Apparatus for tightening elongated wound closure elements
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsDavid T. Green, Henry Bolanos, Thomas W. Alesi, Jr., Kenneth E. Toso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An instrument for tightening wound closure elements around body tissue, such as a human sternum following surgery. The instrument includes a first handle and a second handle pivotally attached to the first handle and movable between an open and a closed position. A retaining system is also provided to tighten wound closure material in response to movement of the second handle.
Claims20
An apparatus for tightening an elongated wound closure element about tissue, which comprises:
- frame means;
- handle means pivotally mounted about a pivot pin to said frame means;
- and
- a pincher assembly pivotally mounted to said frame means about said pivot pin and pivotally movable relative to said handle means between an open and a closed position, said pincher assembly adapted for securely wedging one end portion of a wound closure element against a bearing surface defined by said handle means when in said closed position and permitting passage of the one end portion of the wound closure element between said pincher assembly and said bearing surface when in said open position.
An apparatus for tissue repair, which comprises:
- a wound closure material adapted to be looped about split portions of tissue and having first and second end portions, said wound closure material having a locking device attached to said first end portion thereof;
- frame means including support means for supporting said locking device attached to said first end portion of said wound closure material, said support means including an opening formed in a lower surface of said frame means, said opening dimensioned and configured to receive and support said locking device;
- handle means pivotally mounted about a pivot pin to said frame means;
- and
- retaining means positioned adjacent said handle means for retaining said second end portion of said wound closure material in a generally fixed position relative to said handle means wherein pivotal movement of said handle means in a first direction advances said wound closure material in a tensioning direction about the tissue.
An apparatus for tightening an elongated wound closure element about tissue, the wound closure element having a buckle member attached to a first end portion thereof and a free second end portion, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame member including an opening disposed in a lower surface portion thereof for reception and support of the buckle member and a channel in alignment with said opening, said channel dimensioned for reception of the free end portion of the wound closure element to permit passage thereof upon tensioning of the closure element about the tissue;
- a handle member pivotally mounted about a pivot pin to said frame member and defining a closure element bearing surface;
- and
- a retaining member mounted to said frame member and movable between a first position wherein said retaining member securely wedges the closure element against said bearing surface of said handle member and a second position wherein said retaining member is displaced from said closure element bearing surface to permit passage of the free end portion of the closure element through said frame member;
- whereby pivotal movement of said handle member in a first direction advances the closure element in a tensioning direction about the tissue when said retaining member is in said first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.