US5662663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical suture instrument
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1995-02-23
•
Granted: 1997-09-02
•
Expires: 2015-02-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a surgical suture instrument specifically designed for suturing body tissues in enclosed surgical operations. The instrument includes a casing with a slot or housing a suture needle. The needle includes a first puncture end and a second manipulation end. The needle is pivotally positioned on an axis within the casing, such that the puncture end may be exposed or retracted as needed. The casing also includes equipment to manipulate the needle within the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. Shallman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 15:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B17/06; A61B17/06066; A61B2017/047; A61B17/06004; A61B2017/06019; A61B2017/06042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A surgical suture instrument, which comprises: a) a shaft; b) a suture needle having a tapered portion and a base portion, said base portion extending from the shaft and being generally longitudinally fixed relative thereto; and c) means disposed on the shaft for shielding the tapered end portion, whereby the shielding means and the tapered end portion are relatively positionable from a first orientation to shield the tapered end portion to a second orientation to expose the tapered end portion such that said needle base portion remains generally radially fixed relative to the shield means during such relative positioning from said first orientation to said second orientation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A surgical suture instrument, which comprises: a) a shaft; b) a suture needle having a tapered portion and a base portion, said base portion extending from the shaft and being generally longitudinally fixed relative thereto; and c) means disposed on the shaft for shielding the tapered end portion, whereby the shielding means and the tapered end portion are relatively positionable from a first orientation to shield the tapered end portion to a second orientation to expose the tapered end portion such that said needle base portion remains generally radially fixed relative to the shield means during such relative positioning from said first orientation to said second orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 1, wherein said needle is curved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 2, wherein said needle is C-shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 1, wherein said needle is pivotable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 1, wherein said needle is oriented with said puncture end portion directed toward said proximal end of said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
A surgical suture instrument, comprising: a) an elongated housing defining an opening; b) a suture needle connected to said elongated housing and having a puncture end and a manipulation end, said needle being movable along an arcuate path from a first position to a second position, wherein when in the second position the needle is connected to the elongated housing and the puncture end is directed toward a proximal end of the elongated housing and is capable of piercing body tissue in such position; c) an actuator positioned within the elongated housing and longitudinally slidable in a distal direction to move the needle along such arcuate path from said first position to said second position; and d) means disposed on the housing for shielding the puncture end whereby the shielding means and the puncture end are relatively positionable from a first orientation to shield the puncture end to a second orientation to expose the puncture end such that the needle manipulation end remains generally radially fixed relative to the shield means during such relative positioning from said first orientation to said second orientation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
183 words
A surgical suture instrument, comprising: a) an elongated housing defining an opening; b) a suture needle connected to said elongated housing and having a puncture end and a manipulation end, said needle being movable along an arcuate path from a first position to a second position, wherein when in the second position the needle is connected to the elongated housing and the puncture end is directed toward a proximal end of the elongated housing and is capable of piercing body tissue in such position; c) an actuator positioned within the elongated housing and longitudinally slidable in a distal direction to move the needle along such arcuate path from said first position to said second position; and d) means disposed on the housing for shielding the puncture end whereby the shielding means and the puncture end are relatively positionable from a first orientation to shield the puncture end to a second orientation to expose the puncture end such that the needle manipulation end remains generally radially fixed relative to the shield means during such relative positioning from said first orientation to said second orientation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 6 wherein said suture needle is pivotably connected to said elongated housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 6 wherein said suture needle includes a suture opening formed at said puncture end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surgical suture instrument according to claim 6, further comprising a finger grip portion extending from said elongated housing adjacent a proximal end portion thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of closing trocar puncture wounds, comprising the steps of: a) positioning a surgical suturing instrument at a suture site, the surgical suturing instrument including a shaft, a suture needle having a tapered portion and a base portion and an opening for receiving suture material, said base portion extending from the shaft and being longitudinally fixed relative thereto; b) inserting the surgical instrument into the wound to be sutured; c) retracting the surgical instrument toward the wound opening to urge the tapered portion of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the tissue surrounding the wound and exposes the opening in the suture needle; d) inserting a suture material through the opening in the suture needle; e) reinserting the instrument into the wound opening to be sutured; f) rotating the instrument approximately 180°; g) retracting the surgical instrument from the wound to urge the tapered portion of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the tissue surrounding the wound and exposes the opening in the suture needle; h) removing the instrument from the wound; and i) tying off the suture material to form a suture knot.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of closing trocar puncture wounds, comprising the steps of: a) positioning a surgical suturing instrument at a suture site, the surgical suturing instrument including a shaft, a suture needle having a tapered portion and a base portion and an opening for receiving suture material, said base portion extending from the shaft and being longitudinally fixed relative thereto; b) inserting the surgical instrument into the wound to be sutured; c) retracting the surgical instrument toward the wound opening to urge the tapered portion of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the tissue surrounding the wound and exposes the opening in the suture needle; d) inserting a suture material through the opening in the suture needle; e) reinserting the instrument into the wound opening to be sutured; f) rotating the instrument approximately 180°; g) retracting the surgical instrument from the wound to urge the tapered portion of the needle to penetrate the body tissue such that the needle exits the tissue surrounding the wound and exposes the opening in the suture needle; h) removing the instrument from the wound; and i) tying off the suture material to form a suture knot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE162960C
Cited
US1037864A
Cited
US1449087A
Cited
US1822330A
Cited
US2108206A
Cited
US2213830A
Cited
US2549731A
Cited
US2601564A
Cited
US2579192A
Cited
US2737954A
Cited
US2959172A
Cited
US3168097A
Cited
US3090386A
Cited
US3470875A
Cited
GB1249853A
Cited
US3807407A
Cited
US3871379A
Cited
US3901244A
Cited
US3946740A
Cited
US4075941A
Cited
US4103690A
Cited
GB2077303A
Cited
US4493323A
Cited
US4557265A
Cited
SU1093329A1
Cited
EP0140557A2
Cited
US4602635A
Cited
US4621640A
Cited
US4635638A
Cited
US4597390A
Cited
US4614187A
Cited
US4676243A
Cited
US4827931A
Cited
US4830002A
Cited
US4852568A
Cited
US4963147A
Cited
US4923461B2
Cited
US4890615A
Cited
US4923461B1
Cited
US4923461A
Cited
US4890615B1
Cited
US4957498A
Cited
US4836205A
Cited
US4971067A
Cited
US4907590A
Cited
US4986825A
Cited
US4841885A
Cited
US4935027A
Cited
US5037433A
Cited
US5047039A
Cited
US5129912B1
Cited
US5129912A
Cited
US5129912B2
Cited
US5109780A
Cited
DE9112301U1
Cited
US5152769A
Cited
US5391174A
Cited
US5368601A
Cited
US5403329A
Cited
US5336239A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-01 | 2001-03-03 | 2001-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-01 | 2005-03-03 | 2005-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-01 | 2009-03-03 | 2009-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |