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AssigneeInlet Medical, Inc.
InventorsJAMES E. CARTER, JOHN D. COOK, ROBERT A. GABLER, LEE JONES
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A surgical instrument, guide, and method capable of being used for closure of peritoneum fascia, occlusion of bleeding vessels such as inferior epigastric, and for all uses related to accurately passing suture material through a guide into tissue. A tip of a surgical instrument in a standard suture-needle-driving position with a sharp tip that opens and closes with the surgeon grasping suture material with the sharp tip is provided. Insertion of the tip/suture through tissue until the tip is seen through the peritoneum by direct vision begins the wound-closing procedure. The suture is released by opening and withdrawing the tip from the guide. The suture is recovered by using the guide to redirect the tip and puncturing the tissue opposite the first point of insertion. The tip grasps the suture and pulls the suture through the guide. The suture is pulled outside the wound, providing for rapid closure of the surgical incision. The guide is insertable within the wound to be closed and guides the surgical instrument at a predetermined angle from the longitudinal axis of the guide for optimum wound closure. The surgical instrument and method may be used to advantageously shorten and strengthen ligaments. For example, by gathering and reinforcing the round ligament that supports a woman's uterus with suture materials, surgeons can reposition and stabilize a retroverted uterus. Other devices may be also used in connection with retracting and reinforcing connective tissue. For example, rather than relying entirely on suture material to hold connective tissue in a retracted state, a device having one or more anchors may be inserted into connective tissue.
A device for insertion into connective tissue of a human being comprising:
A device to be inserted into a ligament of a person comprising:
A device for insertion into connective tissue of a human being comprising:
A device to be inserted into a ligament of a person comprising:
A device for insertion into connective tissue of a human being comprising:
A device for insertion into connective tissue of a human being comprising:
A device for insertion into connective tissue of a human being comprising:
A device for insertion in and around connective tissue of a human being comprising:
A device for attachment to connective tissue of a human being comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.