Laparoscopic surgical staple
OwnerFrank Sewell, Jr.inventor
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Abstract
A laparoscopic surgical staple system comprises a staple, a staple extractor, and methods of applying and extracting such staples. The staples of the present invention are visible through a limited viewport, such as a trocar, and include an extraction member which forms a substantially closed hole through which a hook can be inserted. The staple extractor of the present invention includes a mechanism for grasping and pulling to remove the staple from body tissue, and a hook which can receive and hold multiple staples. The staples are applied by a device which is capable of inserting the staple's legs into a patient's body tissue. Staples are extracted using methods which allow multiple staples to be removed in a single, quick laparoscopic procedure and which reduce the risk of infection to the patient.
Claims13
A method of applying a staple to body tissue of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a laparoscopic surgical staple comprising
- first and second downwardly extending legs,
- an extraction member formed to define a substantially closed hole,
- the extraction member being connected to the downwardly extending legs;
- and
- inserting the legs of the staple into the body tissue of the patient such that the closed loop remain above the body tissue;
- and grasping the closed loop of the staple.
The method of claim 6 wherein the hole defined by the extraction member of the staple is circular.
A method of applying a staple to body tissue of a patient, the staple comprising first and second downwardly extending legs, and an extraction member formed to define a substantially closed hole, the extraction member being connected to the downwardly extending legs, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a tube of sufficient inner diameter to allow the staple to pass therethrough;
- making an incision in the patient;
- inserting the tube through the incision;
- inserting the staple through the tube to reach the patient's inner body tissue:
- and
- inserting the legs of the staple into the body tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.