US6036699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for suturing tissue
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
•
Filing: 1997-03-26
•
Granted: 2000-03-14
•
Expires: 2017-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides medical devices and methods for: suturing tissue by proximally drawing sutures through a tissue layer in the proximity of an aperture; suturing vascular tissue while maintaining adequate perfusion or hemostasis, or both; anastomosing a graft to an aperture in a vessel wall while maintaining hemostasis at the anastomosis with physiological flow and/or pressure in the vessel lumen; punching and removing tissue to form an aperture in a vessel wall while maintaining hemostasis at the aperture with physiological flow and/or pressure in the vessel lumen; automatically and repeatably placing suture thread through vessel wall tissue surrounding an aperture in the vessel wall in a suture pattern that is useful for anastomosing a tubular graft to the aperture; and, deploying a suture with one end extending through the tissue that surrounds a punched aperture in a vessel wall and the opposite suture end extending radially through a tubular graft wall adjacent an open end of the graft, such that a vessel anastomosis may be rapidly and repeatably performed in a CABG procedure even while the vessel is under physiological flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard H. Andreas
- 👤 James W. Vetter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/0057; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B17/11; A61B17/0401; A61B17/0482; A61B17/06; A61B17/06066; A61B17/3421; A61B2017/00004; A61B2017/00637; A61B2017/00641; A61B2017/00646; A61B2017/00663; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/047; A61B2017/0472; A61B2017/0474; A61B2017/06057; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for suturing tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a tissue layer, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one needle carried near the distal end of the shaft and adapted to be placed through the aperture, the needle having a shank carried by the shaft and a tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the needle has a first radially collapsed position that extends proximally along a needle carrying portion, and is adjustable to a second radially expanded position that extends proximally and outwardly from the needle carrying portion; and a suture having a first suture portion secured to the needle and a second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, the first suture portion being extendible outwardly through the tissue adjacent the aperture by placing the needle through the aperture, proximally withdrawing the needle to thereby puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture with the needle tip, detaching the needle from the shaft, and advancing the needle and first suture portion through the tissue, wherein said first suture portion when extended outwardly through the tissue can be secured with a knot to the second suture portion external of the aperture without substantially obstructing or constricting the aperture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
215 words
A device for suturing tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a tissue layer, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one needle carried near the distal end of the shaft and adapted to be placed through the aperture, the needle having a shank carried by the shaft and a tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the needle has a first radially collapsed position that extends proximally along a needle carrying portion, and is adjustable to a second radially expanded position that extends proximally and outwardly from the needle carrying portion; and a suture having a first suture portion secured to the needle and a second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft, the first suture portion being extendible outwardly through the tissue adjacent the aperture by placing the needle through the aperture, proximally withdrawing the needle to thereby puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture with the needle tip, detaching the needle from the shaft, and advancing the needle and first suture portion through the tissue, wherein said first suture portion when extended outwardly through the tissue can be secured with a knot to the second suture portion external of the aperture without substantially obstructing or constricting the aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the needle is in said first radially collapsed position when radially confined and is radially biased from said first radially collapsed position to said second radially expanded position when radially unconfined.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the suture comprises a single length of material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the shaft includes a needle aperture, the needle is positioned within the needle aperture, and the shaft includes a suture lumen that connects to the needle aperture, the suture lumen is adapted to house the second suture portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the shaft further includes: an occluding body located near the distal end of the shaft and adapted to substantially occlude the aperture to maintain hemostasis at the aperture while the needle and the distal suture end portions attached thereto are placed outwardly through the tissue surrounding the aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The suturing device of claim 1, wherein the device includes: a plurality of the needle, each of the needles circumferentially spaced about the distal end of the shaft; and a plurality of the suture, each of the sutures having its first suture portion secured to a needle and its second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The suturing device of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the shaft further includes a plurality of needle apertures, each of the needles being carried by one of the needle apertures; and the shaft further includes a plurality of suture lumens, each suture lumen connecting to a corresponding one of the needle apertures, each suture lumen adapted to house a corresponding second suture portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The suturing device of claim 7, wherein the needles have a first radially collapsed position that extends proximally along the body when radially confined, and are adjustable to a second radially expanded position that extends proximally and outwardly of the body when radially unconfined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The suturing device of claim 1 wherein the device further includes: at least one pair of needles carried near the distal end of the shaft; and the length of suture is secured to and extends between the pair of needles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suturing device of claim 9 wherein the suture is of sufficient length to be drawn through the tissue on opposite sides of the aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suturing device of claim 10 wherein the suture forms a knot to draw the aperture closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The suturing device of claim 1 wherein the needle is of sufficient length for drawing the suture through a second tissue layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The suturing device of claim 12 wherein the suture forms a knot to draw the tissue layer and second tissue layer in contact with one another without closing said aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The suturing device of claim 13 wherein the tissue is vascular tissue, the tissue layer defines a vessel wall and the second tissue layer defines a graft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The suturing device of claim 1 wherein the needle is adapted to penetrate vascular tissue and the tissue layer is a vessel wall.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
A device for suturing vascular tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a vessel wall, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal and distal end, the shaft being adapted for advancing through the aperture; at least one needle carried near the distal end of the shaft; a length of suture secured to the needle; means for drawing the suture through the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture; and means for maintaining adequate perfusion through the vessel while advancing the distal end of the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the vascular tissue and securing the suture to the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture, the maintaining means and drawing means being integrally formed with the shaft.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
128 words
A device for suturing vascular tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a vessel wall, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal and distal end, the shaft being adapted for advancing through the aperture; at least one needle carried near the distal end of the shaft; a length of suture secured to the needle; means for drawing the suture through the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture; and means for maintaining adequate perfusion through the vessel while advancing the distal end of the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the vascular tissue and securing the suture to the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture, the maintaining means and drawing means being integrally formed with the shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The suturing device of claim 16 wherein the maintaining means includes maintaining hemostasis in the proximity of the aperture while advancing the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the vascular tissue and securing the suture to the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The suturing device of claim 16 wherein the suture is drawn proximally through the vascular tissue from the interior of the vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The suturing device of claim 16 wherein the suture is drawn through the aperture and then through the vascular tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The suturing device of claim 16 wherein the means for maintaining adequate perfusion includes adapting the shaft to be at least equal in diameter to the aperture.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
127 words
A device for suturing vascular tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a vessel wall, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal and distal end, the shaft being adapted for advancing through the aperture; at least one needle carried near the distal end of the shaft; a length of suture secured to the needle; means for drawing the suture through the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture; and means for maintaining hemostasis at the aperture while advancing the distal end of the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the vascular tissue and securing the suture to the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture, the maintaining means and drawing means being integrally formed with the shaft.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
127 words
A device for suturing vascular tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a vessel wall, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal and distal end, the shaft being adapted for advancing through the aperture; at least one needle carried near the distal end of the shaft; a length of suture secured to the needle; means for drawing the suture through the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture; and means for maintaining hemostasis at the aperture while advancing the distal end of the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the vascular tissue and securing the suture to the vascular tissue in the proximity of the aperture, the maintaining means and drawing means being integrally formed with the shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suturing device of claim 21 wherein the means for maintaining hemostasis includes adapting the shaft to be at least equal in diameter to the aperture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The suturing device of claim 21 wherein the suture is drawn proximally through the vascular tissue from the interior of the vessel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The suturing device of claim 21 wherein the suture is drawn through the aperture and then through the vascular tissue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
181 words
A graft anastomosis assembly for suturing a tubular graft about an aperture in a tissue wall, the assembly comprising: a tissue suturing device having a tissue shaft with a tissue needle carrying portion and a tissue needle being secured to and extending outwardly from the tissue needle carrying portion; a graft suturing device having a graft shaft with a graft needle carrying portion and a graft needle being secured to and extending outwardly from the graft needle carrying portion; and a suture having a first suture portion secured to the tissue needle and a second suture portion secured to the graft needle, the tissue suturing device being adapted to place the first suture portion proximally from the interior of the tissue wall and through the tissue adjacent the aperture, and the graft suturing device being adapted to place the second suture portion proximally from the interior of the graft and through a wall of the graft, such that the first and second suture portions form a loop which is tightened to secure a portion of the graft to the tissue wall.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
181 words
A graft anastomosis assembly for suturing a tubular graft about an aperture in a tissue wall, the assembly comprising: a tissue suturing device having a tissue shaft with a tissue needle carrying portion and a tissue needle being secured to and extending outwardly from the tissue needle carrying portion; a graft suturing device having a graft shaft with a graft needle carrying portion and a graft needle being secured to and extending outwardly from the graft needle carrying portion; and a suture having a first suture portion secured to the tissue needle and a second suture portion secured to the graft needle, the tissue suturing device being adapted to place the first suture portion proximally from the interior of the tissue wall and through the tissue adjacent the aperture, and the graft suturing device being adapted to place the second suture portion proximally from the interior of the graft and through a wall of the graft, such that the first and second suture portions form a loop which is tightened to secure a portion of the graft to the tissue wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the tissue needle is secured to the tissue needle carrying portion, such that the first suture portion may be placed through the tissue wall by placing the tissue needle carrying portion distally through the aperture, advancing the tissue needle proximally to puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture, detaching the tissue needle from the tissue needle carrying portion, and drawing the tissue needle with the first suture portion engaged therewith outwardly through the tissue wall to allow the first suture portion to be harvested and to retract the tissue needle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
90 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the graft suturing needle is secured to the graft needle carrying portion, such that the second suture portion may be placed through the graft wall by extending the graft needle outwardly from the graft needle carrying portion and through the graft wall, detaching the graft needle from the graft needle carrying portion, and drawing the graft needle with the second suture portion outwardly through the graft wall to allow the second suture portion to be harvested and to retract the graft needle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the tissue needle has a first radially collapsed position that extends proximally along the tissue needle carrying portion and is adjustable to a second radially expanded position wherein it extends proximally and outwardly from the tissue needle carrying portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 28, wherein the tissue needle is in the first radially collapsed position when radially confined, and is biased to relax from the first radially collapsed position to the second radially expanded position when radially unconfined.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
106 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the graft suturing device further includes: a tubular sleeve having a wall with a needle port through the wall; and a cylindrical inner hub housed coaxially within the tubular sleeve and having a radially recessed groove, the cylindrical inner hub is adjustable relative to the tubular sleeve such that the groove is in registry with the needle port, the graft needle is secured within the groove and is extendible radially outwardly from the shaft of the graft suturing device and through the needle port by adjusting the positioning of the cylindrical inner hub relative to the tubular sleeve.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 30, wherein the radially recessed groove is a circumferential groove and wherein the graft needle is radially outwardly extendible from the shaft of the graft suturing device through the needle port by rotating, the cylindrical inner hub relative to the tubular sleeve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
75 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the assembly further includes: a plurality of tissue needles spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the tissue needle carrying portion; a plurality of graft needles spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the graft needle carrying portion; and a plurality of sutures, each suture having a first suture portion secured to one of the tissue needles and a second suture portion secured to one of the graft needles.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 32, wherein the plurality of graft needles are both circumferentially spaced and longitudinally spaced to form a uniform, predetermined suture pattern about the periphery of the graft needle carrying portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 33, wherein the suture pattern has an oblong shape.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
50 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the tissue suturing device further includes an occluding body on the tissue needle carrying portion and located near the distal end of the tissue shaft, the occluding body is adapted for substantially blocking the aperture, whereby hemostasis is maintained at the aperture.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the graft suturing device is telescopically engaged with the tissue suturing device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the tissue suturing device and the graft suturing device share a common longitudinal axis.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the assembly maintains hemostasis in the proximity of the aperture.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, wherein the assembly maintains perfusion in the proximity of the aperture.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
65 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25 the assembly further includes a cannula having a lumen with a hemostatic valve disposed internal of the lumen, the cannula is adapted to advance through the aperture and into the interior of the tissue, the lumen and hemostatic valve are adapted to slideably receive the tissue needle carrying portion while maintaining hemostasis in the proximity of the aperture.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
91 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 40, wherein the cannula includes a tube forming at least a portion of the lumen and having an inner surface, and a tubular wall with a tube seam along a longitudinal axis thereof that is circumferentially severable; and wherein the hemostatic valve includes a circumferential wall forming an inner valve bore, the circumferential wall having a valve seam that is circumferentially severable, whereby the tissue needle carrying portion is removable from coaxial engagement within the lumen by separating the tube seam and the valve seam.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
103 words
The graft anastomosis assembly of claim 25, the assembly further includes a surgical punch having an elongate body and distal end portion with at least one moveable blade adapted for cutting a plug of tissue from the tissue wall to thereby form the aperture, whereby the cannula and hemostatic valve are adapted to be coaxially advanced over the surgical punch and into the interior of the tissue through the aperture, and the surgical punch is removed proximally through the cannula and thereby remove the plug of tissue from the aperture while maintaining hemostasis in the proximity of the aperture with the hemostatic valve.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
202 words
A device for suturing tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a tissue layer, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft includes a needle aperture, and the shaft includes a suture lumen that connects to the needle aperture; at least one needle positioned within the needle aperture and adapted to be placed through the aperture, the needle having a shank carried by the shaft and a tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft; and a suture having a first suture portion secured to the needle and a second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft and housed in said suture lumen, the first suture portion being extendible outwardly through the tissue adjacent the aperture by placing the needle through the aperture, proximally withdrawing the needle to thereby puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture with the needle tip, detaching the needle from the shaft, and advancing the needle and first suture portion through the tissue, wherein said first suture portion when extended outwardly through the tissue can be secured to the second suture portion external of the aperture without obstructing or constricting the aperture.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
202 words
A device for suturing tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a tissue layer, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft includes a needle aperture, and the shaft includes a suture lumen that connects to the needle aperture; at least one needle positioned within the needle aperture and adapted to be placed through the aperture, the needle having a shank carried by the shaft and a tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft; and a suture having a first suture portion secured to the needle and a second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft and housed in said suture lumen, the first suture portion being extendible outwardly through the tissue adjacent the aperture by placing the needle through the aperture, proximally withdrawing the needle to thereby puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture with the needle tip, detaching the needle from the shaft, and advancing the needle and first suture portion through the tissue, wherein said first suture portion when extended outwardly through the tissue can be secured to the second suture portion external of the aperture without obstructing or constricting the aperture.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The suturing device of claim 43, wherein said at least one needle has a first radially collapsed position that extends proximally along a needle carrying portion of the shaft, and is adjustable to a second radially expanded position that extends proximally and outwardly from the needle carrying portion.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
The suturing device of claim 43, wherein said at least one needle is in said first radially collapsed position when radially confined and is radially biased from said first radially collapsed position to said second radially expanded position when radially unconfined.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
15 words
The suturing device of claim 43, wherein the suture comprises a single length of material.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
59 words
The suturing device of claim 43, wherein the distal end of the shaft further includes: an occluding body located near the distal end of the shaft and adapted to substantially occlude the aperture to maintain hemostasis at the aperture while the needle and the distal suture end portions attached thereto are placed outwardly through the tissue surrounding the aperture.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
58 words
The suturing device of claim 43, wherein the device includes: a plurality of needles, each of the needles circumferentially spaced about the distal end of the shaft; and a plurality of sutures, each of the sutures having its first suture portion secured to a needle and its second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suturing device of claim 43 wherein the suture is of sufficient length to be drawn through the tissue on opposite sides of the aperture.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
The suturing device of claim 43 wherein the needle is of sufficient length for drawing the suture through a second tissue layer.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suturing device of claim 50 wherein the suture draws the tissue layer and second tissue layer in contact with one another without closing said aperture.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
74 words
The suturing device of claim 43 wherein the tissue layer comprises a vessel having a vessel wall and further comprising: means for maintaining adequate perfusion through the vessel while advancing the distal end of the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the tissue and securing the suture to the tissue in the proximity of the aperture, the maintaining means and drawing means being integrally formed with the shaft.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
51 words
The suturing device of claim 52 wherein the maintaining means includes maintaining hemostasis in the proximity of the aperture while advancing the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing the suture through the vessel tissue and securing the suture to the vessel tissue in the proximity of the aperture.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suturing device of claim 43 wherein the means for maintaining hemostasis includes adapting the shaft to be at least equal in diameter to the aperture.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
243 words
A device for suturing tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a tissue layer, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft further includes a plurality of needle apertures and the shaft includes a plurality of suture lumens where each suture lumen connects to one of said needle apertures; a plurality of needles, each of the needles circumferentially spaced about the distal end of the shaft and adapted to be placed through the aperture and each of the needles being carried by one of the needle apertures, each of said needles having a shank carried by the shaft and a tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft; and a plurality of sutures, each of the sutures having its first suture portion secured to a needle and its second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft and housed within one of said suture lumens, the first suture portion being extendible outwardly through the tissue adjacent the aperture by placing the needle through the aperture, proximally withdrawing the needle to thereby puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture with the needle tip, detaching the needle from the shaft, and advancing the needle and first suture portion through the tissue, wherein said first suture portion when extended outwardly through the tissue can be secured to the second suture portion external of the aperture without obstructing or constricting the aperture.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
243 words
A device for suturing tissue in the proximity of an aperture in a tissue layer, the device comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft further includes a plurality of needle apertures and the shaft includes a plurality of suture lumens where each suture lumen connects to one of said needle apertures; a plurality of needles, each of the needles circumferentially spaced about the distal end of the shaft and adapted to be placed through the aperture and each of the needles being carried by one of the needle apertures, each of said needles having a shank carried by the shaft and a tip disposed toward the proximal end of the shaft; and a plurality of sutures, each of the sutures having its first suture portion secured to a needle and its second suture portion extending toward the proximal end of the shaft and housed within one of said suture lumens, the first suture portion being extendible outwardly through the tissue adjacent the aperture by placing the needle through the aperture, proximally withdrawing the needle to thereby puncture the tissue adjacent the aperture with the needle tip, detaching the needle from the shaft, and advancing the needle and first suture portion through the tissue, wherein said first suture portion when extended outwardly through the tissue can be secured to the second suture portion external of the aperture without obstructing or constricting the aperture.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
44 words
The suturing device of claim 55, wherein said needles have a first radially collapsed position that extends proximally along the shaft when radially confined, and are adjustable to a second radially expanded position that extends proximally and outwardly of the body when radially unconfined.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
59 words
The suturing device of claim 55, wherein the distal end of the shaft further includes: an occluding body located near the distal end of the shaft and adapted to substantially occlude the aperture to maintain hemostasis at the aperture while said needles and said distal suture end portions attached thereto are placed outwardly through the tissue surrounding the aperture.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suturing device of claim 55 wherein said sutures are of sufficient length to be drawn through the tissue on opposite sides of the aperture.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
22 words
The suturing device of claim 55 wherein said needles are of sufficient length for drawing the suture through a second tissue layer.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
28 words
The suturing device of claim 59 wherein each of said sutures draws the tissue layer and second tissue layer in contact with one another without closing said aperture.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
79 words
The suturing device of claim 55 wherein the tissue layer comprises a vessel wall of a vessel and further comprising: means for maintaining adequate perfusion through the vessel while advancing the distal end of the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing at least one of said sutures through the tissue and securing the suture to the vessel tissue in the proximity of the aperture, the maintaining means and drawing means being integrally formed with the shaft.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
54 words
The suturing device of claim 61 wherein the maintaining means includes maintaining hemostasis in the proximity of the aperture while advancing the shaft through the aperture in the vessel wall, drawing at least one of said sutures through the tissue and securing the suture to the vessel tissue in the proximity of the aperture.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
26 words
The suturing device of claim 61 wherein the means for maintaining hemostasis includes adapting the shaft to be at least equal in diameter to the aperture.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
41 words
The suturing device of claim 61 wherein said at least one needle is in said first radially collapsed position when radially confined and is radially biased from said first radially collapsed position to said second radially expanded position when radially unconfined.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
17 words
The suturing device of claim 61 wherein each of said sutures comprises a single length of material.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
39 words
The suturing device of claim 61 wherein said needles include at least one pair of needles carried near the distal end of the shaft and a length of said sutures secured to and extending between the pair of needles.
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |