleeve.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening, wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material, wherein said legs are hollow and open at proximal and distal ends to allow passage of said lengths of suture material through said legs.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening, wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material, wherein said legs are hollow and open at proximal and distal ends to allow passage of said lengths of suture material through said legs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein continuous slots are formed in said hollow legs extending from proximal to distal ends thereof.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening, wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material, wherein distal ends of said lengths of suture material are attached near the sharp tissue penetrating tips of said hooks.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising at least one length of suture material; a plurality of hooks having sharp tissue penetrating tips for passing said at least one length of suture material through the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening; and operating means coupled with said hooks for advancing and retracting said hooks relative to the opening, wherein said plurality of hooks includes a plurality of legs each having a turned distal portion and further comprising a plurality of lengths of suture material, wherein distal ends of said lengths of suture material are attached near the sharp tissue penetrating tips of said hooks.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising the steps of penetrating the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening with sharp proximal-facing tips of at least two outwardly turned hooks; pulling said outwardly turned hooks in a proximal direction to invert the tissue adjacent the opening; piercing through the inverted tissue to expose the proximal facing tips; using the hooks to pass lengths of suture material through the anatomical tissue; grasping distal ends of said lengths of suture material; and drawing the adjacent anatomical tissue together.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening comprising the steps of penetrating the anatomical tissue adjacent the opening with sharp proximal-facing tips of at least two outwardly turned hooks; pulling said outwardly turned hooks in a proximal direction to invert the tissue adjacent the opening; piercing through the inverted tissue to expose the proximal facing tips; using the hooks to pass lengths of suture material through the anatomical tissue; grasping distal ends of said lengths of suture material; and drawing the adjacent anatomical tissue together.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 22 wherein said drawing step includes drawing the adjacent tissue together via the lengths of suture material to close the opening in the anatomical tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 23 wherein said hooks are hollow and further comprising, prior to said grasping step, advancing said lengths of suture material through the hooks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 23 and further comprising, prior to said grasping step, attaching said lengths of suture material adjacent distal ends of the tissue penetrating tips and pulling said lengths through the tissue with the hooks.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 23 and further comprising, after said grasping step and prior to said drawing step, withdrawing said sharp tissue penetrating tips from the tissue.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 26 and further comprising, prior to said penetrating step, passing said hooks through a housing disposed within the opening and, after said withdrawing step, rotating said hooks into said housing and removing said hooks and housing from the opening.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 27 wherein the step of passing hooks through a housing includes the step of bending said hooks resiliently inward.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of suturing together anatomical tissue adjacent an opening as recited in claim 27 and further comprising, after said passing step, rotating said sharp tissue penetrating tips of said hooks outward of the housing to face tissue adjacent the opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-12 | 2000-05-13 | 2000-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-12 | 2004-05-13 | 2004-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-12 | 2008-05-13 | 2008-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |